Middle and High School Plasma Science Outreach Days

The PSFC provides an Outreach Day for middle schools every Spring semester, and one for high schools every fall. Through discussions, tours and hands-on experiences, Outreach Days provide a basic understanding of what plasmas are, how they behave, and their role in harnessing fusion energy.  In addition, we offer an exposure to several technologies, such as large magnets and sources of intense microwave and millimeter wave power, which are key to fusion’s successful development.  Students will have the opportunity to actually observe plasmas in a glow discharge tube, perform hands-on demonstrations with superconductivity, and see MIT’s tokamak, Alcator C-MOD. The program begins at 9:00 am with presentations and tours, followed by lunch and a plasma demonstration.  For those interested, an information session and tour of MIT will be available beginning at 3:00 pm.