Brasin Benjamin
Brasin Benjamin is a first-generation Marshallese undergraduate student majoring in International Affairs, with minors in Communication Studies and Sociology. He’s the President of the Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander club and a member of College Success Foundation here at EWU. Brasin also serves as a Community Advisor (CA) in Housing Residential Life, demonstrating leadership and cross-cultural communication skills through supporting students from all backgrounds transition successfully to college. His research interests focus on climate change in the Marshall Islands, nuclear weapons policy, diplomacy, and the historical structures of government. Looking ahead, Brasin aims to pursue a career in diplomacy, international policy, and research on global security and environmental sustainability. With a deep commitment to advocating for vulnerable communities affected by climate change and nuclear policies, he seeks to contribute to scholarship and policy initiatives that promote justice, resilience, and international collaboration.
2025 EWU Faculty Research Mentor: Dr. Kristin Edquist
The Legacy of US Nuclear Testing on the Marshall Islands: Environmental & Political Impacts
Abstract: This study examines the long-term human and environmental consequences of U.S. nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands from 1946 to 1958. Building on existing research about the physical destruction and displacement caused by the tests, this paper investigates how the legacy of nuclear colonialism continues to impact Marshallese lives through environmental damage, political exclusion, and cultural resilience. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, informed by Charles Ragin’s Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and the community-based research methods of Holly Barker, the research explores the connections between structural violence, indigenous knowledge, environmental justice, and post-colonial theory. It highlights the critical role of Marshallese resistance through legal battles, global activism, and cultural expression in addressing the ongoing effects of this history. Ultimately, this study contributes to crucial conversations about reparations, environmental management, and the political rights of small island nations by integrating a rigorous, ethically-focused research approach with a deep understanding of historical and ongoing injustices.
Brasin Benjamin, McNair Scholar Awarded BECU Foundation Scholarship!
