Fall 2025

"Here Comes the Sun: Building a Star on Earth"

• Dr. Saskia Mordijck, Class of 1955 Associate Professor of Physics
• Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m.
• Sadler Center | Commonwealth Auditorium

Watch the Lecture

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In 1925, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, through her Ph.D. thesis, provided the first evidence that stars consist predominantly of hydrogen and helium; a radical idea at that time. Now, 100 years later, to solve the climate crisis, scientists and engineers are working to build stars on earth and develop a carbon-free, reliable energy source, leveraging the same energy that powers the stars: fusion.

This Tack Lecture by Physics Professor Saskia Mordijck will guide us through the history of fusion development as an energy source, introduce the various approaches, their breakthroughs and current challenges. Throughout and after the talk, there will be hands-on demonstrations and simulations by a team of W&M students, scientists, and their colleagues.

Read more: ‘Here Comes the Sun’: Tack Faculty Lecture to explore the science of building a star on Earth