Michel Claessens' background is chemistry and science journalism. He joined the European  Commission in 1994. He had been Head of the Communication Unit in the Research Directorate-General until 2011, editor-in-chief and in charge of the science and technology Eurobarometers.  In April 2011, he was appointed Head of Communication and External Relations at the ITER  Organization in Saint Paul-lez-Durance (France). He is now policy officer for ITER in the European  Commission. He published a dozen of popularizing books and essays, including ITER: The Giant  Fusion Reactor, Springer, 2020 (in the press)..