The 100-Year Quest for Fusion Energy with Steven Cowley, Director, PPPL (Virtual)
Fusion energy has long been called the “holy grail” of clean power because in theory it’s cheap, abundant, clean, and safe. Yet despite 100+ years of scientific research and billions in investment, the profound engineering challenges associated with fusion-based power are far from settled.
Join us for a fireside chat with Sir Steven Cowley, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).
Cowley is widely considered one of the most influential fusion scientists, having spent decades at the forefront of plasma physics, which is the technological key to containing fusion reactions for power generation. In his role at PPPL and prior to that as CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Dr. Cowley has shaped not only the science of plasma, but also the engineering strategies and global policy discussions around fusion power. For his contributions to science, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
In this conversation, moderator Duncan Turner (General Partner, SOSV & Managing Director, HAX) and Steven will explore:
Fusion’s hardest problem: why controlling plasma is so difficult & what’s finally changing
The role of AI: how AI & data are accelerating reactor design & plasma stability
From lab to grid: what still stands between experiments & commercially viable power
Plasma beyond fusion: how plasma physics is transforming semiconductors, advanced manufacturing & quantum devices
The role of national labs: how institutions like PPPL & the HAX Plasma Forge are partnering with startups, investors, and industry to bring these technologies to market
Date: April 21 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM ET
📍 Broadcast live from our SOSV NY event space in Manhattan, this is the next installment of SOSV Deep Tech LIVE, our video podcast series exploring the frontiers of deep tech with leading founders, researchers, and technologists.