It is with great sadness that FuseNet receives the news of the passing of Dr. Bernard Bigot, ITER Director General.
FuseNet’s founders, its Governing Bodies and Executive Office express their condolences to Dr. Bigot’s family and grieve together with the rest of the fusion community.
Dr. Bigot’s great leadership and commitment towards ITER was the cornerstone of the advancement of the project since he took office, reaching remarkable milestones such as the start of the assembly phase in 2020.
Both a visionary leader and a vehement fusion advocate, Dr. Bigot was always extremely supportive towards initiatives organized by and on behalf of students. During COP26, one of his last public appearances, he was adamant about attracting the “new generation” to fusion. He emphasized the importance of providing adequate training and education to the future generations who will operate ITER and subsequent fusion power devices.
FuseNet will continue to support that “new generation” on which Bernard Bigot counted so much, so that they will continue to pursue with renewed effort the goal of making fusion electricity a reality.
The Easiest Thing Nature Does
Infuse. Inspire!
FuseNet launched a new video. “The easiest thing nature does” tells the story of the challenging quest for fusion energy, narrated by the people that make it happen. The camera (beautifully instrumented by Polarmedia) zooms into the cosmos of fusion scientists; and it zooms out looking into its potential to deliver safe and abundant energy.
This film is to be seen as an introduction to fusion energy. So please use it. Show it. And be infused!
Registrations have opened for PhD Event 2022 in Padova
The registrations are open for the PhD Event 2022. On 4-6 July 2022, Consorzio RFX and the University of Padova welcome European fusion PhD students to Padova. During the event, there is time to meet fusion researchers and fellow PhD students, and present your research. It is the best opportunity to strengthen and expand your fusion research network.
Are you a fusion master student, and would you like to work together with fellow fusion students to organise a FuseNet event? Then we are looking for you! We are looking for a new master event committee to organise this year’s Master Event.
Last year, the very first FuseNet Master Event took place, in which fusion master students came together from the whole of Europe to learn from amazing speakers in the field of nuclear fusion. This event was organised by the master event committee, consisting of very enthusiastic fusion students! Can you help us to set up this event on 22 and 23 November 2022? Then please let us know using the contact form.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at:
loek.van.leeuwen@fusenet.eu or feo@fusenet.eu.
Module 3, "Plasma control", of FuseNet's secondary school educational materials is online!
Module 3, "Plasma control", of FuseNet's series of educational materials for secondary school is online! The module is freely available from our website, you can find it in the Educational Materials browser. This module is part of a series of five modules, designed and written by FuseNet to teach secondary school students about fusion. In this third module, we learn about the basics of control theory and how this is used in fusion. Starting from the simple example of a home thermostat, we discuss the concept of measurements and feedback. By taking a special focus on controlling the plasma temperature, we treat the different methods used to heat fusion plasmas, and how this can be measured.
The 59th Culham Plasma Physics Summer School is open to applications! The school will cover fundamental plasma physics, as well as important topics in fusion, astrophysical, laser and low-temperature plasmas. Lecturers are drawn from the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) together with leading European universities. All are renowned experts in their fields. Special arrangements are being made this year to allow for COVID. For more details and to apply, visit the dedicated website: https://culhamsummerschool.org.uk/ The deadline for application is 20 June 2022.
Who are we?
The FuseNet Association
The FuseNet Association was founded to be a platform for the coordination of European fusion education in 2010. And that is what we have been doing ever since. Rooted in academia, we are driven by the notion that the students of now will be the researchers, engineers and pioneers of the future. By connecting and facilitating educators and students across Europe, we build on this understanding. We want to make fusion the place to be for bright and motivated people. By connecting academia with industry and supporting student mobility we stimulate fusion students to get in touch with the work field.
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Industry members
Introduction to nuclear fusion
Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche.
Fusion begins with a remarkably simple nuclear reaction but quickly turns into one of mankind's greatest challenges. Interested in learning why?
Education is our core business. We actively support workshops and educational events across Europe for students of all levels. A portal for all things fusion education, our website provides up-to-date information on interesting workshops and educational events for fusion students. Through our expansive network, we additionally have access to a carefully curated body of fusion-educational materials. Not only do we provide for BSc, MSc and PhD students, we also have a lot of interesting information for teachers at any stage of education: primary school, secondary school and university.
The diversity of our members reflects the diversity of the European fusion community. Through a mix of university, research institute and industry members, FuseNet brings together everyone working in fusion. Fusion faces a great many challenges still, and to tackle those we need highly motivated engineers, reseachers and fusion advocates. FuseNet embodies the understanding that, to make fusion a success, we first and foremost have to train the people to do that. Through our international collaboration FuseNet and its members seek to empower students and the fusion workforce.
To train the future fusion workforce requires more than textbooks and lectures alone. FuseNet actively stimulates students involved in fusion to embark on an internship as part of their education. Through our university, research institute and industry members, we give students and young scientists access to a wide range of internships at state-of-the-art facilities across the continent. Through our Powered by FuseNet funding schemes, we also provide support for fusion-related internships across many disciplines.
