Nuclear policy and governance challenges after Fukushima: the Brazilian case

• Grant number: 13/11897-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Sociology
• Principal Investigator: Marko Synésio Alves Monteiro
• Grantee: Ana Paula Camelo
• Supervisor: Andy Stirling
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Sussex (US), England
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/00583-3 - The social construction of risk and the controversial Brazilian Nuclear Program: among the scientific, the political and the public, BP.DR

Abstract

This project seeks to upgrade the analytical and conceptual tools of the social studies of science field, especially concerning the governance discussion of science and technology that seeks to understand and analyze, critically, the social, political and ethical issues related to a number of varying technological controversies facing their sociological determinants. Among these types of controversies it is included the nuclear power controversy. In order to contribute to the main project "The social construction of risk and the controversial Brazilian Nuclear Program: between the scientific, political and public" (2012/00583-3), this work aims to contextualize the new discussion agenda on the challenges of nuclear governance, since this technology is redefining social life, creating ethical dilemmas and controversial policies, also resulting in serious and complex problems of governance, as we have studied from the nuclear accident in Fukushima. The goal is to bring new concepts and discussions about technology governance, first in the Brazilian context, but also in interfaces with the implications of the Fukushima accident energy to policy in other countries, understanding better the challenges in real worldwide cases related expectations for the future, transparency and public engagement. It is intended, therefore, to improve the theoretical scope of the main project and assimilate new concepts discussed at SPRU - "Science and Technology Policy Research", located at the University of Sussex, UK. We believe it is essential to insert the Brazilian research in this dialogue about nuclear regulation in countries with different political, economic and social trajectories. (AU)