Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Tommy Rock
combining science and culture to
clean up the legacy of Uranium in the
American Southwest.
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FACULTY STUDY SPOTLIGHT: Dr Tommy Rock and Uranium
He grew up as part of the community most affected by the toxic legacy of the US atomic age: cancer-causing Uranium waste. He hitchhiked from his family home on the Navajo Reservation to start a college path to a PhD in environmental science. Now, as a research professor at Ecoss, Dr. Tommy Rock is a leading voice and force to fix the dangers of widespread Uranium contamination in his community, combining environmental science with Indigenous grassroots action, citizen science, environmental advocacy, and real-world projects that create safe water, food, and air on Navajo lands.
DR. ROCK AT HOME: Tommy tending to the flock.
Tackling a Dangerous Legacy: Mining on Uranium-rich Navajo lands in this area unearthed much of the material needed for the US to become the first nuclear superpower. This huge industrial effort from the 1940’s to the 1980’s brought an atomic end to World War II and the uneasy peace of the Cold War, but also left behind abandoned mines and exposed piles of dusty radioactive waste that pose an ongoing cancer risk to residents.
LEARN MORE: View Dr Tommy Rock’s profile…
To protect the Navajo communities that have lived in the area for at least 1000 years, Dr. Rock’s research identifies, measures, and maps the lasting radioactive risks from Uranium, testing local water, crops, livestock, and soil. Crucially, his roots in the Navajo community allow him to directly add these findings to the decision-making process of elders and other community leaders, combining the latest research with longstanding Navajo culture and knowledge. This unique fusion has led to projects that create clean water for schools, businesses, and homes, map unmarked mines for residents to avoid, and keep a focus on emerging threats from Uranium moving into food, air, and groundwater. As a sought-after expert, Dr. Rock has appeared in major news outlets such as TIME magazine, testified before Congress, and travels and speaks widely.
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