ITER: The Giant Fusion Reactor

Michel Claessens is a scientist and essayist. He was head of communication and external relations of the ITER project from 2011 to 2016. His background is physical chemistry (PhD) and science journalism. He joined the European Commission in 1994 where has been acting Head of the Communication Unit in the Research Directorate-General, spokesperson for research, editor-in-chief of the "research eu" magazine and in charge of the science and technology Eurobarometers until 2010. He is now in charge of ITER policy and communication in European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy. Michel is also teaching at the Free University of Brussels and has published a dozen of books and essays, including: At the Human scale - International practices in science communication (avec Donghong Cheng, Jenni Metcalfe, Bernard Schiele, Toss Gascoigne et Shi Shunke), Science Press, 2006 Communicating European Research 2005 (M. Claessens editor), Springer, 2007 Communicating Science in Social Contexts (edited by D. Cheng, M. Claessens, T. Gascoigne, J. Metcalfe, B. Schiele, S. Shunke), Springer, 2008 Science communication in the world (Bernard Schiele, Michel Claessens and Shi Shunke editors), Springer, 2012 The author's TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsEoeEetmvk

"[The author] unfolds a fascinating story which crisscrosses more than 40 years of the history of nuclear fusion in a simple, but not simplistic, way which is accessible to anyone with a will to stick to facts without prejudices. The full range of opinions on ITER's controversial benefits and detriments are exposed and discussed in a fair way, and the author never hides his personal connection to the project as its head of communications for many years." (Lucio Rossi, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, thebulletin.org, July 30, 2020)

"The strongest trait of this book is that it can be helpful and attractive for a wide range of audiences. ... It can motivate young scientists to devote their careers to the research of nuclear fusion. It can teach the business partners to appreciate their collaboration with the ITER project. It can also help people from the fusion community learn how to talk about their work with non-specialists. ... the book is truly unique, and I really recommend it for reading." (Michael Komm, Fusion Science and Technology, July 9, 2020)       

"ITER - is a unique exercise in scientific diplomacy, and a politically driven project. It is also the largest international collaboration, and a milestone in the technological history of mankind. ... I recommend Michel Claessens' well written and easy-to-read book. It is passionate and informative and explores different points of view without fanaticism. Interestingly, his conclusion is not scientific or political, but socio-philosophical in nature: ITER will be built because it can be, he says, according to a principle of 'technological necessity'." (Lucio Rossi, CERN Courier, cerncourier.com, March 23, 2020)

"It´s a thrilling, informative and important book. ... I invite every student in technology, environmental science, political science and philosophy and of cause every politician to read the book and reflect. ... Read this important book!" (Steiner Management, February 18, 2020)

"Claessens' new book, titled 'ITER: The Giant Fusion Reactor: Bringing a Sun to Earth,' is a vivid account of humanity's decadeslong quest to achieve a near unlimited source of carbon-free energy by replicating the force that drives the solar system." (Nathanial Gronewold, E&E News, eenews.net, February 12, 2020)