In the beginning of June,  the 5th International Conference on Advanced Physics (ICCP-V), organized by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Government of Mongolia, the Mongolian National University, the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, was held in Ulaanbaatar. The conference program covered a wide range of scientific research in the field of nuclear physics and technology, high energy physics, condensed matter, theoretical physics.

The previous such conference was held in Ulaanbaatar in 2010. This past one was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth ofe famous Mongolian scientist, academician Namsarain Sodnom, who made a significant contribution to the development of the Joint Institute practically since the day of its foundation, a member of the JINR Scientific Council, the Institute’s deputy director, and aPlenipotentiary Rrpresentative of the Government of Mongolia at JINR.

A delegation of JINR scientists took part in the conference, under supervision of the main scientific secretary of the Institute, professor N. Rusakovich. Delegation included director of the FLNP V. Shvetsov, head of DLNP sector Yu. Gornushkin, leading researcher of FLNP Yu. Gledenov, head of the LIT sector of Chuluunbaatar, the senior researcher of the LIT A.Gusev and the main scientific employee of the BLTP G. Efimov. Professor G. Efimov was awarded anhonorary degree of the Ulanbaatar University at the conference. N. Rusakovich provided his comments on the results of the conference, at our request:

This series of conferences is very popular in Mongolia and it is very important for informing wide circles of the scientific community about most urgent problems of modern physics, and for educating a new generation of researchers. International status of the conference attracts our colleagues from Japan, South Korea, Russian scientists from Irkutsk.

We were able to confirm that cooperation with Mongolian colleagues has been developing successfully. It touches a wide range of scientific areas, and Mongolian scientists and specialists make a significant contribution to activities of the Institute. We discussed these topics at meetings with the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government of Mongolia, academician Suren Davaa, head of the State Atomic Energy Agency of Mongolia. In preparation for the meetings of the Finance Committee and the Committee of Plenipotentiaries, the Mongolian side paid considerable attention to the increase of the membership fee at JINR, and we have a full understanding on this point. Participation of Mongolian specialists in the largest projects of the Institute was also discussed, and readiness to increase the number of Mongolian researchers in Dubna. Mongolia is a dynamically developing country, which pays a lot ofattention to nuclear physics, andwe discussed cooperation in training personnel in this field with academician Baataryn Chadraa, head of Mongolia’s state program for nuclear energy.

In addition to official meetings held within the framework of the conference, members of our delegation had the opportunity to meet friends and colleagues, discuss the course of joint projects, and plans for new research. It was nice to see young people actively participating in the meetings – students, and graduate students. In the final discussion at the conference, we discussed opportunities for a more activeexchange of students and graduate students, and organization of summer practices for Mongolian students similar to existing summer practices for students from South Africa and Egypt.

Alley named after the Mongolian scientist

(fragments of the article by Professor P. Isaev, published in the weekly «”Dubna”» the on 23 of May 2003)

Professor N. Sodnom studied at the Mongolian State University, from 1946 to 1948 he was teaching at the Department of Physics of the Mongolian University. From 1949 to August 1953 he was a graduate student at the Physics Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University. On July 3, 1953, the Academic Council of Moscow State University awarded Namsarain Sodnoma Doctor of Philosophy degree in physical and mathematical sciences. Upon his return to Mongolia from 1953 to 1956, he was the head of the Physics Department of the Mongolian State University.

In September 1956, N. Sodnom came to Dubna and began working at the Laboratory of Nuclear Problems. Thanks to such personal qualities as modesty, diligence, exceptional tact, N. Sodnomwas able to enter the life of the multinational group of researchersnaturally,and gained universal respect.

On 19 January 1967, Professor Sodnom was elected as the Institute’s deputy director, and starting from 22 May began to carry out his duties. As deputy director of JINR, professor Sodnom conducted a lot of scientific and administrative work. As chairman of the section on low-energy physics at JINR, he defended the scientific plans of the laboratories of neutron physics, nuclear problems and nuclear reactions, and their budgets. ood diplomatic skills were required to defend the interests of these laboratories at the sessions of JINR scientific councils.

During these years the leading scientists of JINR – V. Dzhelepov, M. Meshcheryakov, B.Pontekorvo, I. Frank and others – have all been guests of the Academy of Sciences of the Mongolian People’s Republic and Mongolian State University, delivered lectures that positively affected the development of scientific research in Mongolia. About 20 researchers from Mongolia worked at JINR on a regular basis. Strong ties of the Mongolian State University with JINR laboratories, organized by N. Sodnom, have not been interrupted.

The name of Professor Namsarain Sodnom is forever inscribed in the history of fruitful scientific ties between scientists of Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and Mongolian People’s Republic;it is also key to further development of these ties. A boulevard in Dubna named in honour the scientist, is a remindert for JINR staff and guests.

The weekly«”Dubna” » № 24 (4164) of June 21, 2013