From 25 to 28 February 2024, the International School on Nuclear Methods and Applied Research in Environmental, Material and Life Sciences (NUMAR-2024), organized by the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and the Agency for Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technologies (AENTA), is taking place in Varadero, the Republic of Cuba. As part of the school programme, young Latin American scientists along with their professors and supervisors will attend lectures given by leading scientists from JINR and scientific organizations of Cuba and Mexico.

The opening of the event took place on 25 February. The Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government of the Republic of Cuba in JINR Dr. Gonzalo Walwyn Salas welcomed students from Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and wished them success in their future scientific careers. Gladys Lóopez Bejerano presented a report on the Cuban research, development, and technological innovation programme. She mentioned that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of successful collaboration between Cuba and JINR. As a follow-up to the event, JINR Vice-Director Latchesar Kostov reported on the scientific directions of the Institute and its flagship projects. Latchesar Kostov thanked Cuban scientists for their efforts in promoting cooperation between JINR and the Latin American scientific community. He also emphasised that JINR, as an international intergovernmental scientific organization, is always open for cooperation and ready to expand its partner network.

The programme of NUMAR-2024 was followed by a lecture series dedicated to the following topics:

Life sciences:

• radiopharmaceuticals production and nuclear medicine diagnostics and therapy;
• physics and technology of hadron therapy of tumors;
• modern radiation imaging detectors for PET and CT;
• radiation biology and its applications in space research and radiation therapy;
• radiation neuroscience;
• astrobiology;
• nanostructures applied to biomedicine;
• application of Raman spectroscopy.

Environmental sciences:

• radioecological assessment of environment;
• analytical techniques in environmental studies and nanotechnology;
• new technologies of wastewater treatment.

Materials science:

• application of neutron scattering to soft matter research;
• structural biophysics;
• functional, complex, and nanocomposite materials.

More than 30 students and researchers from the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, the Republic of Cuba and Mexico are taking part in NUMAR-2024. Many young scientists are participating in school with their professors or supervisors. The event is scheduled to hold a roundtable discussion involving researchers from JINR and scientific organizations of Cuba and Mexico.