From 18 to 20 July 2025, the 29th Summer Scientific School took place at the JINR Lipnya Tourist Resort. The event organized by the Association of Young Scientists and Specialists (AYSS) of JINR gathered almost 70 participants representing Dubna and Moscow organizations. The school’s programme included lectures on advanced scientific topics, practical workshops, along with sports and cultural activities.

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Upon arriving on the island, young specialists participated in team-building activities. This year, they were invited to form small groups and discuss light topics in order to get to know each other. Such activities help lay the foundation for friendly, informal communication from the very first day of work.

At the opening of the school, Lipnya-2025 Organizing Committee Co-chairs – a DLNP JINR junior researcher Rostislav Sotenskii and an engineer at the JINR Chief Power Engineer’s Department Ekaterina Kolosova – made a presentation. The event continued with a talk by a researcher at the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics of Moscow State University (SINP MSU), Chair of the SINP MSU Young Scientists’ Council Kirill Laptinsky. He discussed the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning methods in science.

“This is my second time participating in the Summer School at Lipnya, this time as an invited lecturer. Speaking at the opening was a great honour for me. I believe that holding such events is extremely beneficial as Lipnya creates unique conditions for informal communication among young scientists and specialists. After all, in an atmosphere of mutual trust, future collaborations are born, and aid is found for tackling modern scientific tasks,” Kirill Laptinsky noted.

A representative of the Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in the Scientific and Educational Spheres under the Council for Science and Education under the President of the Russian Federation, a DLNP JINR researcher Vladislav Rozhkov delivered a lecture entitled “40 minutes on CT, SPECT, PET, KPI, and MRI”. He spoke about the evolution of the main methods of medical tomography and their application in research. A presentation by MLIT JINR Deputy Director for Scientific Work Nikolay Voytishin, dedicated to the 60-year history of the development of the Laboratory of Information Technologies, concluded the scientific programme of the first day.

On 19 July, the main programme began with a lecture by a FLNP JINR researcher Maxim Podlesnyy – “Neptune, the son of evolution” – about the project of a new promising high-flux neutron source. A FLNP chief researcher Evgeny Pavlovich Shabalin commented on his talk, emphasising the importance of continuing traditions and passing on experience from employees who have dedicated many years to working on the project to their students.

Deputy Head of a DLNP JINR department Liudmila Kolupaeva spoke about modern research and promising experiments in neutrino physics. Head of a BLTP JINR sector Alan Dzhioev gave a talk entitled “Core-collapse supernovae and weak nuclear interactions”.

The lecture programme continued with two more presentations. Activities of the Press Office of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research were discussed by its employees: senior editor / translator Dinara Bulatova, social media specialist Kirill Petukhov, and correspondent Eugene Bragin. Director of the JINR Museum of History of Science and Technology Anastasia Zlotnikova gave a talk about the museum’s work.

Video recordings of the lectures will be available on the Lipnya-2025 website in the “School programme” section.

On 19 July, Lipnya’s usual round table with the Institute’s Directorate took place. It started with a minute of silence in memory of the Scientific Leader, one of the founders of the Laboratory of Radiation Biology at JINR, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) Evgeny Alexandrovich Krasavin (20/04/1942 – 17/07/2025).

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At the round table, former AYSS JINR Chair Vladislav Rozhkov and his successor, a junior researcher at the Laboratory of Radiation Biology Regina Kozhina, elected in 2025, discussed the activities of the Association of Young Scientists and Specialists over the past three years. Their presentation was primarily dedicated to the interaction of the Association with the Institute’s departments.

“All the most important initiatives are born and implemented thanks to you, young specialists,” Vladislav Rozhkov addressed the participants. “The AYSS Council promptly shares your wishes and opinions with the management of the laboratories and the entire Institute. So rest assured that your voice will certainly be heard”.

Participants of the round table paid particular attention to supporting the scientific activities of young people. Head of the Human Resources and Records Management Department Alexander Verkheev presented a detailed analytical review of the AYSS grant programme.

During the lively discussion, proposals were made to revise and modernise the existing grant system. Participants emphasised that an updated model would increase the motivation of young employees of the Joint Institute and the quality of their studies.

Director of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, RAS Academician Grigory Trubnikov thanked the AYSS Council for promoting cooperation between laboratories. He emphasised that among the activities that facilitated it were the weekly AYSS popular science seminars held at the Scientists’ Club. In addition, he noted the development and growth of the AYSS International Conference of Young Scientists and Specialists, held every autumn, and the successful launch of the innovation competition in applied activities in 2025. According to Grigory Trubnikov, this initiative is intended to establish the necessary balance between fundamental and applied studies at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. “It is very important for the Institute that young specialists can fulfil themselves and build a successful career in the future,” he added.

The cultural and leisure programme of Lipnya-2025 included a concert, a quiz, and a tent decoration contest. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, practical sessions on standup paddleboarding, kayaking, and archery took place. In addition, young specialists spent their free time playing volleyball, table tennis, football, darts, and board games. In addition, on the final day, a public speaking instructor Ekaterina Ovchinnikova conducted sessions on the theory and practice of debating for all participants.

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On 20 July, at the closing ceremony, the Lipnya-2025 Organizing Committee Co-chairs summarised the results of the school’s work. The 67 people participating this year represented not only JINR, but also SINP MSU, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Dubna State University, and the Dubna Special Economic Zone. In total, including lecturers and guests of the event, a record number of participants –118 people – were present on the island. The closing ceremony included the awarding of the winners of the tent decoration contest and the runner-ups of the intellectual game.

“It was very important for us to create an environment where participants could discuss scientific topics in a comfortable atmosphere,” Ekaterina Kolosova noted. “AYSS JINR will make every effort to ensure that the Lipnya school continues to develop and improve year by year”.

Rostislav Sotenskii noted that this year, the lecture programme mainly consisted of presentations by young scientists and specialists. “This was a positive experience: young employees delivered top-tier presentations and led by example for all participants,” the organizer emphasised. In conclusion, he thanked young specialists for their active participation and invited them to the 30th, anniversary Summer School, which will take place in 2026.

Young employees of the Joint Institute, who attended Lipnya for the first time, shared their impressions of the summer school.

A VBLHEP JINR engineer Danil Chemezov emphasised that what surprised him the most about the event was the ease of communication, the opportunity to spontaneously start a conversation with anyone, to discuss scientific and related topics, even without knowing the other person’s name. “The island’s unique nature created ideal conditions to unwind after work days, to look around and once again feel how fascinating and inspiring science can be,” he added.

A DLNP JINR junior researcher Kseniya Antokhina noted the unique atmosphere of Lipnya-2025 as well. “All participants and organizers were very friendly. What made this event stand out compared to all those I have ever participated in was the opportunity to talk to lecturers in a very relaxed environment. That is really great!” Kseniya shared her impressions. She noted that the location was of particular importance. The secluded island just 10 km from Dubna allowed the participants to properly recharge: “For those who have yet to go on a vacation this summer, Lipnya is a breath of fresh air. A real mental reset”.