Down by the River: Stories of Hanford is an audio podcast devoted to unpacking the long and nuanced history of the world’s first nuclear reactor. As part of the Manhattan Project in WWII, Hanford was built along the Columbia River. The Hanford produced 60% of the plutonium used in the US nuclear arsenal. At the end of the Cold War the mission of Hanford switch from production to remediation of the area. Cleanup at Hanford will last for decades, cost billions of taxpayer dollars, and hinges on technology not yet invented. On each podcast, we will explore the science and the stories of Hanford to give listeners a deeper and broader understanding of a place that was a significant part of our country’s past, and a difficult challenge for our future.
Whistleblowers are one of the most contraversial issues at Hanford. This episode we learn about not only whistleblowers, but the organizations and members of our federal government that work to protect them.
Fay Hartje, a student at the University of Washington, helped produce this month's episode. She tells the story of one of the first workers at Hanford. She also interviews a member of Cold War Patriots, an organization that helps former nuclear workers get compensation if they were exposed on the job.
Students from Mercer International Middle School take over the podcast this month. After researching Hanford over the course of ten weeks, a group of 7th graders recorded a special episode. There are stories about nuclear weapons, Native Americans, the Hanford residents forced to move during WWII, and radioactive rabbit poop.
See Hanford issues through the eyes of students from University of Washington. With cleanup at Hanford expected to last until at least 2060, it is imperative that younger generations get involved. This episode WPSR worked with students at the University of Washington. They researched, wrote, recorded, and edited stories on Hanford's leaking tanks, the federal response to cleanup, nuclear safety procedures, waste management, and family life in Richland.
This episode we look at some stories from Hanford that seem like they could be from a science fiction book, but are actually true. The tale of the Atomic Man who suffered the worst accident at Hanford. We look at the finals days of the Z-Plant, one of the most dangerous places at Hanford. Students from the University of Washington have a story about Hanford's top secret era. And finally we look at scientist out at Hanford that are listen to the soundtrack of the universe.
Hanford has inspired many artists over the years. This month we speak with Elizabeth Heffron about a play she wrote that takes place at Hanford, and Marika, a musician that was inspired to write about Hanford after learning about the leaking tanks.
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