The Scientific Consensus on Nuclear Power Plant Safety One Year After Chernobyl

Ann S. Bisconti, PhD

May 1, 2021

On the first anniversary of Chernobyl (1987), two surveys were conducted to measure the attitudes of scientists toward nuclear energy and plant safety. First, the Center of Media and Public Affairs (surveyed 500 scientists selected randomly from American Men and Women of Science. Second, Scientific American (SA) replicated the questions in a survey of 679 subscribers, including 366 scientists and 313 engineers. 

Large majorities rated nuclear power plant safety high (5-7 on a 1-7 scale), including:

• 72 percent of scientists selected from American Men and Women of Science

• 65 percent of Scientific American scientists

• 69 percent of Scientific American engineers

More than 80 percent believed that US nuclear power plants were more safely designed than the Chernobyl plant, including:

• 82 percent of scientists selected from American Men and Women of Science

• 83 percent of Scientific American scientists

• 85 percent of Scientific American engineers

Bringing the topic home, the surveys asked, “If you had to live within five miles of a major industrial facility, which would you prefer?” Of five options, the facility that more scientists chose to live near was the nuclear power plant.  

Facility that Scientists Would Choose to Live Near, Given the Choice (1987)

© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2021.