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Researcher
Anne Bergmans
- Research Expertise:My main field of study is the interface between society and technology and the governance of risk. I have experience in research on informed and inclusive decision making on environmental and technological risk, such as regarding the siting of contested facilities, (participatory) technology assessment and (responsible) innovation; and this both in terms of public and company policy. I have a particular interest for the interfaces between science, policy and society, and more particular the relationship between informal and formal processes for participation in technology development, the construction of knowledge, and decision-making under uncertainty. This include topics such as: the role of scientific and strategic consultants in decision-making; the potential for affected citizens to contribute to knowledge based decisions; the potential for “up-stream” engagement in research and development activity; the role of risk communication and trust mechanisms; … A good part of this research is focused on the long term governance of radioactive waste management, and public and stakeholder involvement in policy-making as well as in related R&D activity. In this respect, I have been involved in the partnership programme NIRAS/ONDRAF, the Belgian radioactive waste management agency, launched in 1998 to site a LILW-repository in Belgium. I was part of the team that designed and set up the local partnerships and have since been responsible for providing guidance and advice concerning the process to all stakeholders in the programme. This has evolved from siting negotiations, over megaproject governance, to participatory innovation in view of long term project governance. Furthermore I have participated in several (European) research projects (FP7 and H2020) on the topic of radioactive waste management, often in an interdisciplinary setting (together with engineers, geologists, physicists, …), in the capacity of principle investigator, work package leader or project coordinator. Other research topics include sustainable materials management, underground monitoring technology, perceptions on environmental nuisance in the Antwerp harbour area, and (emergency planning in relation to) SEVESO risk, safety culture and societal resilience in the face of safety and security risk. As scientific coordinator of the UAntwerp’s master’s programme in Safety & Security Sciences (since 2013), I have developed a keen interest in establishing baseline competencies and profiles of what constitutes a safety and security scientist, to develop standards across countries on what can be expected from students at various levels (professional and academic; graduates, undergraduates and PhDs), and to reflect on the specificities of interdisciplinarity in education within the CONRIS network (https://www.conris.eu/).
- Keywords:RISK ASSESSMENT, RADIOACTIVE WASTE, SUSTAINABILITY, SAFETY, RISK PERCEPTION, SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE, RISK SOCIETY, RISK GOVERNANCE, Political and social sciences
- Disciplines:Sociology and social studies of science and technology, Sociology of knowledge, Environment policy, Research, science and technology policy, Social change
- Research techniques:My research is often a form of policy oriented action-research, case studies, stakeholder mapping, process or policy evaluation. I most often practice a qualitative or mixed methods approach, deploying research methods such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, (participatory) observation, document analysis and debate formats.
- Users of research expertise:public services, companies, NGO's, citizen groups