“Sun in a Bottle: The Strange History of Fusion Energy,” Charles Seife, October 28
The history of fusion energy from Edward Teller to billions spent on research
HOBOKEN, N.J. — On Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 4:00p.m-5:30 p.m., the Center for Science Writings at Stevens Institute of Technology will present a talk by author and New York University Professor Charles Seife. Titled “Sun in a Bottle: The Strange History of Fusion Energy,” the talk will be held on the Stevens campus in the Babbio Center for Technology Management, Room 122, located at River and Sixth Streets in Hoboken, N.J.
A professor of science journalism at NYU and an author of three previous popular books on physics, Seife will discuss the elusive quest for fusion energy, which forms the topic of his latest book.
For more than 50 years, physicists have sought to harness nuclear fusion, which makes the sun shine and hydrogen bombs explode. True believers keep promising that fusion will solve our energy needs, while skeptics say it's time to pull the plug on this frustrating research program.
“In an era of enormous energy instability, global economic contraction and looming crisis, ‘Sun in a Bottle’ should be essential reading for every policymaker and legislator in Washington. Its central message is delivered simply and succinctly: ‘It is an unfortunate fact of nature: Unless you are creating fusion in a hot dense plasma, you are extraordinarily unlikely to produce excess energy. Too many phenomena conspire against you.’” – Martin Sieff, The Washington Times
The event will be hosted by Center for Science Writings Director John Horgan and is free and open to the public.About Stevens Institute of Technology
Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.
Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.
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