March 2017
MARK HENDERSON
ITER
Having grown up all over the United States, at age 14 Mark Henderson learned about nuclear fusion and decided he would dedicate his life to making it happen. He received a PhD in Physics that offered a ticket to work in Lausanne, Switzerland on the TCV tokamak. After 16 years, he headed to the south of France to work on the ITER tokamak in charge of the microwave system that heats the plasma. Mark’s dream job is either what he is doing now, or directing a science museum and passing on his passion for physics and fusion. When he is not doing physics stuff, he can usually be found outside, either playing in his garden, looking at all different types of birds (yeah, one of those “birders”), or just enjoying the nature around him.
Sibylle Günter
w7-x stellarator
Sibylle Günter was born on 20 April 2021 in Rostock. She took her degree in physics at the University of Rostock in 1987. Three years later she completed her PhD with a thesis on computational investigation of radiation from dense plasmas in the Department of Theoretical Physics, supervised by Prof. Röpke. From 1990 till 1996 she served as Scientific Assistant with the Chair of Theoretical Physics I. Her studies at the University of Rostock were extended by stays at the University of Maryland with Prof. H. R. Griem and as visiting scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with Dr. W. Wiese. She qualified for lectureship in 1996 with a thesis entitled “Optical Properties of Dense Plasmas” at the University of Rostock, where she still gives lectures.
Since February of the same year she has been a member of staff at Max-Planck-Instiute for Plasma Physics. On the 1st of July 2000 she was appointed Head of the Tokamak Physics Division (till 2011). Since 2001 she is adjunct professor at Rostock University, since 2006 “Honorarprofessor” (part-time professor) at TU Munich. Since February 2011 she is the Scientific Director of the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Germany.
Eric Lerner
Focus Fusion
Eric Lerner, President and Chief Scientist, has been active in dense plasma focus (DPF) research for 30 years. Beginning in 1984, he developed a detailed quantitative theory of the functioning of DPF. Based on this theory, he proposed that the DPF could achieve high ion and electron energies at high densities, suitable for advanced fuel fusion and space propulsion. Under a series of contracts with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he planned and participated in carrying out experiments that tested and confirmed this theory. In addition, he developed an original model of the role of the quantum magnetic field effect on DPF functioning, showing that this effect could have a large effect on increasing ion temperature and decreasing electron temperature, which would reduce unwanted X-ray cooling of the plasma.
Michel Laberge
Founder, General Fusion
Dr. Michel Laberge is a physicist with widespread practical experience in plasma physics and modern plasma diagnostic techniques. He has extensive knowledge of the latest technologies related to electronics, computers, materials, lithography, optics and fabrication, and is experienced at designing and constructing test apparatuses to evaluate technical concepts.
Prior to establishing General Fusion, Michel spent nine years at Creo Products in Vancouver as a senior physicist and principal engineer. His roles included inventor, designer, and scientific project leader on projects that resulted in more than $1 billion worth of product sales.
Mila Aung-Thwin
writer & director
Co-founder of EyeSteelFilm, Mila Aung-Thwin revels in the diverse documentary joys of writing, directing, producing, editing, selling and mentoring. He has produced more than 25 feature documentaries, including Up the Yangtze, Forest of the Dancing Spirits, and the Emmy Award-winning Last Train Home. He served as president for 5 years of RIDM, Montreal’s International documentary festival, as well as juror for the International Emmy Awards, AFI DOCS, the New Zealand Film Awards, and the Sundance Film Festival. He has also taught documentary film programs to students in places such as Inukjuak, Nunavik, and Yangon, Myanmar.
Van Royko
cinematographer & co-director
Van Royko, MA, CSC is a filmmaker and director of photography from Montreal, Qc. He is best known for his award winning cinematography for the feature documentaries ‘Monsoon’ and ‘Koneline’. With these films among others, Van has consistently employed an expanded vision of cinematography, using novel technologies and aesthetic techniques to tell truly cinematic stories. Over the course of his career Van has collaborated with world renowned directors and producers Yung Chang, Daniel Cross, Nettie Wild, Sturla Gunnarsson and the Oscar-winning Denys Arcand on projects ranging from advertising campaigns and music videos to art installations and feature documentaries. In the past year Van has shot and directed for several new films and TV series including the highly regarded CBC series Interrupt the Program and his debut feature doc, Pipe Dreams.
Bob Moore
Producer
Bob Moore is co-president of EYESTEELFILM, specializing in the creation of cinematic documentaries such as Last Train Home, China Heavyweight, I Am the Blues, and Forest of the Dancing Spirits. With partners Daniel Cross and Mila Aung-Thwin, Bob has produced films that have been recognized by international awards including the Emmys and Golden Horse, as well as numerous festival grand jury awards. Bob also oversees EYESTEELFILM’s theatrical distribution company and its new Creative Reality Lab, which focuses on meaningful interactive and immersive storytelling. He has degrees in Philosophy, Fine Art, and Law, and regularly lectures at and consults with film institutions around the world.
Gilda Pourjabar
Co-Editor
Gilda Pourjabar is a Montreal-based filmmaker/editor. She was born in the north of Iran, in the Gilan province. She grew up in Tehran. She graduated from Iran University of Science and Technology in 2007 with B.Sc degree in Industrial Engineering. In 2011, she obtained her Associate degree in Cinema. She studied Film Production at Concordia University (2012-2015). During her studies she has written and directed six short fiction films. After graduation she has been working as a freelance editor on both fiction and documentary films. Currently, she is in the process of a documentary film on art.
Daniel Cross
Executive Producer
Daniel Cross is founder of EYESTEELFILM in Montreal, named by Real Screen Magazine as a top 100 non-fiction production company. He is an Associate Professor and previous Chair of the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Concordia University. Cross also serves on the University’s Board of Governors and holds a university research chair in interactive documentary filmmaking. Cross’ latest feature documentary I AM THE BLUES premiered at the prestigious International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam (IDFA) and had its North American premiere at SXSW in 2016. Daniel Cross is a multi-disciplined award-winning documentary filmmaker with a long history of directing and producing theatrical documentaries and exploring new media approaches. He made his mark directing feature length films concerning issues of homelessness; The Street: a film with the homeless, S.P.I.T: Squeegee Punks In Traffic and the online interactive documentary Homeless Nation winning the UN World Summit Award for e-inclusion. Together with eight Inuit students, he co-directed Inuuvunga: I am Inuk I am alive. He co-directed the films Atanasoff for History TV and Chairman George for the BBC and CTV networks. Cross also co-produced the Genie Award-winning films Up the Yangtze and Last Train Home, which also won two Emmy Awards in 2014. Other documentary productions include Jingle Bell Rocks, Fruit Hunters, Rip: A Remix Manifesto, Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam, China Heavyweight, Inside Lara Roxx, and Chameleon. Daniel has won both the Trailblazer award at MIPDOC in Cannes, and the Inaugural Mentor of the Year award from the Canadian Media Producers Association.
J. Ryan Parker, PATHEOS
“Forces viewers to ask what kind of future we—and our leaders—are working towards.”