The Institute for Fusion Studies (IFS) is a national center for plasma physics and fusion energy science based at the University of Texas at Austin. Fusion is the reaction that powers our sun and other stars. It promises a nearly limitless source of energy that is safe and environmentally benign. There is no doubt that harnessing nuclear fusion for energy production will have tremendous economic and social consequences worldwide.
The mission of the Institute emphasizes scientific discovery and innovation of direct impact to fusion, performing fundamental research of originality and rigor, and exchanging scientific developments with other academic fields. The overarching objectives of the IFS are to conduct research on plasma phenomena of direct relevance to fusionÍž to serve as a center for fusion science exchange activitiesÍž to engage with the private sector and DOE national laboratories; to contribute to the fusion workforce expansion by training students and postdoctoral scientists; and to advance our understanding of fundamental plasma physics, space plasmas, and astrophysics.