November 15, 2022
2022-11-15T19:30:00
Virtual: Making the Long Dream of Fusion Energy a Reality Now
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
We're so pleased to partner with the Cary Library's Science Café to welcome MIT Professor Dennis Whyte, Director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. Professor Whyte has paved an innovative and faster path to producing fusion energy, which promises to be a clean, safe and virtually limitless energy source. He leads the fusion project SPARC -- a compact, high-field net fusion energy fusion device -- in collaboration with the private fusion startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
Join us for a conversation with Dennis Whyte to learn how he is leading a wave of innovation with extreme electrochemistry and building the technology to get to carbon zero.
About Dennis Whyte:
Professor Whyte is a recognized leader in fusion research, especially in the magnetic confinement of plasmas, Whyte has paved an innovative and faster path to producing fusion energy. He leads the fusion project, SPARC — a compact, high-field, net fusion energy fusion device — in collaboration with private fusion startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS). The core of the SPARC project was formed over eight years ago during a design course led by Whyte to challenge assumptions in fusion. Many of the ideas underpinning the high-field approach — including the use of HTS for high-field, demountable magnets, liquid blankets, and ARC (a fusion power plant concept) — have been conceived of or significantly advanced in his design courses. Whyte has over 300 publications, is a fellow of the American Physical Society, and has served on panels for the National Academies, the United States government, and the Royal Society. In 2018 Whyte received The Fusion Power Associates (FPA) Board of Directors Leadership Award which is given annually to individuals who have shown outstanding leadership qualities in accelerating the development of fusion. Whyte earned a BS from the University of Saskatchewan, and an MS and PhD from Université du Québec.
Read a profile of Dennis Whyte in the New Yorker's October 11, 2021 issue.
This event is hosted by the Cary Memorial Library, Lexington. Ashlanders are invited to join virtually by registering through the zoom link. This is a HYBRID program, though, so if you would like to attend in person, you would just need to get to the Cary Library - space is limited and in person attendance is on a first come basis.
Please register for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them. The email will be coming from Zoom.
This virtual event is hosted by the Cary Memorial Library and a collaboration between the several Massachusetts libraries.
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library.
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