From 1 to 3 June 2026, the Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) in Astana is hosting the JINR Summer School. Participants of the educational programme were around 100 Kazakhstan’s schoolchildren, students, and young scientists. The event is part of the JINR Days in Kazakhstan, timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Astana Branch of the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy and the 70th anniversary of the Joint Institute.
At the opening, Director of the ENU Institute of Physical and Technical Sciences Yeric Nurmoldin gave a welcome speech: “The Summer School in Astana is a clear confirmation that JINR is open to young scientists from the Member States. The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research plays an important role in our international scientific cooperation programme, and this anniversary is an excellent opportunity to look back on the path travelled and outline new horizons”, he noted.
The Summer School is one of JINR’s key tools for training personnel in the Member States. It demonstrates the prospects available for students and young scientists who decide to pursue careers in world-class research.
The event provides aspiring specialists with the opportunity to learn about major international scientific projects implemented at JINR, network with researchers, and learn about the prospects for participation in the educational and scientific programmes of the Joint Institute.
Representatives of four universities and seven schools in Kazakhstan are participating in the Summer School. Among them are students of ENU, Astana IT University, Nazarbayev University, and Saken Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University. Among schoolchildren engaged in the event are representatives of the Canadian International School (CIS-Astana), Comfort Secondary School No. 103, Farabi International School, Gymnasium No. 67, Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Republican Physics and Mathematics School, and the Bilim-Innovation Lyceum.Twenty speakers from all seven JINR laboratories will give talks as part of the school. On the first day, leading JINR scientists delivered lectures covering a wide range of modern areas of study:
- neutron research,
- high energy physics,
- theoretical physics,
- radiation biology and nuclear medicine,
- modern information technology.
In the following days, the Summer School will continue with lectures on modern studies in nuclear reactions, heavy ion physics, radiobiology and radiochemistry, the search for new elements of Mendeleev’s Periodic Table, as well as the application of artificial intelligence and distributed computing technologies in science. Participants can get acquainted with a photo exhibition featuring JINR employees who graduated Kazakhstani universities, on display at the Eurasian National University until 3 June.
The event is organized by the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research with the support of the JINR Information Centre at the INP, jointly with the ENU Institute of Physical and Technical Sciences.
