On 21-22 March, the delegation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of the Republic of Cuba (CITMA), headed by Deputy Minister Armando Rodríguez Batista, visited JINR. Members of the delegation met with the JINR Directorate to discuss issues of deepening scientific cooperation. CITMA representatives participated in the session of the Committee of Plenipotentiaries that is taking place at JINR. The delegation visited the Institute’s laboratories, where they got acquainted with the scientific infrastructure and research areas and held a meeting with Cuban scientists working at JINR.

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Having welcomed the guests, JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov noted the long history of partnership between JINR and the Republic of Cuba. As part of the international team, Cuban researchers actively participate in the implementation of the NICA Megascience Project, making a great contribution not only to the activities of the Institute, but also to the global science.

“JINR is always willing to support the initiatives of the Cuban physics community. We are ready to assist both in new research studies and in projects aimed at developing scientific infrastructure of the republic. I believe that constructing advanced research equipment can make a significant contribution to the strengthening of our bilateral cooperation,” the Institute Director said.

Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment of the Republic of Cuba Armando Rodríguez Batista thanked the JINR Directorate for the opportunity to visit the nuclear physics Mecca. Armando Rodríguez Batista noted radiobiology, nuclear medicine, and life sciences as priority areas for joint work.

“It has been a huge pleasure to have the opportunity to visit the laboratories of the Institute and to interact with Cuban scientists working in Dubna. I am sure that we have a long and successful partnership in many projects ahead of us. This visit will open up new opportunities for strengthening ties with scientific centres of Latin America. In this difficult moment, we think that science can help us with a possibility to join, to work together, and to look for prosperity and for peace for our people,” Armando Rodríguez Batista said.

At the meeting, participants discussed initiatives to hold scientific schools and internships for scientific personnel, as well as to implement programmes for the development of academic mobility of youth engaged in science. In order to provide scientific and educational institutions in Cuba with more information about JINR , it was proposed to create a JINR Information Centre in the republic.

Both parties acknowledged the need to build human resource capacity. Grigory Trubnikov spoke about joint work with the University of Havana and proposed establishing a programme to provide full scholarship for Cuban students at Dubna University. Participants discussed training of highly qualified scientific personnel at the Joint Institute. JINR Vice-Director Latchesar Kostov emphasised the importance of regular holding of scientific events for young physicists.

On the eve of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Cuba’s accession to the Joint Institute as a Member State, the parties discussed the possibility of holding JINR Days in Cuba.

As one of the key points of the visit programme, the delegation took part in the meeting of the JINR Committee of Plenipotentiaries. Armando Rodríguez Batista presented to the CP members the decision of the Cuban Academy of Sciences on granting the status of Corresponding Member of the Academy to Scientific Leader of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions at JINR Yuri Oganessian. The scientist was awarded the title for his outstanding contribution to the global science and as a sign of the Academy’s recognition of his efforts to educate several generations of Cuban physicists. In addition, the delegation members heard a report by the JINR Director providing an update on the main results of the implementation of the current seven-year plan and took part in the discussion.

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During the visit, Armando Rodríguez Batista also held a meeting with representatives of the national group of the Republic of Cuba at JINR, during which the Cuban researchers spoke about their scientific work and life in Dubna.

While getting acquainted with the JINR scientific infrastructure, the delegation visited the Nanocentre of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions and reviewed the research and experimental equipment of the Laboratory of Radiation Biology. The Cuban representatives visited the Laboratory of High Energy Physics at JINR and the NICA Megascience Project, where they were introduced to the key elements and research facilities of the accelerator complex being prepared for launch.

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