Ways to attract youth to science, experience, and tools for establishing JINR Information Centres, as well as the concept of JINR associate staff, were discussed on 7 July at a round table dedicated to the development of JINR interaction with universities. The event took place within the framework of the 18th International training programme for decision-makers in science and international scientific cooperation «JINR Expertise for Member States and Partner Countries» (JEMS-18).

In addition to representatives of Russian universities, including the North-Caucasus Federal University, Kabardino-Balkar State University, Southern Federal University, and MEPhI, participants of the round table also represented Bulgarian universities of Sofia and Plovdiv, as well as the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency and heads of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant.

Young scientists from the CIS countries, who traditionally take part in the JINR summer internship, also joined the event.

JINR Chief Scientific Secretary Sergey Nedelko, JINR Special Representative to Russian and International Organizations Boris Sharkov, Head of the International Cooperation Department Dmitry Kamanin, As­sis­tant Di­rec­tor for Hu­man Re­sour­ces Alexander Ruzaev, as well as representatives of JINR national groups, the University Centre, and other interested staff members took part in the event on behalf of the Joint Institute.

Boris Sharkov in his speech called participants to actively formulate their requests and expectations for cooperation thus to successfully find out the priority areas of interaction. “We are interested in establishing joint research groups at universities with the participation of scientists from the JINR laboratories. Such groups would have access to the JINR scientific infrastructure and would have an opportunity to join the experimental programmes at the facilities,” Boris Sharkov added.

Participants of the discussion paid special attention to the topic of the JINR associate staff the concept of which was presented by Sergey Nedelko. “We would like to see here strong scientists and engineers, regardless of their age. An organization attracts young people if it has interesting people, tasks, and an opportunity to gain bright scientific results,” he highlighted. At the same time, the JINR representatives highlighted that the main desire of the Institute is not to lure personnel but first of all spark interest in science among young people by providing access to the unique research infrastructure.”

Participants showed considerable interest in presentations on the methodology development and formats of attracting the youth to science and staff training, including work with school students and teachers, as well as the use of modern visual materials. In this field, they noted the potential of JINR Information Centres. Dmitry Kamanin spoke about their development. “A significant goal of the JINR Information Centre is to cover the whole region around a particular geographical point it is located in,” the speaker highlighted. Director of the JINR Information Centre in the South of Russia Nelli Pukhaeva presented information about the practical results of its operation. Continuing the topic, Head of the national group of the Republic of Kazakhstan at JINR Aidos Issadykov shared information about the opening of the JINR Information Centre in the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty scheduled for September-October 2021.

Participants of the meeting considered also the promising experience of the International IT School “Data Science” organized jointly by JINR and the University “Dubna”. This experience may be used at universities of the JINR Member States.

Photos by Elena Puzynina