On 16 May 2023, in Paris, alongside the 216th session of the UNESCO Executive Committee, JINR Director’s Special Representative for cooperation with international and Russian scientific organizations Boris Sharkov met with leaders of the UNESCO science unit. Its leaders expressed interest in participating in key JINR events and considered JINR as a valuable partner of the organization.

The UNESCO party was headed by Director of the Division of Science Policy and Basic Sciences Shaofeng Hu, Chief of the Section for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Ezra Clark, as well as Chief of the Section for Basic Science, Research, Innovation, and Engineering Amal Kasry.

At the beginning of the meeting, Boris Sharkov reminded the participants about the history of cooperation between twe international organizations. It began with the signing of the Cooperation Agreement of 1997, which was expanded in 2017 to include a joint internship programme. This programme involves 10 three-month internships at the expense of UNESCO extra-budgetary funds and 4 grant positions for one-year internships for young scientists at the expense of JINR on the UNESCO recommendation.

Boris Sharkov highlighted such important joint events as the Mendeleev International Prize, the JINR’s active participation in the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, the upcoming opening of the UN Decade of Science, etc. Boris Sharkov expressed confidence in the JINR’s active participation in the preparation for the Year of Quantum Science and Technology in 2025.

Boris Sharkov introduced the participants of the meeting to the JINR scientific programme, flagship projects, the unique research infrastructure of the Institute, as well as the Dubna science city. He touched upon aspects of the social life of visiting foreign scientists.

The participants of the meeting asked numerous follow-up questions on various aspects of the implementation of the JINR-UNESCO cooperation programme aimed at its early resumption and activation. It was noted that JINR is a valuable partner. It is because JINR is actively working in the priority areas of UNESCO’s mandate to develop science, technology, innovation and to strengthen human capital in many countries of the world under the motto “Science brings nations together”.

Establishment of working contacts with representatives of the Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO was another result of the participation in the meeting. Boris Sharkov held introductory discussions with Ambassador Rinat Alyautdinov and Second Secretary of the Representative Office Galina Enayeva, who is responsible for science.

The leaders of the UNESCO science unit expressed interest in continuing to participate as an observer at the CP JINR sessions and other important meetings in Dubna.