On 14 April, a brilliant Russian scientist, Scientific Leader of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research Academician Yuri Tsolakovich Oganessian turns 85.

Life of Yuri Tsolakovich has been directly connected with Dubna, the Institute, and the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions for more than 60 years.

Yu.Ts. Oganessian is widely known to the world scientific community for his experimental research on synthesis and study of properties of new chemical elements of the Mendeleev Periodic Table. This world-renowned scientist is a founder of the modern scientific and experimental basis for development of a new field of nuclear physics, heavy-ion physics.

Yu.Ts. Oganessian pioneering research of mechanisms of complex nuclei interactions, development of original methods to study rare processes of nuclear transmutations led to outstanding results. Research and new developments made by him jointly with colleagues marked the breakthrough in the field of superheavy nuclei in reactions of hot fusion under the effect of an ion beam of a rare isotope calcium-48 that led to the synthesis of the heaviest chemical elements 114, 115, 116, 117 and 118.

Due to the decision of International Unions of Theoretical and Applied Chemistry and Physics (IUPAC, IUPAP), the new elements were recognized as the elements of the Mendeleev Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. In recognition of significant contribution of Yu.Ts. Oganessian to research of the heaviest nuclei and atoms, the heaviest element with the atomic number 118 was named “oganesson”.

On the basis of ideas of Yu.Ts. Oganessian, international scientific centres of various countries develop new nuclear-physical and chemical laboratories and work out programmes for a wide scope of research of nuclei at the stability boarders. Construction of the first in the world Superheavy Elements Factory is now almost completed in the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. It is a unique accelerator complex that will be the centre for future research of the heaviest elements. In addition to high scientific importance of this facility bringing all research to a new level, it strengthens leading positions and international relations of Russian science.

The JINR international staff, colleagues, friends, pupils heartily congratulate Yuri Tsolakovich on his 85th anniversary and wish him good health, great success in his scientific and organizational activities and achieving of all goals!

The JINR Directorate, the FLNR Directorate, friends, colleagues