Nuclear Fusion: From Theory to Reality

"Speak Out for Engineering" is an international competition with nearly 60 years of history, hosted by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), dedicated to providing a platform for young engineers to showcase their professional knowledge and communication skills.

In the finals held in early November in Dubai, UAE, seven talented young engineers and students from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Americas, the UK and Ireland, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia presented exciting speeches. In this competition, Yiwei Xu, with the theme "Nuclear Fusion: The Magic of Creating Something from Nothing," clearly explained the principles of nuclear fusion, technical challenges, and practical applications in the future energy field through logical and accessible explanations. To make complex concepts easier to understand, she specially incorporated her own fun doodles into the PPT, adding a touch of relaxation and creativity to the rigorous technical content, which caught everyone's attention. Doodling is also one of her interests, and to others, the tedious drawing process is actually a pleasure in the otherwise monotonous competition preparation. In the end, with clear explanations and rich expressiveness, she fully demonstrated the tremendous potential of nuclear fusion technology in energy transition.

Mentorship and Support

Yiwei Xu's success could not have been achieved without the support of FoSE and mentors, nor without the help of Jiang Xiao, the champion of the 2023 competition. As the previous winner, Jiang Xiao shared valuable competition preparation experience with Yiwei and provided many specific suggestions on how to improve her speech content and handle the Q&A session. It was these experiences that helped Xu Yiwei gradually improve during her preparation, filled her with confidence in her abilities, and emboldened her to challenge this global stage.

At the same time, Dr Gavin Lai from the department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, provided full guidance and support throughout the speech competition. From organizing the logic of the presentation, to fine-tuning the details, he invested a great deal of effort at every stage of preparation. Her classmates also offered many valuable suggestions for improvement by accompanying her through numerous mock practices. The process of memorizing the speech before the competition was very tedious and painful, but with the collective support and help, she overcame challenges countless times and found the strength to move forward. In addition, she specifically mentioned that the all-English teaching environment at UNNC allowed her to express her views in English with ease, which also made her more composed in international competitions. UNNC has provided opportunities like this for students to showcase themselves on a global stage. This support laid a solid foundation for her outstanding performance.

Dubai Experience: Growth Beyond the Competition

During the competition, IMechE arranged a variety of activities, including technical visits and competitor exchanges. In the technical visit segment, Yiwei Xu visited an energy company that powered the 2012 London Olympics, gaining a profound understanding of the combination of technology and practical application. "This technical trip gave me a more intuitive understanding of engineering practice and also made me more aware of the mechanisms of corporate operations and the value of technology." In addition, exchanges with competitors from other regions also benefited her greatly. By conversing with young engineers from fields such as Rolls-Royce and nuclear engineering in Hong Kong, she broadened her understanding of different engineering fields and had clearer goals for her graduate direction and career planning.

The gains from this competition far exceeded expectations, whether in deepening knowledge, improving expression skills, or communicating with young engineers from around the world, all have injected new momentum into her growth. This competition is not only open to engineering students but also to all students in FoSE. Yiwei encourages more students to seize such opportunities: "This is a great platform where you can not only exchange experiences and insights with outstanding competitors from around the world but also delve deeply into your professional direction through the preparation of speeches. Regardless of the outcome, the process itself is a growth experience."