On 4 December 2019, a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia visited the Joint Institute for the first time. The delegation was represented by Dr Sultan Alsagabi, Director of the Nuclear Science Research Institute (NSRI), Dr Nasser Alkhomashi, Head of the NSRI Consulting Committee, Dr Omar Alsager, NSRI Deputy Director, Dr Mohammed Almalki, a researcher of the NSRI National Centre for Accelerator Technologies. The delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived at Dubna accompanied by representatives of the JSC “Rusatom Overseas”.

In the JINR Directorate, JINR Vice-Director Academician Boris Sharkov welcomed the delegation and opened the meeting with an introductory lecture about the fields of the Institute’s scientific activities. The JINR party was also represented by Deputy Head of the International Cooperation Department Anna Kotova and Head of the National Group of Egypt at JINR and JINR Liaison Officer in Arab Atomic Energy Agency Wael Badawy who shared the experience of the participation of Egypt in JINR scientific activities with the guests. In his response, head of the delegation Dr Sultan Alsagabi noted that the visit of the delegation had an introductory nature and was aimed to find opportunities for cooperation in various fields of nuclear physics and accelerator technologies, as well as in the area of training highly qualified personnel on the JINR basis.

After the meeting in the Directorate, the delegation from Saudi Arabia was acquainted with the JINR scientific infrastructure. The guests visited the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics where they were acquainted with the spectrometer complex of the IBR-2 research reactor, as well as the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions where they saw the nanocentre and the DC-280 cyclotron. A working lunch with representatives of the JINR Directorate headed by JINR Vice-Director Boris Sharkov and leading FLNP scientists concluded the visit of the delegation. The members of the delegation highlighted that they were deeply impressed with the wide range of JINR research and noted accelerator technologies and environmental monitoring as the most promising fields for cooperation development. Moreover, the guests showed great interest in the conditions for obtaining the status of a JINR Associate Member by Saudi Arabia. The members of the delegation were enthusiastic about the proposal to get acquainted with the Institute in greater detail in the framework of one of the upcoming JEMS training programmes for administrative and scientific personnel.

Photos by Elena Puzynina