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In memoriam

Scientist Beatrix Schunke

3 Feb 2025

A key member of the neutral beam injection team, Beatrix Schunke had worked since 2006 at ITER.
 

It is with profound sadness that we have learned that our colleague, friend and scientist Beatrix Schunke lost her courageous and valiant struggle against a long illness on 20 January 2025. We mourn the passing of this exceptional lady who was an integral part of the ITER Organization and the neutral beam team.

Beatrix was born in Wanne-Eickel, Germany in 1959. She received a degree in experimental physics and a PhD from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum in 1985 and 1990 respectively. Her studies focused on two-photon laser spectroscopy and laser ablation experiments. She was with the JET Joint Undertaking in Culham, UK, for a one-year post-doctoral fellowship in the Electron Temperature Measurement Group, before moving to a staff position where she was involved in JET’s LIDAR Thomson scattering diagnostic (known to insiders as KE3, located in the roof laboratory above the tokamak). In 1995, she moved to the Operations Division as an Expert Session Leader.

In 1998, she joined the Département de Recherche sur la Fusion Contrôlée, CEA Cadarache, France, where she was involved with the Visible and UV Spectroscopy Group in charge of the Zeff diagnostics. Following this long involvement in diagnostics, Beatrix joined the ITER Organization in 2006, where she took on responsibility for the diagnostic neutral beam. 

It was during this period, 2006-2024, that Beatrix made her mark on the ITER project and was a key member of the neutral beam injection team. Beatrix was responsible for the design, procurement, installation and commissioning of the diagnostic neutral beam with the Indian Domestic Agency. She took the role of acting section leader of the neutral beam team on many occasions, and guided and led team development over the intervening years. Beatrix was a mentor to many of the new recruits in the neutral beam project and was always giving of her time. She was also the scientific secretary for neutral beam design reviews, coordinating and managing many of the reviews and workshops for the team. Her work brought her in contact with many people across the project, from the different interfaces across the machine. She was widely known and respected, in particular for her diplomatic character and her strong determination and work ethic. She played an active role in US-EPSU Fusion, a union representing staff working in all Euratom fusion and associated centres in the European Union, both as member and as secretary. 

It was this determination that stood to her through her long illness, which she faced with courage and strength. Beatrix continued to work throughout her illness, regularly scheduling treatments in the early hours of the morning so that she could come straight to the office afterwards.

Beatrix was known and respected across the project for her knowledge, efficiency, calmness, gentle character and smile. She and her legacy will live on through the ITER project and its successes. We express our sincere condolences to those closest to Beatrix, especially to Guido, her lifetime partner, her family and her many colleagues and friends throughout the world. She will be missed.

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