Focus Fusion website redesign draws volunteers, intense discussion

Posted by Admin on Nov 26, 2006 at 11:10 PM
Tools: Print | | (0) Comments

One of the big impacts of the new forums has been to attract new volunteers who have contributed to our educational effort. New volunteer Torulf Greek developed the animation of the operation of the plasma focus device that is now on the home page of the website. Glenn Millam, a graphic designer, worked with other volunteers to design a set of focus Fusion t-shirts and logos. The merchandise is now available for sale at http://cafepress.com/focusfusion - just in time for the holidays! Help spread the word about fusion and take care of all your holiday shopping in one blow.

In addition, the forum discussions have started to explore many of the issues raised by focus fusion technology. Some of the subjects covered have included the economic implications of focus fusion for the world economy, the availability and costs of the boron fuel, the impact of focus fusion on reducing the threat of nuclear proliferation and alternative routes to aneutronic fusion. The discussions have also covered technologies that could accompany a transition to a fusion-based economy, such as magnetic levitation trains fast enough to replace aircraft and plasma torches that can recycle waste products.

Due to the increased demands of the new website, which now exceed purely volunteer efforts, for the time being Focus Fusion Society funds will be mainly devoted to paying for web work and outreach. FFS�s educational work, mainly mediated through the website, is materially contributing in several ways to the research effort that is developing focus fusion. First it is raising public awareness of focus fusion, developing support for both private and public funding of focus fusion research. Second, it is attracting skilled professionals who have volunteered help with aspects of the research, such as computer simulations. Third, by initiating and disseminating discussion about focus fusion and its impact on society, the website is paving the way for the sort of very broad public support that will be needed to overcome the resistance of entrenched energy interests and to make focus fusion a reality.