Chris Hegna is director of UW–Madison’s Center for Plasma Theory and Computation. His primary field is theoretical plasma physics with an emphasis on the area of plasma confinement using magnetic fields. These studies employ analytic and computational techniques to study plasma dynamics and are closely coupled with experimental observations. The ultimate goal of the magnetic confinement community is to develop magnetic fusion as a commercial source of electricity. Hegna’s current research includes the areas of magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium and stability, transport properties of plasmas, general magnetic confinement theory and stellarator physics.