Roger Falcone – July 17, 2025
Last month, I had the pleasure of visiting the Physics Department at Sofia University in Bulgaria. The highlight was seeing firsthand how they’re using the Alpha-E tabletop fusion instrument, one of the first institutions in Europe to adopt it. This compact, practical device enables students and researchers to experiment with fusion reactions in real time, developing the skills and experience they’ll need to push the field forward.
For all the scientific progress being made in fusion energy, the truth is that we won’t get there without investing in people. Breakthrough technologies mean nothing without the next generation of physicists, engineers, and innovators ready to build on them. That’s why Alpha-E exists: to put fusion research into the hands of students at world leading universities around the world.
Why education matters
The global race for fusion energy isn’t just about facilities and funding, it’s about knowledge and talent. Large-scale experiments like those at the National Ignition Facility or ITER depend on people with years of hands-on experience in fusion science and high energy density (HED) physics. But getting that experience isn’t easy when access to experimental facilities is so limited.
That’s where small, accessible tools like Alpha-E make a difference. It gives students and early-career researchers the opportunity to experiment, test ideas, and develop the practical skills they’ll need to lead this field in the years ahead. It’s why education and workforce development are fast becoming priorities for national labs, private fusion ventures, and research groups alike. It’s also why, at Alpha Ring, we arecommitted to supporting this effort.
Collaboration is essential
I’ve seen the power of collaboration throughout my career. I have been part of a remarkable series of experiments at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the field of high energy density science, fundamental work that underpins fusion. This work, performed over a decade, worked because we brought together researchers from UC Berkeley, Stanford, Osaka University, Oxford, and several U.S. national labs. The diversity of expertise and perspectives, provided by many individuals and institutions, was what made the difference in making that work successful.
Fusion is a global challenge. To succeed, we need to share knowledge, tools, and opportunities across borders. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see institutions like Sofia University stepping up and building their fusion education programs with Alpha-E.
Small devices, big wins
It is tempting in fusion to think only in terms of big facilities and even bigger milestones. But we are trying to prove that progress comes from small, steady steps too. Compact devices like Alpha-E play a crucial role by enabling those steps,allowing students to experiment, innovate, and learn from failure before moving on to larger, more complex systems.
It’s through these small wins that we’ll build the skills, ideas, and collaborations needed to ultimately achieve clean, limitless energy.
As a physicist and educator at UC Berkeley, I’ve long believed that our biggest breakthroughs often start in the classroom. If we want to build a fusion-powered future, it starts today, with students, small devices and shared progress.
