Community invited to Trinity Site conversation, marking 80th anniversary

The Bradbury Science Museum Association will present an evening with Jim Eckles and Robb Hermes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 11 at Fuller Lodge. The free event will examine the history and science of the Trinity Site as it reaches its 80th anniversary, and registration and event details are available from the Bradbury Science Museum Association.

Jim Eckles is retired from White Sands Missile Range and has served for years as a Trinity Site host. Robb Hermes is a historian and author who has written about the site and its place in national history. The pair will trace technical and human dimensions of the Trinity test, offering local audiences context about the scientific milestones and the personal stories tied to the Manhattan Project era.

For Los Alamos County residents the program is more than a history talk. Trinity and Los Alamos are linked through the shared legacy of nuclear research and wartime mobilization. Public events like this create space for community members to confront that legacy, to ask questions about the long term health implications for workers and nearby populations, and to consider how past decisions continue to shape environmental and policy choices today.

Health and environmental concern has been central to local discussions about cleanup, monitoring, and support for exposed workers and families. An informed public conversation can help ensure that monitoring and medical follow up remain priorities, that historical records remain accessible, and that policy responses address the needs of all affected community members. By keeping admission free and opening the program to the public, the organizers aim to reduce barriers to participation and include younger generations in the conversation.

The event also serves as an occasion to reflect on public accountability and equitable access to information. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from presenters with direct ties to site interpretation and historical research, and to consider how community memory and scientific legacy intersect with current public health and environmental policy debates. Residents interested in attending should register through the Bradbury Science Museum Association to secure a place.