EUROFusion

May 2016 

Back in May of this year I was found on Twitter by Anne Purschwitz, a journalist for EUROFusion. She was looking for young people that were interested in fusion and science communication and since I was passionate about both, she thought I was the perfect person! She needed young scientists for a new project EUROFusion was carrying out, which involved making an issue of the Fusion in Europe magazine entirely written by young scientists. This was a hard challenge since she had to find young scientists that were willing to give up their time to do this, that were interested in fusion and you had a bit of experience in science writing - it was tough but she managed to find 14 students from all across Europe!

Summer 2016

That summer I became a Young Face of Fusion for EUROFusion and was featured on the EUROFusion website - check out the article here. I was so honoured to become a young face of fusion for EUROFusion and even more honoured to be able to share my story and my passion for physics.

September 2016

When I came back from my placement at SLAC, check out blog posts here, here, here and here, I was contacted by Anne about an incredible opportunity relating to my new role as young fusion writer for EUROFusion. The opportunity she told me about was so incredible that I just couldn't believe that this was happening to be --- Anne gave me a unique chance/task to interview the new CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Prof. Ian Chapman!!!! But the exciting news didn't stop there .. Anne was allowing me to interview Prof. Chapman at the JET HQ!!!!!!! So I was going to visit the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, meet Prof. Chapman and have a personal tour around JET!!!!!!!! I just couldn't believe it! This was such excellent news and I was absolutely thrilled to visit JET, the largest tokamak in the world!!!! (I almost fainted!)

Check out my tour around JET in the following video - hope you enjoy it! :)

I was given a hard hat before I went inside the huuuuuuugggeee room that JET lived in. I honestly couldn't keep my jaw from dropping each time I looked up to see this huge machine surrounded by wires, lots of metal, coils, and pipes. It was awesome!

After my tour around JET, it was time for me to meet Prof. Chapman! I was so excited to meet him because at the young age of 34 he is one of the youngest CEO's of a major research centre and I was inspired by his story not only because of this but also because he did his PhD in the same group that I am doing my MSci in at Imperial!

This was my first time interviewing someone (I'm more used to being interviewed) so it was nice to have the tables turned. I set up my camera and had my questions ready. All in all the interview took about 15 minutes and it was great to hear Chapman's answers.

Professor Ian Chapman and I

After this, I was on my way home to write up my article for the next issue of Fusion in Europe. Once this was done I sent it off to Anne where it underwent a quick editing process and was all glammed up in final PDF form for the magazine. I couldn't wait to see the magazine with my article in! 

October 2016

By October the finished article was published and the Fusion in Europe magazine (with my face on the front cover!) was shipped around the globe for fusion scientists, enthusiasts and others to read!

Can't believe I'm on the front cover!

Lots of copies of the Fusion in Europe magazine being shipped around the world!

This was super exciting! It was great to read the articles of the other students involved and the magazine had a great young and fun vibe about it. You can check out my article and the video interview with Prof. Chapman here.

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You too can visit the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and even study/work there - check out this link for more info!

I'd like to finish this blog with a few words from me:

No matter what life throws at you always, always follow your heart and work hard for your dreams, because maybe, just maybe your dreams will come true and all those long hours of hard work will pay off! Believe in yourself and anything is possible! I believe in you!