Executive summary: This report summarises recommendations for improved communications surrounding mining-related activities, based on an overview of existing communications through a behavioural science lens (Deliverable 6.1), and a computer-based behavioural experiment run in 2019 (Deliverable 6.2).
The work was undertaken by the Behavioural Research Unit of the Economic and Social Research Institute, a research group specialising in understanding how people process complex information and use it to make decisions. This is pertinent in the context of the PACIFIC project as people’s comprehension of mining-relating activities (and attitudes towards the same) relies on individuals processing complex information about risks and benefits from a range of sources.
The goal of this research is not to design communication tools that will best ensure that a company can secure a ‘social license to operate’. Rather, it is to inform best practice for communication strategies that promote understanding and empower stakeholders to make well-informed decisions, whatever the outcome may be. This is particularly important at a time where misinformation is becoming more widespread.
Herein we have made a suite of recommendations for improved communication about mining-related activities that may be utilised by a range of end-users (agencies, geological surveys, companies, etc.). For this project the research has primarily considered the general public as the target audience. That said, many of the findings presented have relevance to communications with otherstakeholders, such as shareholders, policy makers, and regulators.
As mentioned above, the recommendations are based off an overview of existing communication materials, as well as the results of a first behavioural experiment. This experiment had some unexpected findings, which will be investigated further in follow-up experiments in early 2021. The results of these may provide further insights that will be communicated in due course.

All you want to know about the PACIFIC project (Passive seismic techniques for environmentally friendly and cost efficient mineral exploration) is there !

PACIFIC - H2020 research project in mineral exploration (pacific-h2020.eu)

Funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the Universite Grenoble Alpes, PACIFIC is a research project in the field of mineral exploration. The project aims at developing new exploration techniques that respect the environment and incur relatively low costs. Join us in Grenoble on 27-28 October to find out how the PACIFIC consortium has been conducting fundamental and applied research to develop two radically new and complementary mineral exploration techniques, both based on passive seismic imagery.

The detailed programme and registration platform will soon be available. Stay tuned !

Executive summary: As part of WP6 “Social acceptance & perception of risk for mining activities” the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) will be conducting computer-based behavioural experiments designed to gauge how the format of information provided to the public affects their understanding and perception of mining-related activities (D6.2). The results will be used to generate recommendations for future communications (D6.3). The focus of this report concerns the evaluation of currently-used mining-related communication materials, and forms a part of the preparation process for these future deliverables.
The primary aim of this deliverable is to gain insights regarding written communications in order to inform the design of experiments, and the information content included. A number of other EU funded projects are undertaking a more thorough assessment of interactions with stakeholders and evaluating best practice on a more general level.
As the behavioural experiment will be conducted in Ireland, information was collected from companies operating in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland (UK). Although companies in Northern Ireland adhere to UK licensing and regulation, their interaction with local communities is largely comparable to that in the Republic. Their information materials are therefore useful to include.