SNRIU Experts Received Training to Improve Communication Skills

Training for the SNRIU employees on communication during events related to nuclear and radiation threats was held last week at the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety.

The COMMUNICATION project, within which the training took place, is a joint project of the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) and the SNRIU. In general, it is aimed at strengthening and developing communication skills of SNRIU/SSTC NRS experts and media specialists in the process of crisis communication and prevention of risks that may arise in the course of performing professional duties related to nuclear and radiation threats.

“The project consists of three main stages: the first is our three-day training, which included information on risk communication, crisis communication and disinformation, the second stage is training on working with the media, where the main emphasis will be on practical training – how to talk to journalists, and the third stage of the COMMUNICATION project is training for media representatives, we will try to increase their competence to work with the NRS topics,” said Tetiana Verbytska, Project Manager, SSTC NRS Spokesperson.

In addition to lectures, SNRIU experts participated in practical exercises during the three-day training, where they had to apply not only their knowledge but also their creativity and experience. For example, they had to simplify a message containing complex technical information, write a press release, or refute disinformation.

“The training is very timely and useful, since communication technologies are changing rapidly, new challenges appear, and we must be prepared for them,” says Tetiana Kutuzova, Head of the Emergency Preparedness and Radiation Protection Division, State Inspector of the SNRIU Safety Department. – “The specifics of our work require constant meetings like this to discuss urgent problems and share experience. I am very grateful to the Norwegian regulator for supporting this topic. In today’s world, information spreads very quickly, and the more we keep up with information flows in our industry, the more confidently we can say that we control and regulate the situation. I am pleased to communicate with all the experts and enjoy performing practical tasks. I would also like to emphasize the presentation of the material – well-designed training materials, different lecturers, each with their own vision and experience.”

According to Tetiana Kutuzova, the information presented during the lectures should be available to a wider range of specialists, in particular for SNRIU regional divisions and licensees.

The next stage of the project, a two-day training for SNRIU experts, will take place next month.

According to SSTC NRS