14. E-Dialogues
Overview
14.1 E-Dialogue on Risk and Uncertainty: October 26, 2004
Royal Roads University conducted an internet-based e-dialogue on risk and uncertainty related to used nuclear fuel management on October 26, 2004
Dr. Ann Dale, Trudeau Fellow and Canada Research Chair on Sustainable Community Development, moderated the e-dialogue with the following panelists:
- Dr. Kai Lee, Rosenburg Professor of Environmental Studies, Williams College
- Dr. William Leiss, Professor, School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University and Scientist, McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa
- Dr. Andrew Stirling, Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Sussex
- Norm Rubin, Director of Nuclear Research and Science Policy analyst at Energy Probe; and,
- Dr. David Shoesmith, Professor of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario.
14.2 E-Dialogue Among Young Canadians: November 29, 2004
Royal Roads University conducted an internet-based e-dialogue among university students and other young Canadians related to used nuclear fuel management on November 29, 2004 (10 am – 12 noon PST/ 1 – 3 pm EST).
The two hour dialogue was conducted in small groups moderated by a number of prominent young Canadians, and was overseen by Dr. Ann Dale, Trudeau Fellow and Canada Research Chair on Sustainable Community Development and Nancy Averill, Director of Research, Public Policy Forum.
14.3 E-Dialogue on Decision-Making under Conditions of Risk and Uncertainty: February 10, 2005
Royal Roads University conducted an internet-based e-dialogue on decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertainty related to used nuclear fuel management on February 10, 2005: 4:00 – 6:00 EST, 1:00 – 3:00 PST.
Dr. Ann Dale, Trudeau Fellow and Canada Research Chair on Sustainable Community Development, moderated the e-dialogue with the following panelists:
- Christopher Henderson, Chief Executive Officer of the Dephi Group
- Jim MacNeill, Chairman Emeritus of the International Institute for Sustainable Development
- Norman Rubin, Director of Nuclear Research and Senior policy Analyst at Energy Probe
- Andy Stirling, Senior Lecturer at SPRU – science and technology policy research, at the University of Sussex.
14.4 E-Dialogue on the Draft Study Report
Royal Roads University
In 2003 Dr. Ann Dale of Royal Roads University was initially commissioned to conduct a series of three on-line synchronous e-Dialouges; the first around the concept of risk and uncertainty around the management of nuclear waste, which featured a panel of experts, the second a round table focusing on whether the NWMO assessment framework is comprehensive and balanced and whether there were specific elements that must be built into an implementation plan, and the third on decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertaintiy, once again with an expert panel.
The fourth dialogue was in the form of an asynchronous electronic forum, running from July 1st, 2005 to August 15th, 2005. To provide context, an on-line personal interview was conducted between Dr. Ann Dale, and Elizabeth Dowdeswell, President, Nuclear Waste Management Organization. This interivew, along with a link to the Draft Study Report was pubulished on the website.
The on-line public forum was designed to facilitate access to Canadians who prefer to communicate using internet technologies, to facilitate reflection on the NWMO recommendations and to record comments and concerns on the part of the wider Canadian public. Several framing questions were posed:
- In what way, if any, do you think the proposed Adaptive Phased Management approach is an appropriate approach for Canada?
- What concerns, if any, do you have about this approach?
- What improvements, if any, would you like to see made?
- What more would you like to know about the proposed approach, or more generally about the work of NWMO?
Observations from the public e-forum are summarized in this report. A record of the e-forum is also provided.
