Project Thesis by Kate Norgon
The production, testing, and deployment of nuclear weapons has had devastating effects on communities around the globe, including those in Washington State. Individuals impacted by radiation exposure due to U.S. nuclear production and testing suffer from cancers and other radiogenic diseases, as well as a lack of acknowledgement from the government and general public (Brown, 2013; Fox, 2014; Pritikin, 2020). The stories of radiation-impacted communities, known as Downwinders, are not well represented within institutions such as museums. The purpose of this project was to raise awareness of communities impacted by radiation exposure, including Hanford in eastern Washington, and to include their perspectives in nuclear narratives presented to the public. The result of the project was a prototype database and interactive digital visualization for the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture that highlights and connects different Downwinder communities. The visualization incorporates content produced by communities and activist organizations and stories of radiogenic cancers and other illnesses in their own words to support the ongoing work of these groups. Advisors with ties to Downwinder communities and activist organizations were engaged throughout the development process.
The visualization, Stories of Our Nuclear Past and Present, can be used in a broader digital content strategy the Burke Museum is developing to engage with and represent Downwinder communities. There are many opportunities for adaptation and growth to the visualization, as well as applications for different audiences.
Citation
Norgon, K. (2020). Stories of Our Nuclear Past and Present: Creation of Interactive Visualizations through Engagement with Downwinder Communities. [Unpublished master’s thesis project]. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Keywords
project, community engagement, downwinder communities, radiation exposure, Hanford, database, interactive digital visualization