UK Fusion Lab's uncertain future

[stryder]

A question mark hangs over a world-leading laboratory that has pioneered research into fusion for nearly 40 years.

The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy near Oxford is largely funded by the EU and dozens of its scientists come from outside the UK.

Since the vote for Brexit, many at the centre have become "extremely nervous" amid uncertainty about future financing and freedom of movement.

Five researchers have already returned to continental Europe with others said to be considering their positions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37777729

One potential answer to the problem is based upon something similar to both how the Vatican has "Vatican City" or how the Ministry within the UK acts like a State within a State.

If the Scientific community could act as it's own independent Principality in relationship to the UK Government, it would be able to be held outside of the Brexit political quagmire. (In essence European Cooperation could continue with that principality. as opposed the UK)

[Syne]

I think fears about restrictions on movement are largely exaggerated, and the EU funding would depend on whether it's routed through the UK government or goes directly to the Centre.

[C C]

... the project is moving into a phase of engineering in which designs for an affordable commercial reactor are explored.

Fine time to potentially end it after pumping in millions of euros over the years. If compared to a space race, it's exaggeratedly akin to: "Return home, Apollo 11. The moon landing has been scrapped."

[Syne]

... the project is moving into a phase of engineering in which designs for an affordable commercial reactor are explored.

Fine time to potentially end it after pumping in millions of euros over the years. If compared to a space race, it's exaggeratedly akin to: "Return home, Apollo 11. The moon landing has been scrapped."

I hadn't thought of that. Just when they might be expected to actually produce a result...oops, Brexit...gotta close the doors...you understand. So just a good excuse, since the gravy train may have been over anyway. I like your pessimistic streak, CC.

[stryder]

... the project is moving into a phase of engineering in which designs for an affordable commercial reactor are explored.

Fine time to potentially end it after pumping in millions of euros over the years. If compared to a space race, it's exaggeratedly akin to: "Return home, Apollo 11. The moon landing has been scrapped."

I hadn't thought of that. Just when they might be expected to actually produce a result...oops, Brexit...gotta close the doors...you understand. So just a good excuse, since the gravy train may have been over anyway. I like your pessimistic streak, CC.

Unfortunately that's exactly what the Brexit has caused in the long run.  A whole bunch of long term projects to teeter at the point of being scrapped.

A lot of investments and planning literally ripped to shreds and the proponent of it all rather than face the overly complex problem of dealing with the mess stepped down from his party while he could do so, which is just about saving face and bailing before a complete collapse.  I'm surprised nobodies suggested concerns of Sedition from how it was all handled (or even that there might have been a foreign involvement attempting to drive a discontentment wedge with invisible hands.  

Still the current government will probably try to drag it out as long as possible which I can't fault them, after all it's about getting the money's worth and getting as much out of the contractual agreements that people just think can be quit on in a heart beat.  Unfortunately there are those that know that things are so short-term, the problem was the voting public likely came from Wage (as opposed to Salary) orientated backgrounding's.  This in turn means they can only look as far as the end of the week/month and no further.

[Syne]

Really? So there's foreign involvement and complete collapse paranoia over Brexit too?

Aside from UN funding, some of which comes from the UK (which it will now keep), what is there to really hinder research? Some people act as if there aren't such things as work visas or private sector funding for viable R&D.

Its the elitism of things like "they can only look as far as the end of the week/month" which proves to those who won (many of which did understand all the consequences) that they have good reason to want out from underneath elitist thumbs. It's this attitude that says, "if you don't agree with us, you're just ignorant".

[Zinjanthropos]

Is it also the death knell for cold fusion technology or is that already dead?

[stryder]

Is it also the death knell for cold fusion technology or is that already dead?

Funnily enough, Forbes articles conclusion:

...This doesn't necessarily mean that they're lying, that LENR is impossible or that there's fraud going on. But it isn't the job of science to prove that someone is fooling us; it's the job of a good scientist to prove to the world that we aren't fooling ourselves when we make an extraordinary claim. As soon as that bar is cleared -- and that starts with the people working on this making an extraordinary effort to demonstrate that bar is cleared -- we can promote LENR or cold fusion to the realm of real, robust and incredible science. But until that day, we should all remain skeptical. In the words of Richard Feynman:

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself. And you are the easiest person to fool.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithab...8b48f11903

[Syne]

If an affordable commercial reactor is viable, some private enterprise will be interested in developing and marketing it.

[Yazata]

The Euratom arrangement that funds Culham looks like a peculiar animal.

It began as a treaty separate from the EEC treaty that was the predecessor of the EU. And while the treaties were later folded together, Euratom was never entirely merged with the EU due to concerns about arousing anti-nuclear sentiment in Europe. So apparently while it's affiliated with the EU, Euratom's continued to operate somewhat autonomously.

So does Brexit even imply withdrawal from Euratom? When Britain exits the EU, won't it still remain an Euratom signatory, if it doesn't separately exit that treaty too?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euratom_Treaty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaties_o...pean_Union