Over 200 Oxfordshire residents of all ages relished in screenings of Star Makers – The Energy of Tomorrow – a film about recreating a star here on Earth to provide low carbon energy for generations to come.
The behind-the-scenes documentary filmed at UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Culham Campus, captures the journey of a passionate team working to provide the world with safe, sustainable and low carbon energy in addition to realising a world fusion energy record.
The two free exclusive screenings followed by a panel Q&A session were hosted at Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot on 29 November 2022 by UKAEA and Women in Nuclear (WiN) UK as the organisations work together to raise awareness of careers in STEM.
Local resident Victoria Haval, who attended the event with her husband and son, enthused: “This was an exciting and unique event. Our son was amazed when the people who were in the film actually appeared on the stage. It was like thrilling science fiction, but in ‘real life’ and all happening close by.”
Isabelle Derochers brought her two daughters to watch the film. “They absolutely loved it!” she said.
Dr Elina Militello Asp, WiN Regional Lead South, added: “I am thrilled that so many took the opportunity to watch these screenings of Star Makers and to learn about the fascinating research on fusion, an almost limitless energy source, taking place right here in Oxfordshire.
“I was also delighted that people of all ages in the audience, especially children and teenagers from schools across the county, including Didcot Girls School, King Alfred’s Academy, Larkmead School and Cranford House. The film provided them with an inspiring insight into what it can be like working in STEM.”
The audiences’ enthusiasm and curiosity presented the panel with a steady stream of questions including: “If it’s ten times hotter than the sun, why don’t the walls melt?” to “How long will it take before we have fusion electricity on the grid? and “How important was teamwork for achieving the fusion energy record?”
Joëlle Mailloux, JET Science Programme Leader at UKAEA said: “I was delighted to see how positively this non-scientific audience was reacting to the film and interacted with us afterwards, and by the range of questions they asked.”
Fernanda Rimini, JET EUROfusion Senior Exploitation Manager at UKAEA, added: “The Q&A session was so enjoyable and interesting, especially after the first showing with the younger audience!”
Following the Q&A sessions, the buzz of questions to the panel continued in the lobby, where WiN and UKAEA had stands, before everyone headed home at the end of the evening, animated by the promise of a bright future lit up by fusion energy.
Q&A panellist, Joe Milnes, Interim Chief Operating Officer at UKAEA, said: “Seeing the film on the big screen, in such a great venue with such an enthusiastic audience, was really enjoyable. The questions from both audiences were excellent and really kept the panel on their toes. Hopefully we might have inspired some future fusion scientists, engineers and technicians to come and join us on our quest for this clean, secure and sustainable energy source for generations to come”.
Like, Isabella, 9, a future star maker, who went to bed talking about fusion and fission and wondering when she could start working on JET.
Record results announced in February 2022 were achieved by scientists and engineers working with fusion energy machine JET (Joint European Torus).
Dr Joe Milnes, concludes: “JET is one of the most important machines in the history of fusion energy research. We’re extremely proud to have been operating it here in Oxford on behalf of the EUROfusion consortium over the past four decades. Its longevity and successes have allowed us to break down many barriers on our mission to turn this ultimate science experiment into sustainable commercial power.”
WiN Central England would like to thank the panel, Fernanda Rimini (JET EUROfusion Senior Exploitation Manager), Joe Milnes (Interim Chief Operating Officer, UKAEA), Joëlle Mailloux (JET Science Programme Leader, UKAEA) and Damian King (Deputy JET Operation Manager) for their keen participation and engaging answers to all the questions.
If you missed this event you can catch up by watching the trailer: Star Makers: The Energy of Tomorrow – OFFICIAL TRAILER
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