University Student Perceptions Of The Current
And Future Role Of Nuclear Energy In The World
Author(s)
R. L. Mahler & M. E. Barber
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to document university student perceptions of the
role and viability of nuclear energy in the world. Nuclear energy perceptions of
6,330 students at the University of Idaho (Moscow, ID, USA) were measured
between 1993 and 2012. As part of a learning assessment study students in the
large freshman environmental science class were asked several questions about
the environment in a standardized survey on both the first and last day of class.
In this way changes in student perceptions as a result of the course could be
quantified. The two specific nuclear energy statements contained in the survey
were: (1) \“Nuclear power is a serious problem from an environmental
standpoint;” and (2) \“Nuclear energy is preferable to the use of fossil fuels.” In
general 46.7% of students considered nuclear power a serious problem at the
beginning of the course; however, at the end of the term less than 32% of
students still held their initial negative opinion. In addition, a majority of
students changed from indicating that fossil fuels were preferable to nuclear
energy at the beginning of the course to a significant majority favoring or at least
saying that nuclear power was no worse than fossil fuels at the conclusion of the
term. Student major, year in college, gender and the year students were surveyed
also had an impact on student answers. The significant finding of this study is
that once students were educated in an unbiased way – including both the pros
and cons of using nuclear energy they were more receptive to view the nuclear
power option more favourably.
Keywords: public opinion, student perceptions, nuclear energy concerns,
nuclear energy as an option, nuclear education.
Keywords
Keywords: public opinion, student perceptions, nuclear energy concerns,nuclear energy as an option, nuclear education.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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