Reply To: turn heat into electricity

[Brian H]

Rezwan wrote: Yes, Kenneth is the reporter I talked to as well. I also talked about the results as you did. He’s looking for more impressive results. We can call him after a couple more orders of magnitude.

Do you see how this is still playing into the “results” frame.

The story is about getting results, selling a finished fusion research project, rather than about what humanity is doing to find answers for fusion – or how to better support and appreciate scientists who do this work.

That’s the distinction I want to make. Any ideas about how to do that?

The “results frame” puts the burden on a few people (the scientists who manage to scrape together sub-adequate funding) to produce results, while the rest of the world (fusion free riders) sit around yawning, waiting for them to have results.

My point is that part of FFS mission is to change that frame, and get everyone to take a more active role in getting fusion to happen by creating a pro-fusion culture and funding environment.

Oops, crossed postings!

I think you might (in the short term) need to smash the “results frame”. Point out to him that no multi-billion dollar research project anywhere in the world has yet reached unity, or even fused pB11. Tell him that staying tuned till the end of Sept. (per Aaron’s projection) will likely see pB11 fusion, with only a few months to go for possible unity — a much better prospect than anyone else.

Assuming you want NYT’s attention and endorsement! In my personal opinion, it’s useful only secondarily: if it helps with funding.