ENhancinG stAkeholder participation in the GovernancE of radiological risks for improved radiation protection and informed decision-making (ENGAGE)

One of the main challenges in the field of radiation protection research is to improve the assessment and management of exposures to low doses. While the European radiation protection research platforms contribute to the understanding of radiation effects and to the elaboration of radiation protection policies, the research in social sciences and humanities is essential to improve the formulation and implementation of those policies. Stakeholder engagement and informed decision-making are nowadays recognised as essential factors for an effective governance of adiological risk. However, the practical implementation of legal requirements for stakeholder engagement is confronted with multiple challenges. State of the art participatory methods from social sciences have to be tailored to the particularities of different exposure situations and different stakeholder groups. To address these research gaps, ENGAGE will i) answer the questions why, when and how are stakeholders engaged in radiation protection; ii) develop novel approaches to analysing stakeholder interaction and engagement; iii) investigate processes for enhancing radiation protection culture and its role in facilitating stakeholder engagement; and iv) develop guidelines and a knowledge base for stakeholder engagement in radiation protection. The project focuses on exposure situations corresponding to major (actual or potential) components of exposures for the general population, where implementation of stakeholder engagement and informed decision-making processes are currently underdeveloped: medical use of ionising radiation; emergency and recovery preparedness and response; and indoor radon. ENGAGE draws on state of the art research methods in social sciences and humanities. It also develops novel research paradigms such as ecologies of participation for stakeholder engagement in radiological risk governance. Stakeholder dialogues are a key part of the project. The beneficiaries of ENGAGE are the radiation protection platforms, policy makers, civil society stakeholders and publics. Through its research and innovation activities, ENGAGE will inform stakeholder engagement approaches to radiation protection in ways that relevant stakeholders find meaningful and legitimate. It will thus contribute to improving the governance of radiological risk and, as a result, radiation protection itself.