Cutting Corners: Buildup to Catastrophe

Is there more to the story of what caused the explosion at Chernobyl beyond a failed safety test? In this piece, you will learn what exactly happened in the reactor to cause an explosion, as well as which human and design errors led to the catastrophe. Through this project, you will be able to better understand Chernobyl’s scientific and human causes and to learn how a nuclear reactor became an atomic bomb.

View the project in ArcGIS Storymaps

Cole Smith ‘23 intends on majoring in Engineering and Psychology from Oakland, Maine. He is a member of the men’s soccer team on campus.

RUSS043 Chernobyl: Nuclear Naratives and the Environment, Swarthmore College, Spring 2020

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