Suds & Science

Ever thought that learning would be more fun with a cold drink in hand? We've got you covered! Suds & Science brings scientists face-to-face with the public at local neighborhood bars for a night of learning, drinking, and community that you won't want to miss!

Highlights:

• Fun and informative lectures from STEM professionals
• Lively discussions between scientists and audiences
• Connection with your community in a laid-back environment

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Event topics:

Tuesday, October 21

Nuclear Fusion as the Future Energy Source

Nuclear fusion—the process that powers the sun—occurs when light atomic nuclei, combine under extreme heat and pressure to form helium, releasing immense amounts of clean energy. Research into fusion was first conducted in secrecy until 1957, when Indian scientist Homi Bhabha, brought the field into open discussions. Bhabha was encouraged by the rapid development of nuclear fission and predicted that fusion would soon yield peaceful applications; yet, more than six decades later, it has proven far more difficult than imagined. The largest international effort, ITER in France, is often described as the most complex scientific and engineering challenge humanity has ever undertaken. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion promises virtually unlimited energy from abundant fuel sources such as seawater, while producing no long-lived radioactive waste and carrying almost zero possibility of a catastrophic accident. Although no reactor has yet produced more electricity than it consumes, recent advances have revived global optimism that fusion could eventually provide a safe, clean, and inexhaustible energy source for humanity. Join us as Dr. Jayakumar discusses the two main approaches dominating the field today.

Lecturer: Dr. Jayakumar is a retired experimental physicist and a researcher in plasma physics and nuclear fusion and accelerator physics. He headed the US team for Magnets in the ITER program during the development phase at the Massachusetts Institute of technology and was a senior scientist and the deputy group leader for the $1 billion superconducting High Energy Booster for the Superconducting Supercollider. He retired from Lawrence Livermore national lab. He has over 100 research publications and is the author of 3 books.