Course in Ethics in Fusion Research
300-hour online course in ethics in fusion research. 6 modules covering the Montreal Declaration on Integrity in Transboundary Research Collaborations (2013), the ALLEA European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2023) and Zotero. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
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Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the organisation of fusion research and its large-scale collaborations.
Apply principles of integrity to authorship and the allocation of credit.
Evaluate the public communication of scientific results in fusion.
Identify safety and dual-use risks in fusion research.
Promote an inclusive and responsible scientific culture.
Manage research data openly and reproducibly.
Develop a responsible research plan for a fusion project.
Who it's for
- Fusion researcher who wants to specialise in Ethics in Fusion Research.
- Coordinator of large scientific collaborations who wants to specialise in Ethics in Fusion Research.
- Science communication manager who wants to specialise in Ethics in Fusion Research.
- Research integrity manager who wants to specialise in Ethics in Fusion Research.
- Safety manager for experimental facilities who wants to specialise in Ethics in Fusion Research.
- European project manager who wants to specialise in Ethics in Fusion Research.
- Engineering or science graduates who wish to enter fusion research.
What you'll work with
- Montreal Declaration on Integrity in Transboundary Research Collaborations (2013)
- ALLEA European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2023)
- San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA, 2012)
- ITER Agreement (2006)
- Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765 (Euratom Research and Training Programme)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (control of dual-use items)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Overview of fusion research1.2Major facilities: ITER, JET, W7-X and NIF1.3University research and national laboratories1.4Big science and massive collaborations1.5Publishing within large consortia1.6Interaction between public and private research1.7Competitive funding and framework programmes1.8Long timescales and pressure for results1.9Inertial fusion and its links to defence programmes1.10Case study: organising an experimental campaign at JET
2.1Authorship in papers with hundreds of signatories2.2EUROfusion publication policies2.3Access to data from experimental campaigns2.4Reproducibility in non-repeatable experiments2.5Validation of codes and simulations2.6Peer review of experiment proposals2.7Allocation of machine time2.8Recognition of technicians and engineers2.9Disputes over scientific priority2.10Workshop: authorship policy for a consortium
3.1Cold fusion: lessons from 19893.2Bubble fusion and the retraction of Taleyarkhan3.3Unpublished claims by private companies3.4Definitions of gain and their use3.5Communicating records rigorously3.6Independent reviews of results3.7Organised scepticism as a value3.8Use of preprints and press releases3.9Disclosure of negative results3.10Practice: critical evaluation of a record announcement
4.1Inertial fusion and confidentiality4.2Neutronics and defence applications4.3Tritium as a sensitive material4.4Radiological safety in fusion laboratories4.5Safety in high-energy systems4.6Research ethics in high-power lasers4.7Export control of fusion technology4.8Social responsibility of the researcher4.9Responsible research and innovation (RRI)4.10Case study: an inertial fusion project at a university
5.1Gender equality in plasma physics5.2Precarity of early-career researchers5.3International mobility and work-life balance5.4Mentoring and doctoral training5.5Harassment in big science environments5.6The carbon footprint of research5.7Open science and open-source software in fusion5.8Mission-oriented research and academic freedom5.9Public participation in priority-setting5.10Workshop: code of conduct for a fusion laboratory
6.1Defining the research line6.2Identifying stakeholders6.3Ethical and dual-use risks6.4Data management and authorship plan6.5Results communication plan6.6Equity and inclusion measures6.7Ethical review of the plan6.8Summary of conclusions6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded lessons and a dedicated technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Zotero, Git/GitHub, Python (Jupyter), Overleaf, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies cover real procedures: analysis of authorship policies in large collaborations, review of press releases on fusion results, and preparation of a data management plan. Assessment is continuous, by module, plus a final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the organisation of fusion research and its large-scale collaborations.
Apply principles of integrity to authorship and the allocation of credit.
Evaluate the public communication of scientific results in fusion.
Identify safety and dual-use risks in fusion research.
Promote an inclusive and responsible scientific culture.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses Zotero, Git/GitHub, Python (Jupyter) and Overleaf. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM in-house diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Please consult the recognition policy when you enrol.
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