With fossil fuel reserves diminishing and concerns over climate change increasing, the hunt for alternative sources of energy has never been more important. In the middle of rural Oxfordshire in the UK, a thousand scientists and engineers are undertaking a project to develop a new source of energy – nuclear fusion. 

Fusion of hydrogen nuclei is the process that powers the Sun – and at the European JET project, located at Culham Science Centre, these processes are being replicated. By heating a gas of Deuterium and Tritium to 150-200 million degrees C and employing powerful magnetic fields, the JET tokamak has demonstrated the fusion of these nuclei and a subsequent release of energy (16MW - a world record for fusion power produced). 

JET continues to lead the worldwide effort way towards commercial fusion power - answering ever more scientific and engineering challenges - and ensuring the next step international device ITER (located in Cadarche, France) will hit the ground running, when it comes into operation in late 2020. 

The first fusion power stations should be starting up in the next 30 years – harnessing the power of the Sun for all of us here on earth!

The Tea Bar will be open for at least half an hour before the talk which starts at 7.30pm, so you can get yourself a drink and have a chat with other participants. The discussions will aim to finish around 9.00pm, though everyone will be welcome to stay around and have a chat with the speaker afterwards ... and indulge in more of the Tea Bar's delicious cakes.
 

The format of the evening is usually a talk of 30 to 40 minutes, followed by a short break so the audience can refill their glasses, before questions and discussions about the talk. Entry is free and open to everyone, but we do encourage you to buy a tea, coffee or drink (and cakes) at the bar to show your support for The Tea Bar who sponsor the meeting by providing the venue.
 

Cafe Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore and debate the latest ideas in science and technology.