The ITER Organization has announced the 16th ITER International School (IIS 2024), scheduled for 25 November to 6 December 2024. The event will be hosted by the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gandhinagar, India, in collaboration with the Homi Bhabha National Institute. The school's theme, "Tokamaks as Fusion Reactors," signals a focus on the transition from experimental plasma physics to the integrated engineering required for power-producing devices. Applications for the approximately 80 available positions are open to PhD students and early-career scientists and engineers, with a submission deadline of 15 July 2024. Source: ITER

The two-week curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific and technological challenges in developing tokamak-based fusion power plants. The program will feature lectures and tutorials from international experts covering core topics in fusion science, including plasma physics, materials science, and the complex engineering systems integral to a reactor. Specific subjects will address the physics basis for reactor design, plasma-facing components, tritium breeding blankets, magnet technology, and the control systems necessary for sustained, high-performance plasma operations. The school aims to equip the next generation of fusion professionals with the multidisciplinary knowledge base required for projects like ITER and future commercial reactors. Source: ITER

The two-week curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific and technological challenges in developing tokamak-based fusion power plants.

Hosting the school at the Institute for Plasma Research underscores India's significant role within the international fusion community. IPR is the lead domestic agency for India's contributions to the ITER project and operates its own superconducting tokamak, SST-1. The institute's experience spans the design, fabrication, and operation of complex fusion hardware, providing a relevant backdrop for the school's reactor-focused theme. This selection offers participants direct exposure to a major national laboratory actively engaged in both domestic research and international collaboration, reflecting the global nature of the fusion energy endeavor. Source: ITER

The ITER International School series serves a critical function in workforce development for the fusion sector. As the field advances towards net-energy-gain devices and pilot plants, the demand for scientists and engineers with an integrated understanding of reactor systems is increasing. These educational programs are vital for knowledge transfer from established experts to emerging researchers, ensuring continuity and building capacity for operating large-scale facilities like ITER. The curriculum also provides a foundation for careers in the rapidly expanding private fusion industry, where a practical, systems-level perspective is essential for accelerating development timelines. Source: ITER