Fusion CDT Induction Week 2025- Two Student Perspectives
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The week began with York students meeting outside the York Plasma Institute (YPI), chatting in the sunshine as we waited for the bus. During the drive to Oulton Hall, including a small diversion to Leeds trains stations to pick up the rest of the cohort – a diverse mix of materials scientists, plasma physicists, engineers, and mathematicians from 6 different universities – the buzz on board was infectious; that energy would define the entire week.
Arrival and First Impressions
We were welcomed to Oulton Hall with a sturdy lunch. It’s always a good idea to feed your PhD students before making them work, after all. This was followed by a warm welcome from Katy Welford (Fusion CDT Manager) and Dr Russell Goodall (Professor of Metallurgy at the University of Sheffield), who introduced the course and set the tone for what was to come.
After this came the icebreaker: one unique fact per person; fail to be unique, and you owe everyone cake! Despite initial hesitation about having to do an “icebreaker”, this was surprisingly effective; within an hour, we’d memorised names, found several shared experiences, and uncovered an array of eccentric and amusing stories. After some down-time to explore the grounds and make the most of the gym and spa, we finished the day with a group dinner that included both the cohort and staff, where animated conversations continued late into the night.
Talks, Energy, and Coffee
Day two tested our ability to make breakfast on time, and we passed with flying colours! The morning began with an energetic talk from Dr Roddy Vann, professor at the University of York and CDT Director. His advice was simple but sound: work hard, rest efficiently, and have fun. His passion (and caffeine levels) carried through a rapid-fire six-minute physics lecture that earned spontaneous applause.
Russell followed with his perspective from materials science, and then came an inspiring outreach session from Katherine Leech on engaging the public and underrepresented groups in fusion research. The discussions were raw, genuine, and refreshingly judgment-free – a space to explore ideas and reflect on how our science connects with the wider world.
Connection, Collaboration, and a Bit of Chaos
Wednesday was EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) and team building day, arguably the most transformative. EDI wasn’t a checkbox session; Gillian Arnold from Tectre led a deep, open dialogue that challenged biases and encouraged growth. It was the best EDI session many of us had experienced, precisely because it didn’t lecture, but rather invited reflection.
Team building, by contrast, was glorious chaos. Split into teams, we competed in a medley of challenges: egg-drop engineering, Tetris-block Rubik’s Cubes, football darts, space hopper races, and more – the leg pain from the space hopper was real, but so was the joy and laughter. At the end, the winning teams won medals, and even the losing team went home with a carton of eggs. Later that afternoon, some of us hit the driving range before collapsing in the sauna – a fine example of Roddy’s “rest efficiently” mantra in action.
Purpose and Reflection
Thursday shifted towards Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and sustainability. The sessions dug deeper than the usual rhetoric, expanding how we thought about the societal role of our research, what it means to innovate responsibly in a world facing existential challenges.
Friday brought a bittersweet close. We packed our bags reluctantly, saying goodbye to the saunas, the chandeliers, and the long walks around the grounds. But more than that, we left with something tangible; a shared sense of purpose and anticipation.
We returned to our respective universities knowing that the next four years would be intense: six months of taught modules, then the long dive into research. But we also left knowing we’re not doing it alone. The induction week built more than just understanding; it built community.
Written by Fusion CDT students Rhoen Eate and Warren Smith.