Fusion Energy and Climate Change

Positives

• The podcast features an interview with Dennis Whyte, the director of the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, who explains why fusion energy is so difficult to achieve.
• The guide's wrap-up questions about the podcast will make students think critically about fusion.
• Students will enjoy the fascinating 360° virtual tour of the Alcator C-Mod.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• In the research resources section, the link to the International Atomic Energy Agency is broken.
• Students should have a basic understanding of sub-atomic particles, atomic structure, and chemical reactions.
  

Differentiation

• Science and engineering classes could use this lesson when teaching about atoms, energy, the Sun, and chemical reactions.
  
• Social studies classes could debate the following statement: more money and time should be spent on trying to make fusion energy work. Students could consider the following questions as they prepare for the debate:
  • Why is fusion energy important?
  • How could fusion energy revolutionize the electricity and manufacturing industries?
  • If scientists can figure out a way to produce fusion energy, will it always be expensive?
  • Do we have time to wait for this solution or should it be a secondary priority?
• English language arts or creative writing classes could write a science fiction short story set in a world where scientists have figured out a way to produce fusion energy. 
• Other resources on this topic include this video on obstacles to producing fusion energy, this TED-Ed video on current and projected global energy needs, and this ClimateScience course on clean energy.