A Collaborative National Center for Fusion & Plasma Research

Science literacy

Subscribe to RSS - Science literacy

Having the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes necessary to make informed decisions on scientific issues.

COLLOQUIUM: Assessing First Wall Materials at the Atomic Scale and Energy Writ Large at Princeton

Quantum mechanics based computer simulations can help provide insights into the survivability of first wall and divertor materials. I will present results of research aimed at assessing how hydrogen isotopes interact with solid tungsten and liquid lithium, candidates for plasma facing components of fusion reactors. An overview of Princeton University's Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment will also be provided.

COLLOQUIUM: Atomic Tracings: The History of Radioisotopes in Science and Medicine

After detonating the first nuclear weapons in Japan, to devastating effects, the U.S. government turned swiftly to promoting the peaceable dividends of atomic energy. The first such benefit took the form of radioactive isotopes, produced in a former Manhattan Project reactor and distributed to civilian purchasers beginning in 1946. The consequences of this new supply of radioisotopes for science and medicine were profound and extensive, as illustrated by developments in biochemistry, nuclear medicine, and ecology.

COLLOQUIUM: Chance, Necessity, and the Origins of Life

Earth's 4.5 billion year history is a complex tale of deterministic physical and chemical processes, as well as 'frozen accidents'. Most models of life's origins also invoke chance and necessity. Recent research adds two important insights to this discussion. First, chance versus necessity is an inherently false dichotomy--a range of probabilities exists for many natural events. Second, given the astonishing combinatorial chemical richness of early Earth, events that are extremely rare may, nevertheless, be deterministic on time scales of a billion years.

COLLOQUIUM: Technical Aspects of the Iran Nuclear Agreement

After 20 months of negotiation, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and the United States reached an agreement with Iran to constrain and verify its nuclear program, in exchange for relief from international sanctions. The constraints on Iran are unprecedented among non-proliferation agreements, as are the verification procedures. Iran will be required, for 15 years, to maintain an inventory of no more than 300 kg of uranium enriched to no more than 3.67%. It will be prevented from constructing a research reactor using natural uranium.

A.J. Stewart Smith to step down as Princeton University vice president for PPPL in 2016

As a young man, A.J. Stewart “Stew” Smith won the Canadian National Lacrosse Championship as a member of a powerful Vancouver, British Columbia, club team. That early success and love of teamwork foreshadowed an illustrious career in which Smith has played leading roles as an educator, administrator and particle physicist. Now, after nearly 50 years on the faculty and staff of Princeton University, Smith is stepping down next February from his current post as the University’s initial vice president for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).

A.J. Stewart Smith to step down as Princeton University vice president for PPPL in 2016

As a young man, A.J. Stewart “Stew” Smith won the Canadian National Lacrosse Championship as a member of a powerful Vancouver, British Columbia, club team. That early success and love of teamwork foreshadowed an illustrious career in which Smith has played leading roles as an educator, administrator and particle physicist. Now, after nearly 50 years on the faculty and staff of Princeton University, Smith is stepping down next February from his current post as the University’s initial vice president for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).

Delgado-Aparicio urges middle school students to pursue careers in science and join the quest for fusion energy

Physicist Luis Delgado-Aparicio told middle school students attending a conference of Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA) at Princeton University to follow their dreams and to pursue careers in science even if the path is difficult.

Pages

U.S. Department of Energy
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory managed by Princeton University.

Website suggestions and feedback

Google+ · Pinterest · Instagram · Flipboard

PPPL is ISO-14001 certified

Princeton University Institutional Compliance Program

Privacy Policy · Sign In (for staff)

© 2018 Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. All rights reserved.

Princeton University
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
P.O. Box 451
Princeton, NJ 08543-0451
GPS: 100 Stellarator Road
Princeton, NJ, 08540
(609) 243-2000