During the weeks of June 2nd-13th 2025, PPPL virtually hosted an intensive course on plasma and fusion energy sciences, taught by world renowned scientists from various national and international institutions. The course was targeted at undergraduate students interested in plasma physics and fusion energy science and is open to public at large.
Registration was free and participants that attend the full course and complete a deliverable by the due date (July 13, 2025) will receive a certificate of completion.
The introductory course was fully conducted via Zoom, and in half-day sessions (12PM-4PM ET) in order to accommodate various time zones.
The content reflected the broad research under the Fusion Energy Sciences and Plasma Physics umbrella, including discovery plasma sciences, magnetic fusion energy, fusion materials and technology and high energy density plasmas.
Stay tuned for details about the 2026 Introduction to Fusion Course!
The entire course was streamed live, recorded, and uploaded on this site and available regardless of enrollment status.
Due to the public nature of this event, all participants and speakers are asked to abide by a code of conduct.
Eastern Time | Day 1 (6/2/25) | Day 2 (6/3/25) | Day 3 (6/4/25) | Day 4 (6/5/25) | Day 5 (6/6/25) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 PM | 12:30PM: Intro to the Course Dominguez |
Intro to Plasmas Cartagena-Sanchez |
Plasma Waves (pptx) Lopez |
Stellarators Lazerson |
Low-Temperature Plasmas Guerra-Garcia |
1:00 PM | Intro to Fusion Paz-Soldan |
Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion |
1:30 PM | Intro to Fusion Paz-Soldan |
Single Particle Motion (pptx) LeViness |
Plasma Turbulence (pptx) Valdivia |
Tokamaks (pptx) Clauser |
Laboratory Plasma Astrophysics (pptx) Valenzuela-Villaseca |
2:30 PM | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion |
3:00 PM | Fusion Markets and Society Chaban |
Plasmas as a Fluid (pptx) Thuecks |
Networking Session I (register here) Grads and early careers |
Other Fusion Concepts You |
Plasma-Material Interactions Ottaviano |
4:00 PM | Adjourn | Adjourn | Adjourn | Adjourn | Adjourn |
Eastern Time | Day 6 (6/9/25) | Day 7 (6/10/25) | Day 8 (6/11/25) | Day 9 (6/12/25) | Day 10 (6/13/25) |
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12:00 PM | Inertial Fusion Energy (pptx) Simpson |
Blanket and Fuel Cycle Yildirim |
Laser-Driven Particle Acceleration (OPAL) Dollar |
Plasma Controls (pptx) Corona-Rivera |
Computational Workshop I (notebook I) Murphy/Heuer/Schaffner |
1:00 PM | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break (start and end time may change) |
1:30 PM | Challenges of a Fusion Startup (pptx) Washington |
Outer Fuel Cycle and Heat Transport System Design - Heat Transport, Fuel Management (D-T), and Power Conversion Carasik |
RF Heating and AI (pptx) Sanchez-Villar |
Integrated Plasma Modeling De Pascuale |
Computational Workshop II (notebook II) Murphy/Heuer/Schaffner |
2:30 PM | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break/Hallway Discussion | Break (start and end time may change) |
3:00 PM | Challenge of Fusion Regulation and Licensing (pptx) White |
Magnetic Reconnection (key) Juno |
Opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students Anderson/Slowing/Williams |
Networking Session II (register here) Grads and early careers |
Computational Workshop III Murphy/Heuer/Schaffner |
4:00 PM | Adjourn | Adjourn | Adjourn | Adjourn | Adjourn / CLOSING REMARKS |