Exploring virtual reality technology and the role of mindfulness in promoting nuclear power knowledge and public acceptance in China

ABSTRACT

As demand for energy usage by economic agents increases and the incremental impacts of climate change in the society (environmental pollution and carbon emission), the relevancy of nuclear power energy generation to sustain the growing economy in China needs to be considered. Because the young generation today is deemed to play a significant role in future social development, their knowledge of nuclear energy would, to a large extent, promote sustainable future energy consumption and simultaneously protecting the environment. Developing a strategic nuclear energy communication mechanism is an essential component of preparedness toward public acceptance, and public knowledge is vital to its success. This study aimed to investigate the usage of virtual reality as a communication technique. Survey data was collected from 562 students using playtest method, and SmartPLS 3.0 structural equation modeling was employed for the analysis. Informed by the public understanding of science (PUS) theory and deficit model, the results of this study revealed the significant relationship between mindfulness in nuclear power VR promotion content and perceived benefit, safety awareness, public knowledge, and public acceptance. We further tested the mediating role of perceived presence in the model. We have highlighted the theoretical and practical implications of the study.

KEYWORDS:

• Mindfulness
• perceived benefit
• safety awareness
• public knowledge
• virtual reality
• perceived presence
• public acceptance
• nuclear power

Acknowledgments

The authors of this study acknowledge the immense support of the CAS-TWAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences for the developing world) President’s Fellowship program. The authors sincerely thank the valuable advice and support from Prof. Chu Jianxun. Without his support and help, this research would not have been produced academically. The authors are also grateful to the reviewers who sacrificed their valuable time to give their professional advice and constructive comments on the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).