Trinity Site -Reply

[FRAMEP@ORAU.GOV]

Lisa:

Lets assume that you have three audiences: professional scientists; the
general public (Joe and Jill sixpack on vacation); and teachers/students.

The professionals might be interested in  the technical details but I think
they would be even more interested in  the thoughts/recollections of the
scientists who witnessed Trinity and little anecdotes e.g. how Fermi
estimated the yeild of the explosion with paper, how Serber and, I
believe, Feynman watched the explosion without glasses and how some
of the wives back in Los Alamos who knew what was about to happen
stayed up all night watching the sky. In other words,  I'd focus on the
people, not so much the event - because everyone who goes there will
be trying to imagine what it was like.

For the public. IF you are going to give out info about radiation
exposures:  I've never been fond of those calculate your own dose
things. But a pamphlet that gives the yearly dose to someone at the site,
in a home at 4 pC/l Rn-222, chest x-ray,  airplane crews, astronauts,
workers in a nuke power plant etc might be interesting  - especially if it
includes the kind of comparative risk estimates that Dr. Cohen publishes
in the HP journal every so often. 

For teachers, IF you are going to provide them with material regarding
radiation:  I'd place less importance of giving them info about radiation
than I would on giving them ideas for projects and sources to go to for
info. I'd give them the HPS phone number so they could locate the local
chapter folk for technical help. And I'd give them a list of good books and
websites. wrt the websites, there are some really neat Nuc Med sites
with xray and scan images.  Many students have access to the internet
at school or at the library or home.  What better school project than the
use of radiation/radioactivity in medicine. The students thinking about
medical careers could have a field day with it. There are all sorts of good
subjects for history reports and social sciences.  WRT the latter,  good
project/reports could be done on the public's fear of radiation, energy
policy  etc. 

Having said that, I'd be very careful that the presentations avoid a "gee,
ain't radiation great" approach.  Among other things, this is a site with
significant historical and moral implications and it has the ability to impact
some people's emotions very deeply. There are times and places when
delivering a message, no matter how important a message,  is best
avoided.  Strive for class.

Best wishes

Paul Frame
Professional Training Programs
ORISE
framep@orau.gov