Open Fusion Collective: creating a space to explore how values are invoked and realised in the research and development of fusion energy technology

By Sophie Cogan, PhD Student, Department of Politics and International Relations

Summary

The Open Fusion Collective platform was set up to provide an open space for academics and publics to share their perspectives on the social and ethical aspects of fusion energy.

Academics are encouraged to make their data, methods and findings available to a public audience via the platform, and to provide plain language summaries of research relating to aspects of fusion.

Participation on the site takes place through article contributions, comment sections and discussion boards. The space is open to all interested parties - from academics to investors, from scientists and engineers to the general public.

Case Study

My research focuses on the role of values in the development of fusion energy, with the aim to ensure accountability and responsibility in innovation. An essential part of my research is encouraging developers of fusion energy technologies to reflect on the assumptions and beliefs they bring to their own research and consider the alignment of these beliefs with other narratives around fusion. In doing so, I hope not only to embody Open Research practices in my own work, but advocate for others in different fields of research to do the same. In particular, transparency and collaboration are key aspects of the work - ethical innovation depends on open discussion and reflection on how research is carried out, and how research outcomes can be used to progress towards a shared goal.

Open Fusion Collective Logo

In order to make the use of these practices more impactful in the fusion space, I am collaborating with a colleague based at Leiden University in the Netherlands to set up and run a platform called the Open Fusion Collective (OFC) - a space for academics and anyone with an interest in fusion energy to share their perspectives on the social and ethical aspects of fusion.

In openly platforming public voices alongside publishing the work of other academics, the concept of the OFC directly applies Open Research practices and principles to the fusion space. By inviting academics to provide plain language summaries of their own research relating to aspects of fusion and by providing an open, accessible space for debate about existing research and future directions, we hope to provide an opportunity to improve the ability of research to have greater impact.

The platform provides access to open articles and blog posts in the newsletter ‘The Fusion Footprint’, a chat system for subscribers to communicate with each other, and links to range of basic to advanced resources that explain fusion energy.

The Open Fusion Collective website

The following research practices were used in this project:

Accessibility - by providing an open online platform and ensuring the use of plain language to enable everyone to access, understand and contribute to the discussions taking place.
Reusability and reproducibility - by encouraging academics to make their data, methods and findings available to a public audience in journal article format, broadening the range of feedback to improve rigour.
Collaboration - by inviting participation from all interested parties, academic or otherwise.
Transparency - by making the process of invitation, editing and publishing of articles open, sharing details of the OFC board members and those making decisions regarding the direction of the Collective.

In sum, not only does the OFC provide an opportunity for me to personally practice open research principles by publishing short summaries of my research process and findings in a simple, accessible way, but it is designed to encourage others to do the same in academia and beyond. The OFC will promote reflectivity in the fusion space by making research accessible and understandable, platforming voices that may not otherwise be heard, and by creating space for open, honest debate.

Links

http://openfusioncollective.org