Nuclear History

When a representative from Exelon gave Maharam Fellow Gabriela Epstein 16 IL a tour of Three Mile Island – the nuclear power plant famous for a partial meltdown in 1979 – the illustrator was shocked at what she learned. At the time of the accident, a team of operators were expected to master a confusing control panel that regulated the reactor’s core temperature. It was later discovered that human error largely triggered the tragic blunder.

“So many buttons and levers were part of the plant’s system. It was easy to see how people can screw up if not trained properly,” explains Epstein. “But even years of instruction can’t prevent a mechanical malfunction from happening. There can be disastrous consequences.”

The Harrisburg native recently visited the plant as part of a research project funded by her Maharam STEAM Fellowship in Applied Art and Design. In addition to understanding the finer details of nuclear power, Epstein has been interviewing locals who were directly affected by the disaster. “I can only imagine the magnitude of confusion, panic and utter disillusionment that must have ensued from the day of the accident,” she explains.

Epstein is now in the process of developing a web comic based on those enlightening conversations, which touch on health studies conducted in the area that indicate significant spikes in the rates of cancer and infant mortality due to radiation poisoning. And locals still discover odd flower species warped from the atomic seepage (pictured above). 

“It’s worthwhile to take note of the individual stories of those affected by the [Three Mile Island] fallout,” Epstein says. “Ultimately, when we start building nuclear facilities, we need to take the public into consideration.”

To keep tabs on this project and others supported by Maharam this summer, follow the 2014 Maharam Fellows’ blog.