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ORAU: Then & Now

Group of ORAU employees working together in a team meeting

ORAU: Then & Now is a great resource for you to learn about how our people, programs and partners are making a huge impact, serving our country and giving us the competitive edge on the world stage in the areas of STEM education, workforce solutions, exposure science, health education, disaster preparedness, forensic science and so much more! We are committed to integrating our resources for the purpose of innovating a stronger tomorrow.

Learn our history that began with the Manhattan Project during World War II and the ways we respond to critical national needs today. Watch our short videos and discover how ORAU is championing science, health and education.

Check back often as we share behind-the-scenes content, surprise teachers with STEM equipment giveaways and interview some of the smartest men and women in the world.

Elizabeth Rona in about 1925 at the Radium Institute in Vienna. Credit: Hans Pettersson Archive/Gothenburg University Library

Elizabeth Rona was a brilliant scientist, and she had the opportunity to work with other notable scientists because of the timing of her research interests in radioactivity, exceptional expertise in extracting polonium and her contributions to the understanding of radiochemistry.

uranium-marbles.jpg

Many household items and other common objects made during the 1950s and 1960s contained uranium. During this time period, the government was encouraging members of the public to hunt for uranium. The federal governments Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) sponsored the search and advertised fixed rates for uranium ore to go along with bonuses for new discoveries. As a result, you…