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Let's talk about the Hanford woman: the Cold War years

In this edition of Let's Talk About Hanford and in observance of International Women's Day on March 8, we are showcasing the women that lived, worked, and shaped the Hanford site during the Cold War years.

For this conversation, we’re welcoming special guest speakers Teresa Andre and Megan Simpson who have presented on this topic several times.

Teresa Andre is an active member of the B Reactor Museum Association and a former Education Coordinator for the Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science, and Technology (CREHST) in Richland. Teresa's current projects include serving as a 2026 Humanities Washington Speaker Bureau presenter, a docent for the Hanford B Reactor and the Pre-Manhattan Project Historical Site, a local guide for Columbia River cruise ships, and a traveling presenter of historically based programs.

Megan Simpson is a public historian, Manhattan Project National Historical Park Hanford Unit docent, and history major specializing in the Manhattan Project and Cold War era, women in science, and the social history of nuclear sites like Hanford. Her work uses individual lives or groups to illuminate larger historical systems, making complex scientific and historical topics accessible to public audiences.

We’ll open the evening with a presentation followed by a live Q&A session to answer your questions.

Join the conversation

We will be streaming this discussion live via Zoom and Facebook Live 6 p.m. PT, March 18, 2026.

Join the Facebook Live event on our Hanford Facebook page or

• Join the Zoom meeting:
  • Join the Zoom stream up to 15 minutes before the 6 p.m. start time
  • Meeting ID: 822 2614 4403
  • Passcode: 491199
• Join by phone (audio only):
  • Find your local number from Zoom
  • Meeting ID: 822 2614 4403
  • Passcode: 491199 Can’t attend the March 18 event? The recording will be available on our Facebook page and the Ecology YouTube channel shortly after the stream ends.

You can submit your questions to us in advance of the live event. We'll make every effort to answer all your questions during the live Q&A session.

What it's all about

We began Let's Talk About Hanford in March 2021, aiming to help you better understand all things related to the complex nuclear cleanup at Hanford.

Beginning in World War II, Hanford produced plutonium for decades, before shifting to a new mission in 1989, cleaning up the massive amounts of waste and contamination that production left behind.

These conversations entail high-level and easy-to-understand presentations and conversations about Hanford topics, ranging from specific cleanup projects and the history of the site, to Hanford Reach habitat and the wildlife that calls it home.

We're gearing these virtual discussions toward those unfamiliar with Hanford, those who want a refresher, or to expand existing knowledge about Hanford. We'll start each event with a short presentation on that day's topic, followed by a live Q&A.

Have any questions or ideas for future conversations? Drop us a line! We hope to see you virtually during our next livestream!

Missed our prior Let’s Talk About Hanford conversations? Check them out on YouTube.

Women in Science Hanford Nuclear waste Let's Talk About Hanford share: Email Submit feedback Feb 18, 2026

Annagrisel Alvarez

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Related links

• Let's talk about Hanford series
• Learn more about Hanford

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