Code for Thought [EN] Fusion Energy and Open Source Software? With Rémi Delaporte-Mathurin
Sep 22, 2025
Rémi Delaporte-Mathurin, a research scientist at MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, discusses the groundbreaking role of open-source software in fusion energy. He shares his journey from creating the Festim code to establishing the OSSFE conference, highlighting the challenges he faced with institutional resistance. Rémi emphasizes the importance of community collaboration, the need for effective strategies to engage decision-makers, and the promising future of open-source adoption in the fusion field. His insights are both inspiring and informative!
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Niche Field Amplifies Duplication
- Fusion is a niche field with duplicated, homemade codes across labs that slow overall progress.
- Sharing software and knowledge is therefore essential to avoid reinventing the wheel.
From Personal Code To Global Tool
- Rémi started an open-source code called Festim after finding many duplicated, closed-source codes for hydrogen transport during his PhD.
- He fought his institution for years to open it and now dozens of institutions use it worldwide.
Helsinki Pushback Sparked A Conference
- At an IAEA meeting in Helsinki Rémi argued for openness and was strongly challenged by senior researchers.
- That negative reaction became the catalyst for launching the OSFI conference to institutionalize open source in fusion.