At the center of every nuclear weapon in t he United States is a small pit of radioactive material manufactured at a top-secret facility in Eastern Washington\, a facility which today remains the most radiologically contaminated site in the Western hemisphere.
\ nBut Washington State&rsquo\;s role in the nuclear era ranges far beyon d the construction\, operation\, and ongoing cleanup of the Hanford nuclea r reservation. Today\, Washington has two operating nuclear reactors\, one of which provides us with ten percent of our electricity. Radioactive sub stances are used in our state to cure diseases\, build airplanes\, detect pollutants\, and power smoke detectors. Further\, Naval Base Kitsap has th e largest stockpile of nuclear weapons deployed anywhere in the country.\n
Drawing from history\, science\, and popular culture\, author Steve Olson reveals the many influences of nuclear materials on Washington Stat e\, and the many ways in which our state has been a pioneer in the atomic age.
\nThis is event is made possible by Humanities Washington.
\nAbou t the author:
\nSteve Olson \;(he/him) is a writer who most rece ntly authored?The Apocalypse Factory: Plutonium and the Making of the Atomic Age. His books have been nominated in several local and nation al book awards. Since 1979\, he has been a consultant writer for the Natio nal Academy of Sciences\, the President&rsquo\;s Council of Advisors on Sc ience and Technology\, and other national scientific organizations.
\n< p>Raised in Eastern Washington\, Olson now lives in Seattle.\nBy at tending library programs\, you are agreeing to potentially appear in photo s/videos taken at our locations that may be used in promotional materials including social media.
\nWe strive to make events welcoming for peo ple of all abilities. To request accommodations\, call the library at 509- 444-5308.
\nhttps://spokanelibrary.libnet.info/event/7918675 URL;VALUE=URI:https://spokanelibrary.libnet.info/event/7918675 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR