Photo credit: Kavan Chay ↗
Plasma, the fourth state of matter, accounts for more than 99% of the visible universe. It plays a fundamental role in astrophysics and space physics and is now also part of everyday life, notably through its use in the production of smartphones, computers, displays, and medical imaging devices. Plasma research also underpins the development of new applications across a wide range of fields, including medicine, nanotechnology, aeronautics, environmental science, and agriculture. Finally, plasma physics is central to thermonuclear fusion, a promising decarbonized alternative to conventional energy production.
The mission of the PLASMAScience Graduate School is to foster excellence in plasma physics education by providing funding to students pursuing Master’s and doctoral degrees within the laboratories of the PLASMAScience Graduate School ecosystem at Institut Polytechnique de Paris.
Plasma science is a rich and interdisciplinary field of physics, lying at the crossroads of disciplines such as chemistry, engineering, and applied mathematics. Plasma physics, one of the major research areas at Institut Polytechnique de Paris, brings together seven laboratories (CMAP, CPHT, LOA, LPICM, LPP, LSI, and LULI) that cover a broad spectrum of plasma-related research at the forefront of science and technology, including thermonuclear fusion, space plasmas, and plasma applications in medicine and nanotechnology.
The PLASMAScience Graduate School unites the activities of these seven laboratories and currently represents the largest plasma research community in France.
The PLASMAScience Graduate School aims to become one of the leading international players in plasma physics research and education. Its mission is to combine the high-level research of these seven laboratories with attractive training opportunities for IP Paris students, offering young talents the chance to work with dynamic, multidisciplinary research teams on scientific projects and to access its extensive international scientific and academic network. The Graduate School’s goal is to train highly skilled researchers and engineers capable of addressing emerging societal challenges.
In August 2019, a €4 million grant (over 10 years) was awarded to the PLASMA_ST project through the second wave of the University Research Schools call for projects under the Future Investment Programme (PIA3). This project is being carried out by seven IP Paris laboratories: CMAP, CPHT, LOA, LPICM, LPP, LSI, and LULI.
Out of 81 projects submitted across a wide range of topics — including archaeology, engineering, chemistry, and sports — only 24 were selected by an international jury, including four from IP Paris.
This PIA3 state programme aims to support the creation of University Research Schools (in French, Écoles Universitaires de Recherche, EUR), inspired by the Anglo-Saxon model of graduate schools, which “bring together master’s and doctoral studies as well as one or more high-level research laboratories.”
The project team demonstrated the significance of plasma research. The jury highlighted the quality of the project at both the scientific and educational levels, as well as its strong international dimension.
The PLASMA_ST project was officially launched in November 2020. In January 2021, the project adopted the name PLASMAScience (PLASMAScience Graduate School).
This initiative is supported by the French National Research Agency under the Investissements d’Avenir program (ANE-18-EURE-0014).