Working at Cold War Los Alamos
a day ago
- #Environmental Cleanup
- #Women in STEM
- #Cold War Science
- Cheryl Rofer worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1965 to 2001, focusing on laser isotope separation, environmental cleanup, and hazardous waste disposal.
- She initially joined Los Alamos as a 'trailing spouse' when her husband got a job there, reflecting the gender norms of the 1960s.
- Rofer faced workplace discrimination, including being denied a job at Cutter Pharmaceuticals because a male colleague refused to work with a woman.
- She played a key role in establishing a chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) at Los Alamos, challenging gender biases at the lab.
- Rofer contributed to significant scientific projects, including laser isotope separation and environmental cleanup efforts in Estonia and Kazakhstan.
- She navigated institutional challenges, such as nepotism rules that initially prevented her from working in the same group as her husband.
- Rofer's career highlights the evolving role of women in science during the Cold War and her resilience in overcoming workplace barriers.