(EM) educator could restrict his/her presence to the field visits, while the health educator could cover for the environmental monitoring educator during the interim. The thrust of the EM program would be to present to the Marshallese the concepts of radiation, such as the radioactive element, the way radiation interacts with living things, what the program is doing on the island, the----~~ . . <’ type of analysis made on the island, and in the U. S., what the results are and what the results indicate. It would also explain why scientists change their statements with time, the importance of Federal standards on radiation, and how they come about using them in reference to their living on the island. Eventually, such a program should be able to establish a two-way dialogue that will lead to an informed educational perspective on the nature of the radiation problem as well as the endeavors of the U. S. Government in the interest of the Marshallese. summary A preliminary ‘in residence’ educational program indicates that a combined presentation of the environmental (radiological) and medical educational programs to the Marshallese should: is s. -clear the misunderstandings that radiation is not a poison, that it easy to recognize and to measure with the instruments used by scientists, b. ‘ serve to minimize groundless fears and to assure the people that through discussions they can learn to express their concerns and to expect to receive meaningful answers, c. prepare them to help make a decision, based on “informed consent”, ~. “:~”v $t~>out living on an island where radioactivity will continue to exist far !, ,‘4 ..+ ‘1 beyond their life expectancy, d. give them an identifiable forum for interacting with the various -12- [I,,tz