Hanford Nuclear Legacy Lecture Series

This course will consist of relay lectures by experts and researchers on how the Tri-Cities region of Washington State (the location of the Hanford Site) has overcome (or attempted to overcome) social and environmental issues associated with nuclear development. The lecturers will include scientific and historical researchers on nuclear development-related legacies, experts in energy policy and environmental restoration, and experts in local history. Specific lecturers (some of them) include Mark Triplett, who has been involved in the Hanford Site environmental restoration project for many years, Trisha Pritikin, an advocate for the rights of health victims, and Robert Bauman, a professor at Washington State University Tri-Cities who specializes in the historical context and social change of the region. We will provide highly specialized and practical lectures that are unprecedented in Japan.

The lecture will provide a detailed explanation of the historical background of plutonium production that took place in the Hanford area from World War II through the Cold War, as well as the environmental contamination and social impacts that this activity caused. In addition, you will learn about the actual methods of environmental restoration activities, the economic policies that have been promoted through cooperation between the government and the private sector, and specific efforts toward revitalizing the local community. There will also be a unique lecture that analyzes the local history and nuclear development heritage from an archaeological perspective, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of the area's history and current efforts.

Through concrete and historical case studies of the Tri-Cities region, participants in this course will learn about environmental and social issues, the importance of energy policy, and the challenges of local revitalization projects. They will also have the opportunity to think deeply about the ethical aspects of environmental restoration, the importance of victim support, and the significance of participatory decision-making among local residents. Ultimately, participants will be able to apply what they have learned to their own local issues and cultivate the knowledge to contribute to the sustainable development of local communities with a global perspective.