ABSTRACT
Lack of risk awareness, or under-estimation or denial of risk, are well-recognised inhibitors to citizen and community action. This chapter explores the nature of flood risk science and issues in its effective communication with citizens and communities, recognising diverse prior science and water capital, and dispositions and resources for engagement. Such science communication can aim to develop awareness, knowledge, and understanding, promote individual and collective actions for flood preparedness, and help communities shape local risk management. The chapter asks:
What are the opportunities and challenges for effective flood science communication?
What can be learnt from science communication in other risk domains that also require effective community engagement (e.g., in public health)?
How are diverse community groups – with different science capital, attitudes, interests, values, and concerns – best engaged with local flood science?
What guidance can be distilled for the development of effective community-focused, flood risk communication strategies?
The chapter explores the impacts of wider developments in science communication, and different approaches to inclusive flood risk communication, including challenges of troublesome concepts such as scientific ‘uncertainty’. It discusses its communication in relation to flood mapping and flood warning and in the impacts of climate change on floods. It concludes by drawing together a collaborative framework for effective community flood risk communication – highlighting key 11 imperatives that require attention.
