Master’s in nuclear fusion energy, first from the Philippines

TL;DR Help me study MSc in Fusion Energy at the University of York.

Our goal is to run the economy with 100% sustainable energy, so we need to develop sources of energy that are emission-free, safe, globally available, and economically viable. Fusion energy uniquely meets all these criteria, making it an excellent complement for intermittent renewables and battery storage.

Fusion occurs when atoms are heated to very high temperatures, which are attainable in plasma, causing them to collide at high velocity and fuse together. This process releases a large amount of energy that powers the sun and the stars. We have already recreated this process on Earth, but the challenge is how to scale up the energy produced for power plants.

Who am I?

I am Iris and I want to make fusion energy power plants a reality within my lifetime.

I am in my last year of undergraduate studies, taking up BS Applied Physics and BS Materials Science and Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines.

With my background in plasma physics and nuclear materials, I have been fortunate to receive an offer to pursue MSc in Fusion Energy at the University of York starting in September 2020.

The York Plasma Institute is an internationally recognized institution that collaborates with other leading research groups all over the world. I have also been selected for Europe's Erasmus Mundus, but it was cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are you helping me achieve?

As an international student, I am eligible to apply to very few scholarships and loans in the UK. Even when granted and with part-time jobs, these would not be enough to cover everything.

None of my parents ever had the opportunity to graduate college. My mother works as a security guard while my father helps with commissions from sales. I was only able to complete my undergraduate studies through scholarships and part-time jobs, which supported all school fees and living costs. I can't change certain difficult aspects of my life, but I can change the direction of my life, for the better.

With this 1-year master's program at the University of York, more opportunities will open for a top PhD program, which will then allow me to enter the field of nuclear fusion research as a plasma physicist. I want to show everyone that even though I am financially disadvantaged, this will not stop me from achieving my dreams. I hope you can find it in your heart to allow me to take this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Where will the money go?

Here's a breakdown of my anticipated costs:

• GBP 22,720 (approx. USD) 28000 for tuition fees
• GBP 2000 (approx. USD 2500) for travel expenses (plane ticket, visa fees, insurance, housing deposit)
• The rest for living costs (housing rent, food, course materials). The University of York informs students that they need GBP 9571.20 to GBP 14,008.20 (approx. USD 12000 to USD 17500) per year.

Other ways you can help

Here are alternative avenues to donate:

• BPI
  • Account name: Krystel Iris de Castro
  • Savings account number: 9609079212
• GCash / Paymaya / Coins.ph: 0965 572 9599

However, I understand not everyone has the financial means to contribute through donations.

• You would be doing me a great favour just by sharing my campaign.
• If you know any scholarship that I can apply for, I would love to hear about it!
• You can also open a TransferWise borderless account through my referral link: https://transferwise.com/invite/u/krysteld10
  This is like PayPal but you'll get local bank account details in each country so you can receive money through domestic direct deposit or wire transfer instead of international wire transfer.

Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or through Facebook Messenger.

Thank you for believing in me and fusion energy!