Angaanba Ningthoujam
Slides 1–2
Intro (Before Slide 1)
“Good morning everyone. We’re excited to present our topic: ‘Fusion Energy: A Sociotechnical Journey to Clean Power.’
We often hear about fusion energy as a scientific breakthrough — but today, we’ll explore it from multiple angles: not just the science, but also
the social systems, power structures, and global inequalities connected to it.
Our aim is to understand not only what fusion is, but who builds it, who benefits from it, and how we can make it accessible and just for all.”
Slide 1: Fusion Energy – A Sociotechnical Journey to Clean Power
“Fusion is often called the holy grail of clean energy. It works by fusing light atomic nuclei, releasing massive energy — with no CO emissions
and minimal radioactive waste.
Unlike fission, which splits atoms and creates long-lived nuclear waste, fusion mimics what the sun does — producing clean energy through
intense heat and pressure.
Just one gram of fusion fuel could generate as much energy as burning tons of coal, and without the harmful emissions.
Major international projects like ITER in France, involving 35 countries, and private players like Helion and Commonwealth Fusion Systems are
pushing this technology forward.
But fusion isn’t just a scientific project — it’s also political, economic, and deeply social. That’s why we view it through a sociotechnical lens —
understanding how society and technology shape each other.”
Slide 2: Actor-Network Theory – Mapping Fusion’s Ecosystem
“To understand how fusion happens, we can use Actor-Network Theory, or ANT.
ANT tells us that fusion isn’t just created in labs — it’s built through networks of actors:
People: scientists, engineers, government officials, and communities
Technologies: like tokamak reactors, superconducting magnets, and plasma containment systems
Institutions: research labs, funding agencies, and regulators
Materials: rare earth elements, hydrogen isotopes, specialized components
For example, ITER relies on Japanese magnets, French zoning laws, U.S. funding, and Russian plasma expertise — showing how fusion is a
truly global collaboration.
ANT helps us ask: who is part of this network — and who is left out? That’s important when we think about access and equity.”
Transition to Ratan:
“Now that we’ve seen how fusion is shaped by global networks, Ratan will take it further using Assemblage Theory to show how all these forces
collide — sometimes in messy, unpredictable ways — and how society enters the picture.”
Ratan Deep Prasad
Slides 3–5
Slide 3: Assemblage – Fusion as a Collage of Forces
“Assemblage Theory builds on ANT by showing that fusion energy isn’t created in a straight line.
It’s shaped by a collage of forces:
Technologies like reactors and materials science
Cultures such as scientific norms, media hype, and innovation narratives
Policies like international treaties and government priorities
Financial systems such as venture capital, public funding, and market incentives
For instance, private startups like Helion are influenced by Silicon Valley capital, climate urgency, and even media framing around “energy
miracles.”
Assemblage reminds us: fusion doesn’t just emerge from labs — it’s assembled from many moving parts. And we must ask: which future of
fusion are we assembling? And for whom?”
Slide 4: Public Sociology – Democratizing the Fusion Narrative
“Fusion energy is heavily funded by public money, but most people don’t understand what it is.
A 2022 Pew study found that only 17% of Americans could accurately explain the difference between fusion and fission.
This gap leads to misinformation, fear, and public disengagement — which is dangerous when so much funding and policy depends on public
trust.
In countries like India and South Africa, grassroots organizations are working to improve energy literacy and science communication.
Public sociology tells us: if fusion is meant to serve the public, then the public must be included in the conversation.”
Slide 5: Intersectionality – Who Benefits from Fusion?
“Now let’s talk about intersectionality — the idea that race, gender, class, and geography all shape access to opportunities.
In fusion, we see major inequalities. The Global South is underrepresented in research. Projects are dominated by countries like the U.S.,
France, and Japan, while many African and Latin American countries are left out.
Fusion research is also male-dominated. Globally, women make up less than 20% of the nuclear physics workforce.
Without inclusive policies and diverse educational pipelines, fusion may just replicate the injustices of older energy systems.
Intersectionality pushes us to ask: who is shaping the future of energy — and who is being left behind?”
Transition to Nikhil:
“Now that we’ve explored the social dimensions of inclusion, Nikhil will walk us through the technological side — how digital inequality affects
fusion research and what real-world progress looks like today.”
Nikhil Pratap Singh
Slides 6–7
Slide 6: The Digital Divide – Fusion in an Uneven Tech Landscape
“Modern fusion development relies on AI, simulation software, and high-performance computing — but not everyone has access to these tools.
Countries with poor internet infrastructure or limited budgets can’t participate equally. Universities in low-income regions may lack basic
computing power or reliable bandwidth.
Meanwhile, organizations like the U.S. Department of Energy are using exascale computing to simulate plasma behavior — giving them a major
advantage.
This creates a digital elite club, where only a few countries shape the science — unless we invest in infrastructure, education, and global tech
access.”
Slide 7: Real-World Progress – Where We Are Now
“There have been some historic breakthroughs:
In December 2022, the National Ignition Facility in the U.S. achieved net energy gain for the first time in a fusion reaction.
ITER is projected to produce its first plasma by 2025, with full-scale fusion tests in the 2030s.
Commercial fusion electricity could arrive in the 2040s if scaling succeeds.
Meanwhile, private firms like TAE Technologies and Commonwealth Fusion Systems are developing smaller, more modular fusion systems.
Progress is real — but we still face challenges like material durability, upfront costs, and achieving net-positive energy consistently.”
Transition to Peter:
“We’ve seen the progress — now Peter will explain what it takes to scale fusion for real-world use and how we can build a just, inclusive fusion
future.”
Azariah Peter
Slides 8–10
Slide 8: Fusion at Scale – From Lab to Grid
“Getting fusion to work in a lab is one thing. Powering homes and cities is another.
We need:
Scientific breakthroughs for ignition and containment
Industrial ecosystems for manufacturing specialized components
Public-private partnerships for funding and development
And grid integration to transmit fusion power reliably
The UK’s STEP prototype aims to feed electricity to the grid by the 2040s — showing how planning, engineering, and regulation must all work
together.”
Slide 9: Visioning a Just Fusion Future
“A truly just fusion future doesn’t just provide clean power — it redistributes access.
Imagine:
Fusion-powered water purification systems in drought zones
Micro-grids in off-grid communities
South-South collaboration and fair IP sharing
We must also ensure community consent, cultural sensitivity, and fair labor. If fusion is truly for everyone, we must build it with everyone.”
Slide 10: Call to Action – Co-creating the Energy of Tomorrow
“Fusion is not inevitable. It’s a choice. And everyone has a role.
Governments must fund long-term research
Universities must teach ethical, interdisciplinary curricula
Communities must demand energy justice
And individuals, like us, must stay informed and speak up
Fusion’s future is not just in reactors — it’s in policies, classrooms, and communities.
Let’s work together to build a future that is clean, just, and shared by all.”
