New Weapons Exhibit Opens At The Bradbury Science Museum In Los Alamos
The new exhibit includes sections looking at nuclear deterrence (shown here), the science of stockpile stewardship and the story of plutonium. Photo Courtesy LANL After two years and the hard work of approximately 150 employees and partners, the new weapons exhibit at Los Alamos National Laboratory's Bradbury Science Museum officially opened with a reception on Sept. 30.
The exhibit showcases a key part of the Laboratory's role as a national security science institution: its nuclear weapons mission. While the reception was its official opening, parts of the exhibit have been viewable to visitors as it was being completed. The feedback has been very positive.
"The amount of time visitors are spending looking at and engaging with this exhibit is off the charts," said Linda Deck, exhibit project leader and Bradbury Science Museum director emeritus. "Typically, visitors spend only a minute or two viewing a particular panel. But people are spending 15 minutes or more on these."
Linda Deck, Bradbury Science Museum director emeritus and project leader for the new exhibit, talks to the reception attendees. Photo Courtesy LANL
The Lab's historic involvement in the Manhattan Project has received a lot of attention recently, but the new exhibit brings that legacy up to date by showing the work the Lab is currently doing on nuclear weapons and why.
The exhibit is the last of Deck's 17 years as the Bradbury's director and 42 years in the museum world; she retires Oct. 2.
"When we first began planning this exhibit, I knew it was going to be the most challenging project of my 42-year career," she said. "And I knew there was never going to be another exhibit for me that would compare to this one. It was an incredible honor and privilege be able to find a way to express this subject matter with the care it deserved. And I had an exceptional group of talented individuals who helped make it a reality."
Kim Scott, Weapons executive officer; Laboratory Staff Director Frances Chadwick; and Bradbury Science Museum Director Patrick Moore. Photo Courtesy LANL The exhibit covers four main areas, each with interactive hands-on activities:
Natanya Civjan, group leader for Technical Editing and Communications, explores a component of the exhibit that explains the U.S. nuclear triad. Photo Courtesy LANL For Moore, this exhibit gives people who might not understand the complexities of what the Lab does and why a chance to learn more — and perhaps see themselves as part of the Lab and its future.
"I hope it inspires people — young and old — to see the work we do here, and to see how many different people it takes to accomplish every part of the Lab's mission. In doing that, the Lab is no longer 'that place up on the hill,' but a part of the community, a part of who we all are," Moore said.
Kyle Robbins, Rob Payment, Michael Richardson, Bryan Haver and Ellen Guenette. Photo Courtesy LANL
Mel Strong, Bradbury Science Museum educator, demonstrates the hands-on activity in one of the exhibit's two gloveboxes. Photo Courtesy LANL
