The Atomic Bus recognised by an International Jury

The PIME Award for Communication Excellence, launched in 2005 by the European Nuclear Society, aims to recognise the achievements of professional communicators in taking key messages about peaceful uses of nuclear energy to the general audience. This year’s award went to the ATOMIC FORUM Foundation (Fundacja FORUM ATOMOWE) in recognition of the Atomic Bus – Mobile Laboratory project.

The PIME Award for Communication Excellence competition, which dates back to 2005, is staged annually at the PIME Conference for Communication in the Nuclear Sector. The 2014 edition took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and was an international gathering of nuclear communication professionals. Apart from the project from Poland, the following candidates were shortlisted this year: EDF representing the UK, the Belgian Nuclear Forum, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, and the multinational URENCO corporation. The short-listed candidates had an opportunity to present and promote their campaigns to PIME delegates during a short conference presentation and at dedicated stands so that the delegates were able to learn more on the presented projects, campaigns, and undertakings. The PIME delegates then voted for their nuclear favourite to select the winner. The PIME 2014 Award for Communications Excellence went to the Polish ATOMIC FORUM Foundation in recognition for the Atomic Bus – Mobile Laboratory project.

Effectiveness and creativity were the key to the Polish Atomic Forum’s Atomic Bus – Mobile Laboratory communications campaign. It was recognised for its high content-related value and professional approach to volunteers working with the Foundation. – This award comes as a big surprise and we are very proud to receive it. It will definitely consolidate our activities and make more room for international cooperation with our counterparts abroad. We do hope that our future projects will be equally attractive and recognised, both in Poland and internationally – Łukasz Koszuk, the President of the Polish ATOMIC FORUM Foundation, said at the award ceremony in Ljubljana.

The Atomic Bus – Mobile Laboratory is a mobile communication centre equipped with a range of didactic tools – audio-visual equipment, hands-on and interactive devices and models, and a mini atomic laboratory. Between 2010 and 2013, the Atomic Bus drove over 8000 km to visit higher education institutions, schools, and public institutions in 36 cities and towns across Poland. During this period, the atomic laboratory welcomed more than 10,000 visitors.