On 11 October, an Information Centre of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research opened at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) on Russky Island. Operation of the Infocentre will contribute to the international scientific cooperation, especially with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. It will also promote training of highly qualified staff in nuclear physics and popularisation of scientific knowledge.

The JINR Infocentre aims to open new opportunities for students, postgraduates, and young specialists to get acquainted with the unique scientific infrastructure and research projects of the Institute. The newly opened IC will also be a tool for young scientists to choose the areas for their research activities. The new IC at FEFU is expected to become a platform for communication and experience exchange between young scientists from both Primorsky Krai and other regions.

JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov noted that the Joint Institute and FEFU have a long-standing history of successful cooperation and a wide range of joint activities. This has led to the decision to open a JINR Information Centre at the University. “Opening of the Information Centre in Vladivostok is only the tip of the iceberg. It has become a new spot on the globe marking the expansion of the partner “neural network” of JINR Infocentres from north to east. Infocentres provide an opportunity for the best minds of the Member States and other countries to establish strong scientific contacts with each other. With this opening of the IC, we can show to ourselves and the world highly effective scientific and educational cooperation,” he said.

Photo: FEFU Press Service

It should be reminded that the agreement on the establishment of the Information Centre of the Joint Institute at the Far Eastern Federal University was signed on 13 May 2022 in Dubna. Despite the fact that the official opening has just taken place, the actual operation of the Centre began last autumn when it started fulfilling its major task of training students and attracting them to science. Since then FEFU students have visited JINR laboratories for excursions and trainings, there has been a series of online lectures by JINR scientists for FEFU students. About 1,000 students of the region attended them. JINR and FEFU have done a lot of joint activities within the lecture series of the Znanie (lit. “Knowledge”) society for several months. Last week, physics teachers from Primorsky Krai had a training at the JINR University Centre.

The JINR Director highlighted that JINR, as an international intergovernmental organization, has a wide partner network around the world. In this regard it is of special significance to develop scientific cooperation with universities and academic institutions of Russian Far East. One of the Institute’s tasks is to make contribution to the development of international collaborations with scientists from the Asia-Pacific region. Grigory Trubnikov also expressed hope that FEFU would become one of the JINR channels to establish contacts in the region, in particular, with China.

Speaking about engaging young people into science, JINR Scientific Leader Victor Matveev highlighted the importance of a document signed on the eve between JINR, FEFU, the Government of Primorsky Krai, and the Far Eastern Department of RAS. “For me as for a person who spent his childhood and youth in Vladivostok it is important to contribute to the enhancement of cooperation between the University, the scientific centre, and the Government of the region. Talents of children are our priority, and together we should make every effort to attract young people to science. The youth will be the engine of progress in the macro-region,” he said. Director of the JINR IC Alexandra Reguzova supported this idea and expressed hope that the Centre in Vladivostok would allow schoolchildren and students of Primorye to begin their way to big science.

Representatives of already operating ICs congratulated the JINR Infocentre at FEFU on opening. They wished the colleagues in Vladivostok to get actively involved into the agenda of the Institute and expressed their confidence that the new IC would be a new driver of science development in the region and an active partner of universities and scientific organizations where ICs already work.

Representatives of the Joint Institute are taking part in the Far Eastern Forum of Young Scientists and Innovators Vostok.Nauka II at which they have delivered lectures and workshops.

Moreover, an interactive exhibition dedicated to the JINR activities and achievements of modern science has been opened on the Forum’s platform. The exhibition has become one of the events of the JINR additional programme for the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development – IYBSSD 2022. JINR is one of the IYBSSD organizers.