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Speakers from Durham and York will discuss current energy topics: how close are we to achieving nuclear fusion as an energy source, and what other cleaner, renewable, energy sources do we have to replace the fuel of the past?
Is it possible to build a star on earth?
Trying to recreate the energy source of the stars, nuclear fusion, on earth presents huge challenges in physics and engineering. The benefits of nuclear fusion if successful are an almost limitless, clean energy source. There are many challenges associated with keeping matter at 150 million degrees trapped inside a reactor without touching it! This talk is the story of how, in the absence of a lab the size of a star, we are attempting to make fusion into an energy source for the future.
Shining a light on renewable energy
How much energy do we use and where does it come from? The availability of reliable, low cost and sustainable forms of energy is an important challenge facing all countries. In the UK we have seen a shift away from fossil based fuels to alternative sources of electricity. This talk will discuss this shift, why it is important and what the future energy mix might look like. The importance of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will be discussed and some reflections offered on current government policy in this area.
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