Youth Winner Announced at UN Summit of the Future Action Days, 20 September 2024

Avery Davis announced as Winner of the Fusion Energy Solutions Taskforce initiative Youth Category!

For her winning pitch “Fusion Nova”!

The first winner of the Youth Category for the Fusion Energy Solutions Taskforce crowdsourcing initiative was announced at the UN Summit of the Future off-site event, Generation Fusion: Powering Sustainable Futures, hosted by the ECG, IAEA, UK, US, and Jordan.

About our winner - Avery Davis is a senior at Phillips Academy Andover passionate about finding necessary solutions to the climate crisis. Believing that fusion energy is the final needed puzzle piece in the global shift towards renewable energy, she has sought out every opportunity to get involved in the field. Avery currently hosts an environmental podcast, Turning Down the Heat on Spotify and authored a Fusion Energy children’s book called Fusion Nova. Inspired with the knowledge she has gained, she wants fusion energy to be something every child understands and grows passionate about.

About her winning entry - “I believe that storytelling is the most effective educational art form for children. So, I wrote Fusion Nova, a children’s book following a young girl, Stella, traversing the universe and learning how Stars light up the night sky. Stella learns the scientific basis behind how stars create energy and how this process is being replicated on Earth to create renewable fusion energy. In this lively and beautifully illustrated work, I hope to create a spark which grows into a passion for the field. Already published and currently being printed, I am working on many plans to engage children with the book. Not only do I hope to donate Fusion Nova to libraries across the US, I also plan to expand it into a series, set up a pop-up exhibit at the Boston Children’s Museum, translate Fusion Nova into several languages, and collaborate with global institutions to promote Fusion Nova on an international scale.” - Avery

Generation Fusion: Powering Sustainable Futures Event Speakers

  • Abby Finkenauer

    U.S. Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues, U.S. Dept. of State

  • Dr. Kamal Araj

    Independent Consultant & Former Vice Chairman, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission

  • Dr. Matteo Barbarino

    Fusion Physicist at the International Atomic Energy Agency

  • Avery Davis

    Winner of the Youth Category of the Fusion Energy Solutions Taskforce initiative

  • Prof. Steffi Diem

    U.S. Science Envoy, Faculty at UW-Madison Dept. Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

  • Dr. Arturo Dominguez

    Head of Science Education, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

  • Jane Hotchkiss

    Co-Founder and President of Energy for the Common Good

  • Dr. Scott Hsu

    Senior Advisor & Lead Fusion Coordinator, Office of the Under Secretary for Science & Innovation, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • Amelia Melendez

    Princeton University Student

  • Kayla Miller

    Director of Education, Energy for the Common Good

  • Humphrey Mrema

    Chairman of Youth Survival Organization, Co-Founder of Youth4Fusion Energy Network

About the event - The urgent need for long term solutions to climate change and energy security has heightened interest among scientists, leaders, policy makers, investors, youth and the public in the pursuit of fusion energy. Fusion energy has great potential as a safe, abundant, zero-carbon-emissions source of electricity. Fusion also has the potential to provide a source of thermal energy and power for green hydrogen production, industrial heat, carbon capture, and desalination. Recent breakthroughs in fusion science and technology worldwide, along with rapid acceleration of activities and private sector investments, underscore a critical turning point for the fusion sector. Simultaneously, advancements in science, technology and innovation while building public trust are crucial to unlocking fusion’s ability to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 7, 9, 13 and 17. Developing this critical new energy sector must involve those who will experience its impact. Hear about recent efforts driving fusion development and join us in celebrating the youth winner of the Fusion Energy Solutions Taskforce, which aims to shape the future of fusion energy through crowdsourced solutions. A panel of experts from the USA, Jordan, IAEA and youth leaders discussed  their perspectives on the role of public engagement, education, and global collaboration to maximize fusion’s full potential.