Public information

The public information group (PI) is responsible for the outreach to the general public of the FOM Institute DIFFER. The public information officers are the first point of contact for questions about the research and activitites of the institute. They are also responsible for press releases, websites maintained by the institute, public lectures, open house days and visits to the institute, various educational products and media contacts.

The group consists of two public information officers:

Listed below are the most frequently asked questions per target audience. If you have another question, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Media

How do I get in touch with a researcher at DIFFER?
Our PI officers are happy to help connect you to someone who can answer your questions.

How can I request background materials?
If you are looking for (moving) images of the research at the institute, please contact our PI officers. Information on the research at DIFFER is presented in the annual reports, and our scientific divisions present their work in the research section of our website.

Teachers

Can I request any educational material from DIFFER?
If you are looking for posters, flyers, books, movies, photos or other materials on our research, please contact our PI officers.

I would like to invite a guest lecturer to our school or organisation. How does this work?
For primary and secondary school students, DIFFER has developed the Fusion Road Show. This is an intriguing presentation full of experiments and movies, lasting between 45 minutes and an hour and presenting the energy crisis and the way fusion can help solve it. The Fusion Road Show can be booked at our dedicated fusie-energie website.

For guest lectures on the other research topics, or invitations for more technical lectures, please contact our spokesmen or see the research section of our site.

I want to teach secondary school students about fusion. Is there background material available?
For the Dutch secondary school course NLT (Natuur, Leven en Technologie – Nature, Life and Technology), DIFFER developed the teaching module Nuclear Fusion (Kernfusie). The module guides students through the design process for a fusion reactor and allows them to design their own ideal system. The module can be downloaded here. At present time, it is only available in Dutch.

A part of the NLT module, a practical plasma experiment is available for experimental work by groups of four secondary school students. More information on our website fusie-energie.

Pupils from the Veenlanden College Mijdrecht working with the plasma experiment at FOM DIFFER

Can we visit DIFFER?
Every year, the institute facilitates around 8 guided tours for groups between 20 and 30 participants. Contact the public information officers for more information. In October, DIFFER organises two open house days, for students (secondary schools and universities) and for the general public.

General public

Where can I find information about nuclear fusion?
The website fusie-energie.nl gives a basic introduction to fusion. It also gives information on how to book the Fusion Road Show, details the NLT teaching module 'Nuclear Fusion' and outlines how students can come and do a plasma experiment at DIFFER as part of their science curriculum.

The Fusion Road Show shows is an intriguing presentation full of live experiments and movies, lasting between 45 minutes and an hour and presenting the energy crisis and the way fusion can help solve it.

Does DIFFER give public lectures or provide information stands?
Researchers and public information officers of the institute regulary give public lectures, interviews and are present at fairs during science fairs in the Netherlands. Contact us for more information.

De Fusion Road Show stond in 2010 drie dagen als interactieve stand op het duurzaamheidseiland Llowlab op het grootste muziekfestival van Nederland, Lowlands

Can I visit DIFFER?

Every year, the institute facilitates around 8 guided tours for groups between 20 and 30 participants. Contact the public information officers for more information. In October, DIFFER organises two open house days for students (secondary schools and universities) and for the general public. During the open house days, more areas are accessible to the public and there is ample opportunity to ask questions.