U.S. WIN August 2023 Twitter Takeover: Catherine Riddle

Article Author:

Kristina Spencer

September 1, 2023

Catherine Riddle, senior research scientist at Idaho National Laboratory, recently took over our Twitter account (@womeninnuclear) to share her “Day-in-the-Life” story. Riddle has previously been featured in a U.S. WIN member spotlight. Check out her tweets below!

Good Day All! My name is Catherine and I am a senior research scientist at Idaho National Laboratory (@INL). I have been with INL for 24 years as a radiochemist and throughout today I will show you why I love being an inventor and a teacher! Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/0YSlYV9hAr

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

My career path in radiochemistry was not traditional or easy. I went to school for my first degree, BS in chemistry, at age 36. I was a non-traditional student with a dream. I went from a florist to a chemist and never looked back. Never give up, never surrender your dream! pic.twitter.com/95JsMzhCXY

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

Some of my first work was in collaboration between @INL and @unlv on actinide research. I was a non-traditional student working full time at INL and also in graduate school at UNLV, not an easy road, but it can be done! pic.twitter.com/rJlfJmLxKN

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

Uranium (U) has to be my favorite element, why, because there is more to it than just nuclear energy, shine an ultraviolet light on it and you will see the glowing beauty of uranium! It has been used as a colorant in glass since the late 1800s and is still used today pic.twitter.com/jK51XlHCI9

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

My research work @INL involves developing new technologies to solve national and global problems in areas such as used nuclear fuel recycling, nuclear national security, and environmental science. Always a great day when I’m in my lab! pic.twitter.com/6Z3FhPY0SZ

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

My mentoring work takes me throughout Idaho, Wyoming, and our nation to bring STEM shows to students of all ages. Here is one of our local elementary schools where an amazing group of over 200 students learned about chemistry and our radioactive world. pic.twitter.com/Sfhbwnwfkc

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

We have a proud history of nuclear innovation here at @INL and in our area Eastern Idaho with EBR-1 (Experimental Breeder Reactor-1) located on our desert. EBR-1 is a National Historic Landmark where usable electricity was first generated from nuclear energy on December 20, 1951. pic.twitter.com/aaYQWWwTHu

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

My research has led to many technologies and I am an inventor on 14 patents and patents pending as well as an R&D 100 award for Colorimetric Detection of Actinides (Codeac) and many other technology and personal achievement awards. pic.twitter.com/qCIVbld1ym

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

Some research ideas can go from benchtop to industry, to saving lives. Colorimetric Detection of Actinides (Codeac) did just that and it has been an amazing learning experience for myself, my co-inventor Rick (pictured), and the entire Codeac Solutions team! pic.twitter.com/qCarwL14GX

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

It was a great honor and privilege to be named INL’s 2022 Inventor of the Year at the @INL Directors Awards Gala this past May. Dr. John Wagner, Laboratory Director of INL, presented me with the award which I was nominated for by my peers. Again, an honor to receive this award. pic.twitter.com/R11sf3Ufhv

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

If you have a chance to be a mentor, or learn from a mentor, take it! My mentor taught me many things, but the best of these was how to be a world class radiochemist and a world class mentor, thank you that John. pic.twitter.com/rJBfiY6XpJ

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

Giving back to the community has always been important to me and what better way to teach STEM than with chemistry magic! Who doesn’t love a little Elephant Toothpaste to play with and the glow of uranium under ultraviolet light! pic.twitter.com/zm9VnnNRaB

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

It’s always nice to be inspiring, even if the road leads to designing and building an artistic representation of the first nuclear reactor to produce usable electricity, EBR-1. Atomic Town Power Lego was built to start a conversation about clean nuclear energy, no matter your age pic.twitter.com/62hcxVrCns

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023

Moments in the life of an inventor and teacher, a lot of hard work, but a lot of fun too! Always be a dreamer, no matter your career path, and you too will leave the world a better place than you found it. I will leave you with a view of my other passion, photography! pic.twitter.com/VP61pJ2BXl

— U.S. WIN (@WomenInNuclear) August 23, 2023