Fusion Power – will it be ready when it is needed?

The Faculty of Science & Engineering presents

Fusion Power – will it be ready when it is needed?

Professor Steven Cowley, CEO UK Atomic Energy Authority

29th October 2014 at 6.30pm

Is fusion energy one of the only truly sustainable options for energy supply? In a decade, the largest fusion machine in history ITER will start operating in the south of France. This international fusion experiment will generate up to 500 megawatts of power and provide a proof of principle for fusion energy.

Professor Cowley, CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority will describe the scientific progress in fusion - from Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington’s prophetic predictions in 1920 to the remarkable results from European (JET) and UK (MAST) reactors based at Culham, UK. The EU will fund JET for five years of experimental campaigns leading to fusion power shots in 2017 and 2018 that will aim to break the world record of fusion power. However it is a long journey and it is not finished — Professor Cowley will outline the challenging problems that must be solved to make fusion power a commercial option and the worldwide efforts to find their solution.

Professor Steven Cowley (BA, Oxford, PhD Princeton) became Director of the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in September 2008 and Chief Executive of the UK Atomic Energy Authority in November 2009. Currently he is also a member of the Prime Ministers Council on Science and Technology, a fellow of the Institute of Physics and of the Royal Society. His main research interest is in realising fusion power and is the author of more than 150 published papers. From 2001 to 2003 he led the plasma physics group at Imperial College London where he remains a part time professor.

Ticket Information

This event is free to attend, but you must book tickets online in advance if you wish to attend.You will then be emailed an e-ticket and you should bring this with you on the day.

The nearest tube stations are Stepney Green and Mile End

Arts 2 Lecture Theatre

Arts 2 Building

Queen Mary, University of London Mile End Road

London E1 4NS

Further Information

If you have any questions regarding this event please contact Stuart Harvey at s.harvey@qmul.ac.uk.