On 16 December, VBLHEP Director, RAS Corresponding Member Vladimir Kekelidze gave a talk in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation in the framework of the Expert Time project, a regular meeting of senators with world-renowned scientists, politicians, directors, and artists. The report considered the NICA mega-science project as an example of the implementation of international scientific and technical cooperation and scientific diplomacy.

Photo: Federation Council

Vladimir Kekelidze in his report spoke about scientific tasks of the NICA project, its key experimental facilities, as well as plans for the launch of the complex the construction of which is scheduled to be completed in 2021. The speaker presented to senators the experience of passing expert examinations by the project, including European commissions for science. Vladimir Kekelidze also presented JINR practices on the creation and work organization of international scientific collaborations in the framework of the MPD and SPD experiments at the NICA complex. “Our project has received the status of European scientific infrastructure, which opens up opportunities for European scientists to apply for European grants supporting their participation in our project; and we need European scientists,” Vladimir Kekelidze emphasized.

Vladimir Kekelidze paid special attention to the potential of applied research on the basis of the NICA complex. In particular, he noted the contribution NICA can make to the development of medical technologies in the light of the existing necessity in the development of economically accessible carbon therapy centres. The JINR long-term experience in the fields of proton therapy plays a key role in this regard. “Compact superconducting magnets, the technology of which was developed at JINR and which are the basis of our complex, are the most promising ones in the creation of cost-effective accelerators for modern radiation therapy centres,” Vladimir Kekelidze noted. Moreover, the speaker noted the capabilities of one of the largest and the most efficient in Russia complexes, namely the JINR cryogenic complex, which allows conducting large-scale scientific developments using temperatures close to absolute zero. For example, it is used for the creation of storage facilities and transportation systems for liquid gases. According to Vladimir Kekelidze, in the framework of the project “The NICA Complex”, a megawatt energy storage is being created that has no analogues in the world. It is being developed on the basis of the superconducting cable created in Dubna, which is the basis of the entire cryogenic complex of VBLHEP. Such storage devices allow changing the modern world of energy consumption and making the use of alternative energy sources more efficient. As Vladimir Kekelidze noted, it is possible to reproduce the entire range of particles of ionizing radiation at the NICA accelerator complex. This allows developing the JINR research into effects of space radiation on living organisms, including during long-distance flights into space. It also gives an opportunity to develop radiation-resistant electronics.

Photo: Federation Council

Vladimir Kekelidze expressed gratitude in his speech to the Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lilia Gumerova who chaired a guest meeting of the Committee on 23 October in Dubna. The speaker also presented to the members of the Federation Council proposals based on the milestones of the meeting. It was offered to take into account the experience of the science city of Dubna where a unique model of interaction has formed between federal, regional, and municipal levels of the government, advanced science and production, the Special Economic Zone, and the international scientific organization JINR. According to Vladimir Kekelidze, Dubna is ready to be a driver of the development of the new model of science cities focused on the creation of an attractive city environment “science-education-culture”. This requires a favourable regulatory framework and support from the Government of the Russian Federation.

Commenting on the speech by Vladimir Kekelidze, Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko noted the necessity to create legal conditions for successful development of megaprojects. The Speaker of the Federation Council instructed Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lilia Gumerova to continue working jointly with scientists on drafting a roadmap for updating the legislative framework of the Russian Federation for the areas of science and scientific and technological development of Russia.