August 2, 2016 1st Dialogue meeting was held in Namie Town

●Date: Tuesday, August 2, 2016 13:30～16:30
●Place: Namie Town Office

IER held the 1st dialogue meeting in Namie Town. In the meeting, IER Professor Thomas Hinton and IER Project professor Kei Okuda, who study on radiation effect on mammals mainly in Namie Town, and IER Professor Alexei Konoplev who studies on reservoirs and water system in Fukushima, gave presentations on each of their findings.

Eight of hunters from the town also joined the meeting. We have received a great deal of cooperation from them in our research on wild animals, especially on boars. Many questions were asked from them about the ecology of wild boar, its current situation, the aim and meaning of research, and countermeasures and solutions toward the problems they have faced.

Participants also asked how much the research results would impact on the possibility of the residents to return to the town. IER Director answered that, in case a research result has a major impact on policy decisions, IER would be prepared to inform the relevant ministries, agencies and residents. In that sense, IER would like to continue this dialogue meeting with local public on a regularly basis.