The symposium featured lectures by E. P. Velikhov (Kurchatov Institute), R. J. Goldston (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory), R. L. Hemmings (Canatom), H. Bolt (Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics), and N. Inoue (Atomic Energy Commission of Japan). The report also contains the transcripts of panel discussions and comments from the audience.

Velikhov told the audience, "ITER is the unique and the most straightforward way to study the burning plasma science in the nearest future." He said, "The acquired knowledge and technologies in the ITER project allow us to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of a fusion reactor. It can be concluded that ITER must be built in the nearest future."

Goldston said that "fusion plasma science is addressed using a portfolio of configurations, like Stellarator, Tokamak, Spherical Torus, Reversed Field Pinch, Spheromak, and Field Reversed Configuration. ITER will provide very significant benefits to the development of the full fusion portfolio . . . and technical demonstration of an integrated system."

Hemmings provided an overview of the various tritium activities in Canada. Bolt described a recent "fast track" fusion study in Europe that concluded that electricity from fusion could be produced by 2030. Inoue said, "Fusion research has made remarkable progress in the past several decades, and ITER will soon realize burning plasma that is essential for both academic research and energy development.