Harnessing the Power of Stars: Shaping the Future of Energy with Fusion Science
When
February 17, 2026 | Dr. Lise-Marie Imbert-Gérard
Harnessing the Power of Stars: Shaping the Future of Energy with Fusion Science
Nuclear fusion, the reaction that powers the Sun, offers the promise of a clean, safe, and abundant energy source capable of meeting the ever-growing global demand. Today, the stellarator — one of the earliest types of toroidal devices developed to confine fusion fuel with magnetic fields and control the reaction — is at the forefront of research and innovation across both science and engineering.
Stellarator design involves strategic choices about the device’s geometry to enhance performance while reducing construction costs. In this lecture, the speaker will focus on mathematical modeling and computational methods for stellarator optimization, highlighting some key challenges, recent progress, and future goals in this field. Get your free tickets here.
Today's Science, Tomorrow's World | 2026 Lecture Series
This year’s series, Today’s Science, Tomorrow’s World: Building a Better Future, showcases the groundbreaking research at the University of Arizona that is driving innovation and shaping the future we aspire to create.
From pioneering efforts to slow the biological roots of aging, to the surprising ways tiny insects reveal big insights into brain health, to the quest for clean and limitless fusion energy, and the essential role of human understanding in an age of artificial intelligence — each lecture explores how today’s scientific discoveries are laying the foundation for a healthier, smarter, and more sustainable future.
All lectures are free and open to the public.
Tickets are required for entrance at Centennial Hall. Click here to reserve your spot now for free via Ticketmaster. Tickets for each lecture will be emailed to you to scan at Centennial Hall.
Lecture Dates:
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Tuesday, February 17, 2026*
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
*Please note: due to an on-campus event, this lecture will be hosted Tuesday evening.
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Centennial Hall (1020 E. University Blvd)
Livestream: Watch the livestreams and recordings on YouTube.
Scroll down to learn more about our four featured speakers and their lectures. We look forward to seeing you at Centennial Hall in February!