This month the Department of Energy is celebrating women's contributions to the Manhattan Project.
March 1, 2018
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Happy Women's History Month!
As Secretary Perry says in his video message, women have made essential contributions at the Department of Energy dating all the way back to the 1940s and the Manhattan Project -- the top-secret mission to develop the world's first nuclear weapon that helped end World War II.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of much of the work done on the Manhattan Project. Seventy-five years ago last month, General Leslie Groves selected Hanford, Washington as the site for plutonium production. Seventy-five years ago this month, staff began arriving at the site in Los Alamos, New Mexico. And 75 years ago this November, the X-10 graphite reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee went critical.
Along with all this history we often hear the names of the men who proved the theories, built and tested the reactors, and eventually designed and built the atomic bomb. But, unfortunately, the many women along the way often get overlooked.
But not this month.
This Women's History Month, we're recognizing the women who contributed to the Manhattan Project, which ushered in the nuclear age. Over the next few weeks, we'll be releasing a timeline, a coloring book, and other content celebrating the important work these women performed.
By highlighting the contributions of these women of the past, we hope to inspire the next generation of women in science.
Allison Lantero
Allison Lantero served as Digital Content Specialist in the Office of Public Affairs. She cohosted the Department of Energy's flagship podcast, Direct Current. Before joining the DOE team, Allison worked at the Department of Transportation in Public Affairs.
In her spare time Allison enjoys listening to podcasts, trivia, and singing in a gospel choir. She hails from Chicago and is currently in search of a decent italian beef sandwich in D.C.