On 22 – 26 March 2021, General Director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan in JINR Batyrzhan Karakozov appointed to this position on 11 March 2021 is making an introductory visit to JINR. The Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan arrived in Dubna accompanied by Director of the Astana branch of the Institute of Nuclear Physics Maxim Zdorovets.

On 23 March, JINR Director Academician Grigory Trubnikov welcomed Batyrzhan Karakozov in the JINR Directorate at a meeting. Scientific Leader of the Institute Victor Matveev, Vice-Directors Richard Lednický and Sergey Dmitriev, JINR Director Advisor Mikhail Itkis, Head of the International Cooperation Department Dmitry Kamanin also took part in the event. The national group of the Republic of Kazakhstan was represented at the meeting by its Head Aidos Issadykov and his deputy Damir Aznabayev, as well as INR Deputy General Director for Science Daniyar Janseitov.

At the meeting, the parties noted the current high level of cooperation and, in particular, wide and active participation of young scientists from Kazakhstan in scientific works of the Institute. JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov highlighted that training of young highly qualified staff members and the development of the scientific infrastructure of the JINR Member States are priority tasks of the Joint Institute. He also noted that the Strategy of the JINR development until 2030 and further includes qualitative development of the educational realm at JINR. This may be one of the vectors for the enhancement of cooperation with the Republic of Kazakhstan. The parties discussed proposals for cooperation strengthening, in particular, joint development of the INR accelerator complex and the creation of a JINR branch on its basis. JINR leaders welcomed the initiative of the Kazakhstani party to hold one of the next Conferences of Young Scientists and Specialists of JINR in Almaty. Moreover, Batyrzhan Karakozov invited JINR representatives to take part in the International Scientific Forum “Nuclear science and technologies” organized by INR in September 2021.

The programme of the first day of the delegation’s visit also included acquaintance with the scientific infrastructure of the Joint Institute. The guests visited the Laboratory of High Energy Physics where they were introduced to the NICA complex under construction. The guests also visited the factory of magnets. In the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, the delegation visited the Superheavy Element Factory based on the new accelerator DC-280 and the Nanocentre. During the visit to the Laboratory of Neutron Physics, the delegation had a tour of the IBR-2 research reactor, and Batyrzhan Karakozov met with the FLNP Director Valery Shvetsov to discuss the current state of cooperation, as well as prospects for its development, in particular, on the construction of a multifunctional diffractometer in the Institute of Nuclear Research in Almaty.

Moreover, the programme of the visit includes a meeting with the national group of the Republic of Kazakhstan scheduled for 24 March and organized in the format of a reporting seminar of Kazakhstani employees at JINR.

Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan Batyrzhan Karakozov will take part in the session of the Committee of Plenipotentiary Representatives of the JINR Member States on 25 March and in the festive events dedicated to the 65th JINR anniversary on 26 March.

Photos by Elena Puzynina