Wayfinding is rooted in a deep, ancestral relationship with land, water, and sky, and continues through our care for our environment, whether we are in the islands or living outside of them.
This deep connection impacts our communities no matter where we are. Nuclear energy is increasingly becoming a hot topic of discussion led by our state leaders, as Utah pursues new nuclear power projects. But before we look forward, it's worth looking back: past nuclear advancement in the form of weapons testing came at a steep human and environmental cost, both in Utah and the Pacific, one whose effects communities are still living with today.
This event features a panel of experts with both scholarly and lived experience with nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands and American West, including a screening of oral history interviews from the Great Basin Heritage Area Partnership's Fallout of Fallout project, and a presentation from HEAL Utah about the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) for downwinders.
For Pacific Islander communities already navigating rising seas and a changing climate, this history is not just the past; it's a continuing story of environmental justice, resilience, and the fight to protect home. Join us to understand how these ties connect us all.
Featured Guest Panelists
Yolanda Lodge Ned, President of the Utah Marshallese Association, Former Assistant Attorney General of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Aisen Tima, Marshallese elder from Rongelap Atoll
Elio Boas, Marshallese elder from Rongelap Atoll
Dr. Danielle Endres, Professor of Communication and Director of the Environmental Humanities Program, University of Utah
Mary Dickson, Downwinder, speaker, playwright
John Flynn, History PhD candidate, University of Utah
Event Details
Monday, September 14, 2026 from 2:00pm-3:30pm, a reception with light refreshments for in-person attendees will follow the program.
Moot Court Room, S. J. Quinney College of Law, 383 South S University St, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
This event is free and open to the public, with in-person and virtual options available. Please RSVP to reserve a spot.
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Event Address: Moot Court Room, S. J. Quinney College of Law, 383 South S University St, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Attendees can park in the paid visitors’ parking lot located east of the College of Law near the Campus Store and Marriott Library. Parking price is $2 per half-hour. Enforced M-F, 7AM - 8PM.
If utilizing TRAX take the University Red Line and get off at the Stadium, the College of Law is a short walk north of the Stadium.