The transforming role of education in reducing the perception of risk and the implementation of the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor: a case study

Nuclear technology has been very successful when related to energy, radioisotopes production and scientific research. However, it did not obtain the same success from socio-political point of view, going through periods of strong public rejection, especially after adverse events related to nuclear issues. In Brazil, the first Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor (RMB) will be implemented in the municipality of Iperó - SP, for which it is important to have the support of the local population and knowledge about the project. Mainly because the RMB is intended to produce radioisotopes for application in health and industry, therefore, with strong social appeal. However, despite the achievement of three public hearings in the municipalities of Iperó, Sorocaba and São Paulo, there was little involvement of the region's schools in this debate, reflecting on the important role that education can have in reducing the perception of risk and the attitude of the population in relation to the issue. Through the application of semi-structured questionnaire answered by teachers, coordinators, deputy directors and directors of the public school network of the Municipality, it was observed that the participants have a high risk perception and a negative social representation, as well as there was no interaction of the people in charge of the RMB with the schools, who said they did not know the project. We believe that the school has a fundamental role to raise awareness and inform, and can change this reality, together with the implementation of some public policies