Accelerating Commercial Fusion: the Role of Industry and Academia
Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 3-7 PM ET | Climate Week at Columbia Engineering
ABOUT THE EVENT
Is fusion energy just around the corner? Recent years have seen several dramatic advances in this field: fusion ignition by lasers at the National Ignition Facility, 59 megajoules of fusion energy by the magnetic approach in the United Kingdom, and most importantly the emergence of a vibrant fusion private sector backed by $7 billion of venture capital funding.
How can progress in fusion be accelerated? This panel and event will explore the progress and plans in the private sector, discuss the ambitious timelines of leading fusion startup companies, and identify the challenges facing the sector.
What is academia’s role? Hosted by Columbia University, one of the nation’s premier academic programs in this field, the panel will also discuss the essential role of university programs in performing early-stage R&D, developing new concepts, and building the fusion workforce of tomorrow.
Speakers:
Shih-Fu Chang, Dean of Columbia Engineering
Alexis Abramson, Dean of the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth and Incoming Dean of Columbia Climate School
Charlie Baynes-Reid, CFO and General Counsel, Type One Energy
Cary Forest, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor of Physics and Co-Founder, CTO of Realta Fusion
Michael Ginsberg, President, Tokamak Energy LLC
Michael Segal, Senior Director, Open Innovation, Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Sam Wurzel, Founder, Fusion Energy Base