The collaboration is based on research, teaching and public engagement in media and communication studies and other social sciences.
For more than a decade, researchers and teachers in the discipline of media and communication studies have actively collaborated with the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) in nuclear accident societal-preparedness exercises, in which the Faculty’s students have also participated. The agreement now concluded consolidates teaching and training collaboration, which may encompass a variety of forms, such as communications exercises and traineeships as part of career education, as well as theses and reciprocal guest lectures. Research projects and public discussion sessions related to societal preparedness, radiation and nuclear safety as well as strategic and crisis communication are also part of the new partnership programme.
For the University, this constitutes a new kind of strategic partnership to embark on with partners.
“Strategic partnership with STUK translates into continuity of operations in themes related to the preparedness, safety and security of society, current topics in the Faculty’s teaching and research. The discipline of media and communication studies has established good practices that enable students’ participation in preparedness exercises together with STUK and other authorities,” says Dean Marjaana Seppänen of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
“As topics that interest people, radiation and nuclear safety are associated with a wide range of notions, including fears. Nuclear power, small modular reactors and nuclear weapons have emerged in a new way in public discussion both globally and in Finland. It’s important for us to provide people with accurate information on radiation and its benefits, but also to help them understand the associated risks,” says Director Karim Peltonen, who oversees communications and public relations at STUK.
May seminar by the Faculty and STUK on nuclear safety, fear and the crisis in Ukraine
In May, a seminar on nuclear safety and the crisis in Ukraine as part of the nuclear threat will be organised at Think Corner as the first form of collaboration under the new agreement. At the University, the seminar also relates to Crisis Communication and Management, a popular course in media and communication studies coordinated by Postdoctoral Researcher Minttu Tikka. Experts from both STUK and the University of Helsinki will speak at the seminar. Representing STUK will be Director Karim Peltonen with Principal Advisor Aapo Tanskanen, a specialist in nuclear power in Ukraine and Russia. Representing the University will be Professor of Russian Environmental Studies Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen, crisis communication specialist and DSocSc Salli Hakala, and Postdoctoral Researcher Minttu Tikka from the discipline of media and communication studies.
Further details about the seminar will be announced later.
Contact persons for the partnership agreement are Docent, Director of the Bachelor’s Programme in Politics, Media and Communication Janne Matikainen at the University of Helsinki and Head of Communications Piia Kaijanto at STUK.