Modelling plays a crucial role in the design of a repository for radioactive waste. The human factor is significant for finding a site with the best possible safety. Human aspects include the selection of models, the definition of input parameters, and the interpretation of results. The AHRIC (Assessment of Human Reliability in Concept phases) method is proposed to assess the negative effects of trust issues in the site selection work processes and to derive mitigating measures.

Peer reviews are conducted to improve the quality of scientific publications and can also be applied to the safety case. Research within the TRANSENS project suggests that extending the spectrum of reviewers and using transdisciplinary methods and tools in reviews not only opens perspectives to improve the quality, legitimacy, and acceptance of a safety case, but also increases the resilience of safety on the disposal pathway.

The Site Selection Act (StandAG) defines the selection of a repository as a learning process. Therefore, we would like to identify the manifold learning experiences of stakeholder integration during the site selection procedure, on the one hand, and of transdisciplinary research projects, on the other hand. From the interactive workshop, we expect the identification of key learning areas, their specific relevance for nuclear waste management and the identification of topics for the future.

In our project, several disciplines work on issues concerning the management of high-level nuclear waste in Germany. In our sub-project on trust, we have enlisted a group of 16 citizens, reflecting with us on our research questions and approaches. From joint workshops of researchers and these citizens on the role of trust in scientists we find that participants generally want to be taken seriously. Transparent and binding rules for all participants could be the key to a trusting relationship.