Risk e Learning Web Seminar Series Highlights UK-SRP RTC Project

(March 2011) - On March 31st, the UK-SRP Research Translation Core helped kick off the NIEHS Superfund Research Program's Risk e Learning Web Seminar Series with an in-depth discussion of the application of Community-Based Participatory Communication (CBPC) in relation to a Paducah National Priority List Superfund site.

During the inaugural session of the new "Community Engagement: New Approaches and Success Stories" series, UK-SRP RTC's Anna Goodman Hoover provided an overview of the ongoing community-driven future vision project for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), which has been impacted by trichloroethylene and technetium-99 contamination in the groundwater. The multidisciplinary research team, led by UK-SRP associate director Dr. Lindell Ormsbee, developed a novel methodology for gathering community preferences that integrates CBPC, which originated in the field of development communication, and Structured Public Involvement, an approach to large-scale public engagement in pubic infrastructure planning. Ms. Hoover's presentation focused primarily on the CBPC tools and techniques used during the early interview and focus group stages, as well as on the ways in which CBPC and SPI complemented each other throughout the project.

Following Ms. Hoover's presentation, Sharon Lin of US EPA presented Risk Reduction Through Behavior Change, which highlighted a community-based social marketing approach to changing fish consumption patterns around the Palos Verdes Shelf Superfund Site.

The session was kicked off by a welcome from NIEHS Director Dr. Linda Birnbaum and was moderated by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program's Beth Anderson.