35 Public Communication of Environmental Issues and Hazards

Wednesday, 27 June 2001
10:00 AM - 1:10 PM

PROPHETS OF DOOM: HAZARD SCIENTISTS AS COMMUNICATORS

Paper number: 35-1
Program: GENERAL SESSIONS
Time: 10:55 AM – 11:20 AM

Authors

Abstract

As the Earth's population continues to rise and urbanisation increases at a dramatic rate, more and more communities are finding themselves vulnerable to geophysical hazards. Within this scenario, hazard scientists have a duty and a responsibility - not only to identify, forecast, and study the hazard - but also to communicate the threat to the authorities, the media, and the threatened population. The impact of a number of recent natural disasters has been made worse by poor communication between scientists and other stakeholders. In an attempt to improve dialogue between scientists, civil authorities, and the media, we have produced an operational manual designed to be used by such groups during volcanic crises in the Caribbean. The advice provided is, however, applicable to all emergencies resulting from geophysical hazards.

On a somewhat grander scale, 'media-friendly' hazard scientists, who are broadcasters as well as researchers, are developing increasingly powerful voices and have the opportunity to disseminate their messages at a continental or even global level. This has recently become apparent through a number of high-profile science documentaries addressing low frequency-high magnitude geophysical hazards such as 'super-eruptions' and giant tsunami. In an effort to be responsible communicators such scientists must tread a fine line between audience enlightenment and over-zealous scare mongering.