Meridians of cooperation

At the crossroads of scientific interests

On 31 October, a delegation from South Africa visited the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. The goal of the visit was to discuss strengthening cooperation between South African research centres and JINR, as well as to gain a tour of the Institute's research infrastructure.

The delegation included representatives from the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and the research organization MINTEK. The delegation was headed by Acting Chief Executive Officer for International Bilateral Cooperation at DSTI Cecil Masoka.

The working visit began with a tour of the Joint Institute's scientific infrastructure. The delegation visited the NICA Accelerator Complex at the Laboratory of High Energy Physics and the interactive exhibition "JINR core facilities" at the Cultural Centre "Mir", where among other things, they discussed the results and prospects of cooperation in educational activities and engaging young people in science.

The highlight of the visit was a meeting at the Scientists' Club with the representatives of JINR Directorate and Laboratories. The JINR representatives were represented by Vice-Director Latchesar Kostov, Chief Scientific Secretary Sergey Nedelko, Director of the Uniersity Centre and Coordinator for JINR-South Africa Cooperation Dmitry Kamanin, LRB Director Alexander Bugay, Head of the International Cooperation Department Otilia-Ana Culicov, Deputy Director for Research of FLNR Grzegorz Kaminski and Deputy Director for Research of the Centre of Applied Physics of FLNR Alexander Nechaev.

On behalf of the delegation, Cecil Masoka emphasized the interest of South African scientific organizations in expanding their partnership with JINR. Radiation biology, nuclear medicine, radiochemistry, accelerator technologies and the training of highly qualified personnel were highlighted as promising areas for cooperation.

"We hope that next year, the anniversary year for JINR and our cooperation, we will be able to organize several high-level joint meetings between JINR scientists and South African specialists," the DSTI representative said. "The development of a long-term cooperation programme will become basis for scientific and technological cooperation at a qualitatively new level."

Focus was on the experience of South African specialists already working at JINR. A researcher at DLNP Naomi Mohine, a research assistant at FLNR Thembi Vilane and an engineer at FLNR Anuoluwa Makinde shared their impressions of participating in international research projects and described the unique opportunities for professional increase at the Joint Institute.

At the end of the visit, the delegation visited the experimental building of the Superheavy Element Factory at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions. The parties confirmed their mutual interest in developing a comprehensive cooperation programme and further strengthening scientific and technological relations.

JINR Press Office