Beyond the Movie: What You Didn’t Learn Watching Oppenheimer
Overlooked stories and science, and an invitation to discover more
This morning, I wrapped up my course, What You Didn't Learn Watching the Movie Oppenheimer, at the University of Rhode Island’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). The course explores scientific and historical realities that Hollywood doesn’t cover, filling in key gaps for those intrigued ntrigued by the history of nuclear energy and weaponry, along with the ethical dilemmas surrounding them.
It so happened (coincidence or Fate’s intervention?) that pharmacy students were taking blood pressure readings at the end. One attendee suggested that some in the audience may indeed have felt their blood pressure spike due to the intensity of the presentation. (Who knows?!)
For those curious to explore this material, I’ve made resources available online:
A complete PDF of the What You Didn’t Learn Watching the Movie Oppenheimer presentation is accessible here.
An incomplete but thoughtful reading list offers additional texts for those desiring a deeper dive.
Additionally, these links may be of interest:
This video compilation includes clips from a June 2023 Veterans for Peace event in Rhode Island, where we commemorated the Golden Rule—a boat that once sailed to halt nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. We didn’t cover many of these clips in class, but the collection provides a sorely needed perspective on the ongoing quest for peace and justice.
Inspired by family members in human services, I jumped out of the typical scientist’s mold and opened on day one with a community sing-along: We All Live on a Doomsday Death Machine, set to the tune of Yellow Submarine. To close, I introduced another song, I Come and Stand at Every Door, which you can find here. The lyrics are as relevant today as they were after the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This course takes a multi-faceted approach to complex historical and scientific issues, making it accessible—he said naively—and engaging. I’m considering taking the show on the road—if you’re interested in hosting or attending a future session, stay tuned!
Thank you for reading, and here’s to continuing thie journey.