Fallout: Analyzing Texts and Narratives of the Nuclear Era

Nuclear technology has long been developed, used, studied, and debated. Capable of both healing and harm, it challenges our notions of risk verses benefit at every level. It is also poised to potentially play a significant environmental role in climate change mitigation by delivering large amounts of nearly carbon-free energy. In this class you will trace the public perception and experience of this technology, and scientific and medical assessments of it through an environmental humanities lens. You will use texts such as literary non-fiction, history, environmental anthropology, natural history, and public health. Topics will include but not be limited to, the Manhattan Project, the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident, and nuclear waste (including that from uranium processing in St. Louis). The course will include a visit to the Weldon Springs Interpretive Center and is designed as an upper-level elective for third- and fourth-year students. Note: While we will talk abut nuclear reactors in general, this course will not explore them from a detailed scientific or engineering perspective. For those who would like to pursue that understanding, see our new 1-hour course: EnSt 400 Topics in Environmental Science: Technical Overview of Nuclear Power. This course is taught by Lee Sobotka, nuclear scientist and Professor of Physics and Chemistry, who is also the science advisor for the Fallout course.
Course Attributes: EN H; BU Hum; AS HUM; FA HUM; AR HUM

Fallout: Analyzing Texts and Narratives of the Nuclear Era

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 315

Section 01

Section 02