Radiation and the Skeptical Public: Tips and Tools for Communicating Effectively

Public communication about radiation is tricky business. Members of the public are frequently skeptical about messages from scientific sources, particularly when it comes to radiation. As radiation protection professionals, it is our job to relay scientifically sound information in a simple, clear, and concise manner. This paper discusses the Health Physics Society's "Ask The Experts" feature, the society's most successful public education endeavor with over one million visitors annually. The keys to effective communication of technical information are demonstrating empathy and compassion, keeping the language simple and concise, and offering sources of additional information to empower the individual to learn more on their own. The two most common categories of questions-radiation exposures from diagnostic imaging procedures and radiation exposures to the fetus-are discussed in detail, and some general information on how to respond to these types of questions is provided. A template for responding to public questions is provided, along with some examples.