News Conference

Jim Brophy, Vice President for Research at the University of Utah begins the conference, which is held in the Henry Eyring Room at the U. of Utah. Participants include U. of Utah President Chase Peterson, University of Southampton Dean of Science Dean R. Nesbitt, U. of Utah Professor Stanley Pons and U. of Southampton Professor Martin Fleischman. President Peterson makes introductory remarks on the nature of experimental science, after which Pons and Fleischman comment on their work, announcing "a sustained nuclear fusion reaction." A question and answer session with the press follows. Topics covered are the nature of the experiment, energy output, cost of development, benefits of fusion-generated energy, design parameters, reason for press conference, next logical steps, possible funding from the U. S. Department of Energy and patenting. President Peterson reads a letter from Utah Governor Norman Bangerter. Activities taking place immediately following the press conference occur in the laboratory where the fusion experiment is located. A guide explains the experiment to the press and others. There are views of the experiment and associated equipment.