TRI-CITIES, Wash. – A unique exchange program is linking the Tri-Cities with universities in Japan, focusing on the shared nuclear history of both regions.
The program began in 2023 and involves a partnership between Columbia Basin College (CBC), Washington State University Tri-Cities, Higashi Nippon International University, and National Institute of Technology Fukushima College.
This collaboration includes two parts: one being the curriculum, which includes a fifteen apart lecture series lectures by historians, archaeologists, and downwind residents, educating students on the nuclear community around Hanford and its impact on the Tri-Cities.
Katherine Banks, leading the curriculum portion, explained the program’s focus.
“We have folks that are talking about kind of the archaeology of the site. We have folks that are talking about the social and demographic changes of the Tri-Cities,” Banks said.
“It’s a historical take, it’s a current take, and then we look forward, thinking about energy and clean energy initiatives that are moving into the Tri-Cities,” Banks added.
The second aspect is the exchange, in which Tri-Cities’ students are sent to Japan, and Japanese students are sent to the Tri-Cities.
The exchange draws parallels between the cleanup efforts at Hanford and the Fukushima reactor, which faced a disaster in 2011.
“In Fukushima prefecture, including [the Northeast side] of Japan, had a disaster in 2011 and had a huge earthquake and tsunami,” said Noriko Ryder, an adjunct Japanese Language professor at CBC.
This collaboration allows scientists and professors to work together on solutions for nuclear site cleanups.
Students also enjoy social gatherings where they discuss their experiences.
Ryder, a professor at CBC, emphasized the cultural exchange’s value.
“Through communication, collaboration on projects with the Japanese students, they develop empathy, compassion, flexibility, open-mindedness and leadership skills, qualities that will serve them well in their personal lives and future careers,” Ryder said.
This program not only fosters educational exchange but also strengthens cultural ties between the Tri-Cities and Japan.
You can find the full Hanford Legacy lecture series here.
