Conferences

ISINN-31: neutron science unites the world

Dongguan, China hosted the 31st International Seminar on Interaction of Neutrons with Nuclei (ISINN-31), organized by the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Spallation Neutron Source Science Centre (IHEP CAS) and the State Key Laboratory of Pulsed Radiation Simulation and Effect (NINT).

Dialogue in the heart of China

The Conference brought together about 230 scientists from 14 countries, including Bangladesh, Iran, Spain, the United States, France and Japan. Welcoming speeches were addressed by Director of China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) Sheng Wang, FLNP Director Egor Lychagin, Member of the NINT Academic and Technical Committee Kuanlin Shi, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Huanqiao Zhang. They emphasized that ISINN-31 is a unique platform for interdisciplinary cooperation and exchange of experience.

Egor Lychagin

FLNP Director Egor Lychagin:
"Our International Seminar originated back in 1992, it was organized by the Laboratory of Neutron Physics of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. In 2018, at the invitation of our Chinese colleagues, the Seminar was held for the first time in Xi'an. It allowed participants to learn more about the research in China, to expand the topic of the Seminar and to give it a new impetus. I am grateful to their CSNS colleagues for the invitation to host the 31st workshop in Dongguan. I am sure that our seminar will traditionally become a platform where researchers of different ages and qualifications will be able to share their latest achievements and ideas in the field of neutron and nuclear spectroscopy, the use of neutrons for fundamental and applied research. New collaborations are currently developed in this area and new investigations are implemented."

Huanqiao Zhang

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Huanqiao Zhang:
"This workshop is a unique opportunity for scientists from different countries to exchange experiences, to share ideas and to find new ways of cooperation. I am convinced that such meetings are extremely important for the development of science, especially in the field of neutron research. This time, we saw how many interesting projects and discussions can give rise to cooperation between Russian, Chinese specialists and their colleagues from other countries. We need to carry out further work - to hold similar conferences not only in Russia and China, but also in other countries in order to strengthen international scientific ties and to move forward the technologies of the future."

Zhigang Ge

Zhigang Ge (China Nuclear Data Centre, China Atomic Energy Institute):
"The Conference shows impressive increase: if two years ago, much fewer specialists participated in a similar event, today, we have more than 300 participants and it indicates an increasing interest in neutron technologies. It is especially important that the programme covers not only fundamental research, but also applied aspects - from experimental techniques to practical application in the energy sector and industry. We see how such meetings become a bridge between science and real technological solutions. In the future, we will expand the topics, including new areas such as artificial intelligence in data processing and attract even more experts from around the world."

Science in action

On the first day, JINR representatives made reports. E.V.Lychagin, Yu.N.Kopatch, A.I.Frank, I.Zinicovscaia spoke about the scientific infrastructure of FLNP and A.Yu.Nezvanov presented information on the start of the new scientific journal JINR Natural Science Review.

The second and third days of the Conference were saturated with sections on fundamental neutron physics, nuclear fission, neutron registration and methodological aspects. More than 40 participants, including 9 representatives from FLNP, reported their research results.

Head of the Beam Use Expansion Team and Head of the Back-n White Neutron Facility at CSNS Ruirui Fan highlighted: "The ISINN-31 Conference is the only international professional event dedicated to neutron nuclear physics. I believe, its focus fits perfectly with CSNS scientific research. I am honored to participate in this tremendous event and its organization. During the Conference, I gained a lot of new knowledge, learned about many innovative ideas and also met many like-minded friends. I sincerely hope that the ISINN Conference will flourish in future and look forward to more countries joining this global event, turning it into a grand celebration of neutron physics around the world."

The Conference participants visited China Spallation Neutron Source, where they learnt about the advanced infrastructure and plans for its development. And the cultural programme - a tour of the Keyuan garden, the source of Lingnan culture added bright colors to the scientific marathon.

The final chord: a road map for the future

The final days of the Conference were dedicated to an intensive exchange of ideas:

• more than 50 reports in parallel sections;
• seven plenary speeches with the latest research results;
• neutron scattering workshop that developed a roadmap for joint projects of FLNP JINR and CSNS.

Scientific Secretary of the Organizing Committee Xiufeng Won (NINT) highlighted: "The ISINN-31 Conference marks a long-awaited return to in-person meetings in China. The organizers of the Conference presented a rich programme - a real scientific holiday for the neutron scientific community. Personal dialogue between scholars has shifted conversations from the field of academic exchange to potential practical collaboration, laying the groundwork for collaborative research projects and technological development. In the future, we will keep actively participating in ISINN, support this valuable bridge for mutual exchange and learning and together with the ISINN community, promote the development of neutron physics!"

See you in Dubna!

Concluding the Conference, Egor Lychagin invited everyone to take part in the ISINN-32 Conference that will be held in 2026, in Dubna and will be dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the founding of JINR.

The ISINN Conference has once again proved that neutron science unites peoples. This is not just a conference - it is a bridge between countries, scientific disciplines and ideas that strengthens from year to year.

Conference Organizing Committee