Hands-On Fusion: Plasma Lab Hosts First "HBT-EP Fun Run"

On Friday, July 17, 2026, Dr. Jeff Levesque hosted a unique educational event in the Columbia Plasma Physics Laboratory/Columbia Fusion Research Center called the "HBT-EP Fun Run," with run referring to operating an advanced experimental facility called a tokamak, rather than hitting the streets. Tokamaks are donut-shaped devices that use powerful magnetic fields to confine ultra-hot plasma, serving as a leading approach to harnessing fusion energy. Operating a tokamak is a highly specialized experience; few people in the world ever get an opportunity to see a tokamak in action. This event allowed students outside the usual group of skilled scientists to step into the control room and run a major fusion experiment. Here, students used the HBT-EP tokamak, which has long been a pillar of on-campus fusion research in the Plasma Lab.

Across the two-day event, a total of 25 participants joined the run, including 18 students and two senior plasma lab affiliates who do not routinely operate HBT-EP. Facility preparations and primary operations were spearheaded by senior graduate students Nigel DaSilva, Noah Notis, and Javier Chiriboga, with preparation support and assistance from Jim Andrello and Dr. Levesque. Under the guidance of the trained personnel, participants actively operated the tokamak and observed real-time plasma discharges while Dr. Levesque led interactive discussions on key tokamak physics concepts pertaining to the run.

The event was a resounding success, giving students an exciting, memorable, and practical window into experimental fusion research. Following enthusiastic feedback and strong student interest in repeating the experience, lab leaders hope to make the "Fun Run" a recurring tradition, hosting similar hands-on operational sessions periodically across major experimental facilities in the lab.