Education network celebrates 10 years

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." The former president of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela certainly did not specifically have the education of future fusion scientists and engineers on his mind when he spoke these words. But Mandela's message could certainly also apply to the development of a new energy source for mankind. "As fusion moves towards the commercial era, it is more important than ever that we provide the best possible education to the next generation of fusion scientists and engineers," said Roddy Vann, Chair of FuseNet on the occasion of the association's 10th anniversary on Wednesday 9 December 2020.

A lot of active and former members joined the virtual party, including Niek Lopes Cardozo and Roger Jaspers, both professors at Eindhoven University, and professors emeriti Jean-Marie Noterdaeme and Guido van Oost, together the masterminds behind the idea to create an education network across Europe. Ten years ago, on a cold and overcast December morning, Lopes Cardozo and Jaspers had made their way to an Eindhoven notary to formally establish the FuseNet Association.

The moment had already been several years in the making. The FuseNet program initially launched under the flag of the Seventh Framework Programme for Research—the European Union's ambitious research and innovation program. Several fusion professionals had joined in 2007 in an effort to improve fusion education across Europe and to bring together the different fusion education communities that were scattered across the continent.

Today FuseNet counts 69 universities and research centres from 25 countries as members, including the ITER Organization. It stimulates and coordinates fusion education Europe-wide and provides the logistics and the funding for internships, educational material, mini workshops and an annual PhD event. In October a new project was born, the European Fusion Teacher Day, which was attended by 600 educators from all over Europe.

During the anniversary celebration, a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed between FuseNet and ENEN, the European Nuclear Education Network. And two new Members were officially welcomed on board: the Ruđer Bošković Institute, Croatia, and the National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos" in Greece.