Welcome!
My name is Seth Gorelik ’25 of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME. This website will delve into the intriguing intersection of Soviet nuclear history and the consequential displacement and disruption of native communities. My personal connection to this subject runs deep as my parents emigrated from Kiev, Ukraine, and Vilnius, Lithuania—regions that were once under Soviet rule. Their experiences of enduring religious and social persecution have deeply influenced my commitment to understanding and addressing the harm inflicted upon these communities.
Through this project, my aim is to present a comprehensive and accessible exploration of the often-overlooked or misunderstood history of life on the Kazakh steppe during an era of nuclearization and militarization orchestrated by the Soviet regime. It is my goal to look at a combination of science, culture, politics, and history to examine the legacies of nuclear testing that shows something more complicated than just “a bloodless conflict.” I firmly believe that by shedding light on a history shrouded in secrecy (and questioning why this may have been the case), this endeavor has the potential to give agency to a peoples that have long been denied it.
The format of the blog posts on this website is deliberately designed to steer clear of intricate and complex language, ensuring that the information provided is easily understandable and straightforward. By presenting bite-sized, digestible tidbits of knowledge, I aim to avoid any confusion or misleading interpretations. Employing RStudio as a powerful tool, I harnessed scientific data to craft a compelling series of maps throughout the blog posts. By delving into the data and employing data visualization techniques, I hope to provide a clearer and more engaging presentation of the complexities surrounding the subject matter. My ultimate objective is to bring this history to light and foster a widespread understanding of its significance. Through accessible writing and concise explanations, I strive to make this veiled history known to a broader audience.
Click here for more on the dark history of Soviet nuclear testing in Kazakhstan.
Explore Kazakh philosophy and indigenous relationships to the natural world.
Gain insight into the environmental ramifications of nuclear testing.
