
San Francisco
Our Fusion Future: Lawrence Livermore Director Kim Budil
If you are not a member yet, now is the time to join our community and receive the great benefits of membership. We are a group of people seeking truth, insight and wisdom about the issues we face as individuals and as a society. Please join! You can become a monthly sustaining member for just $10 a month.
In late 2022, scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory made a long-sought breakthrough, achieving self-sustaining “fusion ignition” for the first time, generating more fusion energy than the laser energy used to start the reaction. Supporters see fusion as a game changer for production of unlimited clean energy that can help to address climate change globally.
Please join us for a conversation with Dr. Kimberly Budil, director of Lawrence Livermore, about the significance of this achievement. Dr. Budil is the 13th director of Lawrence Livermore. A physicist, she is an expert on high-energy-density science and laser experiments. She has held numerous technical and leadership roles at LLNL, served on assignment as a scientific advisor in the Department of Energy, and was the vice president for national labs at the University of California Office of the President. She is the first woman to serve as LLNL director.
We look forward to seeing you for an inspiring evening with one of the Bay Area’s key scientific leaders, discussing where Lawrence Livermore's fusion research could lead and how long it might take to positively impact our energy future.
This program has 2 types of tickets available: In-person and online-only. For online viewing, pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.
Safety Protocols for in-person attendance:
- We follow best practices laid out by the CDC and state and local guidelines.
- We strongly recommend vaccination for guests, staff, and volunteers.
- Masks are strongly encouraged while indoors (if you do not have one and would like one, inquire at our front desk for a complimentary mask).
- We reserve the right to require different rules for specific events as necessary.
Our LEED Gold-certified building is designed to cool with outside air, using digitally controlled moveable windows and large ceiling fans. We are deploying additional HEPA filters inside to scrub the air. This is all in addition to increased cleaning of surfaces throughout the building.
The Commonwealth Club of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our online programming.
Photo courtesy the speaker.
All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.
The Commonwealth Club of California
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

Kim Budil
Director, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Katie Hafner
Journalist; Host and Co-Executive Producer, "Lost Women of Science"—Moderator
5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
6–7 p.m. program
(all times PST)
COST
In-person:
$15 members
$25 nonmembers
Online:
$5 members
$10 nonmembers