How to explain fusion energy to anyone

with children's book author Kathryn Hulick

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

11:00am

Virtual

IAP Seminars

Fusion energy is complicated. It involves ionized gases, superconducting magnets, tritium breeding, and more. Although the science behind all of this is indeed complex, it's also exciting. With some creativity and enthusiasm, you can explain fusion energy in a way that anybody can understand. That's exactly what Kathryn Hulick did in her new book for kids and teens, Welcome to the Future: Robot Friends, Fusion Energy, Pet Dinosaurs, and More. The book explains how ten different technologies could transform the world in the future. It also challenges readers to think about how they want the world to change. In this talk, she'll read from her chapter about fusion energy. She'll explain how she approached researching and writing about this subject, including how she decided what to include and what to leave out. She'll offer tips on how to explain scientific research to journalists, students, or the public in a way that makes eyes light up and mental gears spin. Fusion energy isn't JUST complicated -- it's also fun. 

Bio: Kathryn Hulick is the author of two books for teens, Welcome to the Future: Robot Friends, Fusion Energy, Pet Dinosaurs, and More (Quarto, 2021), about how technology could change the world in the future, and Strange But True: 10 of the World's Greatest Mysteries Explained (Quarto, 2019), about the science and history of ghosts, aliens, and other mysterious things. As a freelance science journalist, she regularly contributes to Science News for Students, Muse magazine, and Front Vision, a Chinese-language science magazine for young people.  Hulick’s favorite part of writing about science is getting to speak with researchers in many different fields. Once, she spoke with an expert on parallel universes while he was shoveling snow from his driveway. Another time, she called a biologist who was out in the field in Africa, watching a herd of elephants. In addition to writing, she enjoys hiking, gardening, painting and reading. Hulick lives in Massachusetts with her husband, son and dog. Her website is http://kathrynhulick.com/ You can follow her on Twitter @khulick or on Instagram or TikTok @kathryn_hulick

For Zoom link contact: info@psfc.mit.edu