JINR discussed cooperation with ITMO

On 22 July, a delegation from ITMO University headed by rector Vladimir Vasiliev visited the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. The goal of the visit was to discuss the development of scientific cooperation, exchange of experience in the field of education, as well as the development of new approaches to involving young people in science. During the visit, the representatives of the University also visited the NICA complex and the interactive exhibition "JINR basic facilities" at the Cultural Centre "Mir".

One of the key topics at the meeting in the Directorate of the Institute was the personnel problem. In the scientific and applied fields, there is a shortage of both researchers and engineers. The parties agreed that the development of a scientific trajectory should be started from elementary school. Already from grades 5-6, the foundation should be laid for the future career of a scientist.

The participants of the meeting discussed such mechanisms for involving schoolchildren in science as career guidance programmes and the work of JINR information centres. Information centres successfully function entry points to science located in non-regional countries. They help schoolchildren to decide on the choice of profession and contribute to the increase of interest in physics: in a number of regions, after cooperating with information centres, the proportion of students choosing physics to pass the exam increased by 30%. Director of JINR Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Grigory Trubnikov separately highlighted the Vitaly Arnold Summer School "Modern Mathematics" that is held at JINR and shared his impressions of the meeting with the participants.

This year, the School gathered over a hundred schoolchildren that are passionate about mathematics and physics.

The ITMO representatives, in turn, shared an example of a successful format - a school project using a picture tube based on the principles of the LINAC accelerator, which high school students took part in. It confirms that if there is a suitable infrastructure, working with young talents is possible already at the school stage.

The mission of JINR, as emphasized at the meeting, is to provide novice scientists with access to unique world-class scientific facilities. The strongest incentive for young professionals is the opportunity to work at these facilities and to take part in the implementation of scientific projects. In turn, universities, including ITMO, help to build a personnel trajectory from a student to a researcher that is ready to contribute to international scientific collaborations.

The parties also discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on scientific methodology. It was stated that today, there is a huge layer of tasks in which the use of AI is critical, so there is a need to train a new type of specialist.

JINR and ITMO expressed their readiness to develop a network prototype of cooperation, in which the core will be two institutions but others will be able to participate in the projects. The participants of the meeting agreed that the key condition for a successful partnership is to work on real, ongoing projects. "The value of our communication and friendship is that we enrich each other: we have different experiences, successes, failures. Perhaps, based on the successful experience of ITMO, JINR will be able to develop a new format that previously could not be implemented," Grigory Trubnikov said.

On the part of the Institute, the meeting was attended by Director of the UC Dmitry Kamanin, Director of the Laboratory of Nuclear Problems Evgeny Yakushev, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Research Institute Dmitry Naumov and Scientific Leader of the Laboratory of Information Technologies Vladimir Korenkov. The ITMO delegation included the representatives of the physical and technological mega-faculty: Deputy Director Yana Muzychenko, the leading researcher Dmitry Karlovets and the leading researcher Dmitry Glazov.

JINR Press Office