Lynn Bowen’s journey into the LENR field was serendipitous. She was primarily interested in art, drama, and writing in high school. However, she also excelled in math. In college, she began taking physics classes and she pivoted to this new area of study. As she describes it, “I took physics and just absolutely loved it. It seemed to be exactly the right path for me.” From that point on, she embraced the field, eventually earning a master’s degree and building a career as an engineer with a growing interest in the forces within atomic nuclei.

Her intrigue led her to the unique field of LENR (Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions). She entered the field formally after attending a LENR conference near her home in Colorado, where she presented her own research. “Once I went to that conference, I was hooked,” she recalls, emphasizing the sense of belonging she felt among others exploring these unconventional scientific boundaries.

Her intrigue [of Engineering] led her to the unique field of LENR (Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions). She entered the field formally after attending a LENR conference near her home in Colorado, where she presented her own research. “Once I went to that conference, I was hooked,”

Bowen’s research focuses on understanding the forces that bind nucleons within atomic nuclei. She aims to find a theory that could encompass the unconventional phenomena observed in LENR without disregarding established physics. A defining theme of her work is exploring how atomic lattices—the structured arrangement of atoms within materials—might influence nuclear reactions, enabling fusion to occur at relatively low temperatures.

She says, “If we put these hydrogen isotopes, deuterium, into a lattice… the behavior will be different than what you might predict when looking at a plasma.” This view forms the foundation of her theoretical work, where she meticulously analyzes how lattice structures could support fusion reactions and reduce energy loss, a critical aspect that distinguishes LENR from hot fusion research.

Bowen’s theoretical work is further motivated by a conviction that the field’s challenges, such as reproducibility, are solvable with coordinated research and rigorous experimentation. She describes it with optimism: “It’s probably something very silly that we need to figure out,” drawing a parallel to the early issues encountered in semiconductor manufacturing. She is convinced that, like those early manufacturing problems, LENR’s obstacles can be addressed through methodical problem-solving and a better understanding of the lattice’s role in facilitating fusion.

“If we put these hydrogen isotopes, deuterium, into a lattice… the behavior will be different than what you might predict when looking at a plasma.” This view forms the foundation of her theoretical work, where ... lattice structures could support fusion reactions ... a critical aspect that distinguishes LENR from hot fusion research.

Bowen’s dedication to LENR research is deeply rooted in her belief in its potential to provide sustainable energy for the future. Unlike conventional nuclear power, LENR promises nuclear reactions without radioactive waste, which remains a drawback of traditional nuclear fission and many experimental fusion methods. In her view, nuclear energy, in some form, is humanity’s future: “I feel like it’s going to make a difference. I feel like it’s going to change the world,” she says. “Nuclear energy is the energy of the future… once we use up all our fossil fuels.”

Her motivation is amplified by the frustration she feels toward current challenges in the field, particularly the limited funding and the skepticism that has stymied LENR’s growth. She notes that this scientific resistance is as much political as it is scientific, recalling the skepticism and eventual dismissal of cold fusion following the Fleischmann and Pons experiment in the late 1980s. “It’ll come around… they just haven’t given it enough time,” she says, confident that persistent research will ultimately validate LENR as a reliable and groundbreaking energy source.

“I feel like it’s going to make a difference. I feel like it’s going to change the world,” she says. “Nuclear energy is the energy of the future… once we use up all our fossil fuels.”

Bowen envisions a future where LENR technology is no longer confined to lab experiments and theoretical discussions but provides reliable energy in diverse applications. “Long-term, I think we’re going to see solid-state fusion… as a very significant player in the energy sphere,” she predicts. Yet, she recognizes the importance of incremental progress and advocates for an organized, collaborative effort to address LENR’s technical challenges in the short term.

She hopes to see LENR replace centralized energy systems with smaller, decentralized sources, potentially giving communities control over their own energy. “I’d much rather see us generating the electricity in smaller locales,” she explains, suggesting that locally produced energy could reduce dependence on long-distance power grids and the environmental costs associated with current fossil fuel practices.

“Long-term, I think we’re going to see solid-state fusion… as a very significant player in the energy sphere..." She hopes to see LENR replace centralized energy systems with smaller, decentralized sources, potentially giving communities control over their own energy.

Bowen acknowledges that LENR research has challenges: reproducibility and controlled reactions. “The short-term future… I’d love to see us put a solidified and coordinated effort into figuring out reproducibility,” she says, emphasizing the need for control over LENR reactions to make them commercially viable. In her view, achieving such control could lead to LENR systems capable of producing energy on demand, ushering in a new era of clean and versatile power.

She is optimistic that, if given the same level of funding and attention as hot fusion, LENR could overcome its hurdles faster. “If we just had the resources, I think we’d see incredible progress,” she says, adding that LENR’s energy retention—far superior to that of high-temperature fusion—gives it a distinct advantage. Unlike hot fusion, LENR does not contend with high levels of energy loss due to neutron emissions, a problem that complicates efforts in plasma-based fusion research.

Bowen remains hopeful that more young scientists will explore LENR and contribute to advancing the field. “We need more people… more funding, and more direction,” she notes, stressing the importance of cultivating new talent and collaboration across disciplines. Bowen’s optimism is compelling as she discusses her ardent commitment to a burgeoning field that she believes could reshape humanity’s relationship with energy.
As she looks to the future, Bowen sees LENR as a scientific pursuit and a mission to better the world. “We have to look at the future,” she asserts, driven by a vision for clean energy that serves both people and the planet.