The joint IEEE Pulsed Power Conference (PPC) and IEEE Symposium on Fusion Engineering (SOFE) 2027 will include a series of side events, held alongside the technical programme, that bring the two communities together around shared interests and challenges. Details may change as planning progresses, and more information will be released closer to the conference date.
The events include lunch gatherings and an evening for students and young professionals. They are designed to encourage early career networking, understanding of diverse perspectives to create an inclusive working environment, education and training, and collaboration between public institutions, national laboratories, start-ups and industry. Each event has its own format, built around conversation and the exchange of experience.
Each event includes a meal and drinks. Participation is free of charge but limited, with places are allocated by application or invitation. Applications are made through the conference website.
Broadening Perspectives Lunch
Monday 21 June 2027, 12:00
This lunch highlights inclusion through the personal stories of people who face different challenges and come from different backgrounds. These may include physical disabilities (hearing loss, colour blindness, reduced mobility), neurodiversity (ADHD, autism), women, LGBTQ+ people, different socioeconomic backgrounds and emerging countries. Posters will describe the challenges each group faces and the best practices for including them.
The format follows the "human library" approach. A representative of each group will introduce themselves in 1–2 minutes. Participants will then rotate between tables over a packed lunch, speaking with several representatives about practical ways to make our working environments more inclusive. A follow-up document will collect the lessons learned and link to relevant initiatives and information.
Student/Young Professionals Trivia Night
Tuesday 22 June 2027, 18:00
An evening of friendly competition that connects students and young professionals from the fusion and pulsed power communities over food and drinks. Teams of six will answer trivia questions on pulsed power and fusion engineering, industry, STEM and geography, with prizes for the leading teams.
Fusion Engineering Education Lunch
Wednesday 23 June 2027, 12:00
This lunch showcases education and training initiatives from around the world. Each speaker represents one activity, such as STEM outreach, fusion student networks, the setting up of Master's or PhD programmes, vocational training and apprenticeships, university engineering projects such as table-top fusion devices, or online learning platforms.
After a 1–2 minute introduction from each speaker, participants will rotate between tables over a packed lunch to speak with several representatives. A follow-up document will collect the lessons learned and link to the initiatives presented.
Public-Private Partnership Lunch for Chief Engineers and Lead Engineers
Thursday 24 June 2027, 12:00
This lunch brings together chief engineers, directors and heads of engineering, and lead engineers from public organisations, national laboratories, private start-ups and industry. It provides an opportunity to network, discuss current challenges, and identify collaboration opportunities, joint activities and training needs. These could include future in-person or online workshops and the exchange of knowledge, experience and lessons learned between organisations.
Participants will sit at 10 tables of up to 8 and may propose the topics for discussion. At the end of the lunch, each table will summarize its key topics and propose future activities.