Turning Hope into Reality with Plasmas

Our society faces incredible challenges on multiple fronts. Surging energy demands clash with the necessity to mitigate or even reverse anthropogenic changes to our environment. An ever-increasing fraction of the world population rightfully demands an improvement in its standard of living. The information technology revolution is far from slowing down, with the rise of artificial intelligence requiring new approaches to handle massive amounts of data. Research and training in plasma processing science as well as the ultimate deployment into services, technological solutions and economic opportunities have the potential to address these issues and drive innovations.

Can the plasma processing science community provide the fundamental breakthroughs and translate them to the large scale to enable society to overcome these challenges?

The 2026 GRC on Plasma Processing Science will address this big question by providing a venue for the discussion of cutting-edge and unpublished research while bringing together researchers at all career stages. Presentations will cover a range of relevant topics, from progress in understanding the most fundamentals aspects of plasma generation and plasma-matter interactions, to the application of novel techniques towards the characterization and modelling of plasma processes. Efforts towards the commercialization of novel plasma-related technologies will also be discussed. The associated Gordon Research Seminar will provide unique networking and learning opportunities to students and early-career researchers. The 2026 GRC on Plasma Processing Science aims at not only advancing the frontiers of plasma science and technology, but also at providing a setting for creative thinking and at inspiring the next generation of scientists and researchers.