Opening Times: 6 – 15 Nov | Tuesday – Saturday (11am – 5pm) | Sunday (11am – 4pm)
Location: Millennium Gallery, 48 Arundel Gate, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2PP
About the exhibit
From the birth of the Industrial Revolution to the frontier of fusion energy – discover the region’s incredible transformation. Anchored by Samuel Forbes-Fairfax’s research, supervised by Dr Emma Heywood, this century-spanning film combines animation, archival footage and rich storytelling to connect our industrial past with a low-carbon future. Don’t just watch though: step up to our immersive display and listen to Sheffield as the beating heart of past, present and future innovation. Furnace to Fusion is a collaborative project by the University of Sheffield, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Human Studio.
More Information
Furnace to Fusion is a short immersive film tracing South Yorkshire’s journey from the Industrial Revolution to today’s clean energy landscape. Through animation and storytelling, it grounds fusion science in local history, building public understanding, and shows how local manufacturing is developing the materials and workforce needed for a low-carbon future. It’s a collaboration between the University of Sheffield, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Human Studio, led by researcher Sam Forbes-Fairfax with supervision from Dr Emma Heywood.
Sheffield’s ‘Steel City’ reputation grew from innovations like the Crucible process and Bessemer convertor furnace. Manufacturing once provided 43% of local employment (1911); though steel jobs have declined to around 15,000, the sector has shifted towards specialist steels and advanced manufacturing.
What is fusion? Fusion powers the sun and stars. UKAEA is developing this technology in the UK, heating hydrogen isotopes to extreme temperatures to create plasma inside a tokamak (a ring-shaped fusion machine), releasing carbon-free energy.
Fusion in Sheffield: UKAEA’s South Yorkshire site on the Advanced Manufacturing Park works with local manufacturers on fusion challenges, building the supply chain for commercialisation. UKAEA is the fusion partner for the STEP Programme, the world’s first prototype fusion power plant, to be built near Sheffield, employing over 8,000 people at peak construction and 6,500 once operational in the 2040s.
Thank you to participants in the project: Amy Blackledge, Richard Patterson, Steven Farey, Colin Stewart, Matt Davies, Prof Russell Goodall, Dr Richard Thackray, Elizabeth Birks, Rosemary Jane Jones, John Ward.
Project Team
Sam Forbes Fairfax: Sam Forbes-Fairfax is a Sheffield native and PGR researcher from the University of Sheffield, supported by the Fusion Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training. Their research looks into how communities understand technology and infrastructure projects.
Dr Emma Heywood: Dr Emma Heywood is Associate Professor at the University of Sheffield’s School of Information, Journalism and Communication. Her research explores community engagement and how people can shape the decisions, technologies and services that affect their lives. She is founder of The 80:20 Pathway, which helps organisations put listening and local knowledge at the heart of their projects. She supervises Sam’s research in partnership with UKAEA, exploring how communities understand and engage with technology and infrastructure.
Human Studio: Human Studio is an award-winning creative team with global credentials in design, moving image and immersive experiences. Driven by the discovery of knowledge, technology and culture, the team collaborates with individuals, groups and organisations that make a difference. The studio has exhibited work at venues and events across Europe, Brazil, China, Japan, Canada and the United States.
UKAEA: The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the UK’s national fusion energy research organisation. UKAEA are an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). UKAEA’s mission is to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy to maximise scientific and UK economic benefit. UKAEA owns UKFE Ltd on behalf of the UK government. Through UKFE Ltd, we’re spearheading the STEP Fusion programme to design and build the UK’s first prototype fusion energy power plant in Nottinghamshire.