A Narrative Approach to Citizen Participation in Fusion Energy

This paper examines how to increase citizen participation in fusion energy research. An increased sense of participation in fusion energy progress is essential for the acceptance of fusion energy by the general public. The obstacle this paper acknowledges is that fusion energy research needs to be in the hands of experts. The challenge is how to increase the sense of participation in fusion energy research without being able to greatly increase direct participation on the part of citizens. Individuals can cultivate a sense of participation in far off events by placing news of events, such as a war or political campaign, into a larger narrative structure. Individuals can have a sense of control over the larger narrative structure and how news of events fit into their own sense of the narrative. If citizens have a grasp of major past fusion energy events, the current status of fusion energy and what the future might hold for fusion energy research, then citizens will have a fundamental narrative structure in which to fit news of future fusion energy research events. This paper explores ways fusion energy educators can take a narrative approach to foster a sense of participation for a large number of citizens. How can educators help citizens internalize a fusion energy meta-narrative? How can educators help citizens fit news of progress in fusion energy into their internalized narratives?