On 1 April, a scientific session of the Nuclear Physics Section of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), dedicated to the 300th RAS anniversary, started at JINR. The programme of the event covers the main theoretical and experimental aspects of particle physics and related problems of nuclear physics and cosmology. The organizers are the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and the Nuclear Physics Section of the RAS Physics Division.

JINR Scientific Leader, RAS Academician Victor Matveev opened the event with a report on the start of the implementation of the new Seven-Year Plan for the Development of JINR, stressing the importance of strengthening international scientific cooperation.

“The 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences is in the UNESCO list of memorable dates, marking its significance not only on the national, but on the global scale. This session will provide an overall picture of the research processes that are taking place today in fundamental nuclear physics and elementary particle physics. In addition, the event will contribute to the development of partnerships between Russian and world scientific centres,” Victor Matveev noted.

JINR Director, RAS Academician Grigory Trubnikov greeted the guests with a welcoming speech.

“The Institute couldn’t have made its projects a reality if it wasn’t for the united efforts of the entire nuclear physics community. We are now witnessing the return to the era of large scientific projects, with the participation of the top universities and research centres. This cohesion inspires confidence and allows us to make plans for collaborative research and experiments for the next decade. I hope this scientific session will help engage many experienced specialists and young scientists in JINR projects,” the Director of the Joint Institute said.

Director of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics Dmitry Kazakov discussed the format, programme, and organizational issues of the session.

Grigory Trubnikov’s report entitled “NICA Accelerator Complex: challenges and solutions” opened the scientific programme of the event. The Director provided an update on the progress of the NICA Megascience Project, including the level of preparedness for the launch of key components and experimental facilities of the accelerator complex, and spoke about the project’s primary scientific objectives.

In addition, during the plenary session on the first day, MPD Collaboration Leader Victor Riabov made a report on the physics of collisions of heavy nuclei, and Scientific Leader of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions Yuri Ts. Oganessian delivered a report on superheavy nuclei and elements.

The scientific session of the Nuclear Physics Section will take five days, ending on Friday, 5 April. The speakers will present over 200 reports on the topics stated in the programme:

• physics of proton-proton and e+e- colliders;
• relativistic heavy-ion physics;
• quantum field theory;
• gravitation and cosmology;
• flavour physics (CKM, CP, g-2, …);
• neutrino physics;
• astroparticle physics and cosmic rays;
• dark matter;
• exotic physics (axions, …);
• low and intermediate energy nuclear physics;
• hadron structure and spectroscopy (including XYZ, glueballs, …);
• detectors, methodology of experiments;
• physics and technology of accelerators;
• fundamental nuclear physics.