On 1 April, a scientific session of Nuclear Physics section of Physics Division of RAS, dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences, began at JINR. The programme of the event covers the main theoretical and experimental aspects of particle physics and related problems of nuclear physics and cosmology. The organizers are the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and the Nuclear Physics Section of the Physical Sciences Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

JINR Scientific Leader, RAS Academician Viktor Matveev opened the event with a report on the start of the implementation of the new Seven-Year Plan for the Development of JINR, stressing the importance of strengthening international scientific cooperation.

“The 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences is part of the UNESCO list of memorable dates, marking its significance not only on the national, but on the global scale. This session will provide an overall picture of the research processes that are taking place today in the fields of fundamental nuclear physics and elementary particle physics. In addition, the event will contribute to the development of partnerships between Russian and global scientific centres,” Viktor Matveev said.

JINR Director, RAS Academician Grigory Trubnikov greeted the guests with a welcoming speech.

“The Institute couldn’t have made its projects a reality if it wasn’t for the united efforts of the entire nuclear physics community. We are now witnessing the return to the era of large scientific projects, with the participation of the top universities and research centres. This cohesion inspires confidence and allows us to make plans for joint research and experiments for the next decade. I hope this scientific session will help engage many experienced specialists and young scientists in JINR projects,” said the Director of the Joint Institute.

Director of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics Dmitry Kazakov discussed the format, programme, and organizational issues of the session.

Grigory Trubnikov’s report “NICA Accelerator Complex: challenges and solutions” opened the scientific programme of the event. The Director provided an update on the progress of the NICA Megascience project, including the level of preparedness for the launch of key components and experimental facilities within the accelerator complex, and spoke about the project’s primary scientific objectives.

In addition, during the plenary session on the first day, MPD Collaboration Leader Viktor Ryabov made a report on the physics of collisions of heavy nuclei, and Scientific Leader of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions Yuri Ts. Oganessian delivered a report on superheavy nuclei and elements.

The scientific session of the Nuclear Physics Section will take five days, ending on Friday, 5 April. The speakers will present over 200 reports on the topics stated in the programme:

• physics on proton-proton and e+e- colliders;
• relativistic heavy-ion physics;
• quantum field theory;
• gravitation and cosmology;
• flavour physics (CKM, CP, g-2, …);
• neutrino physics;
• astroparticle physics and cosmic rays;
• dark matter;
• exotica (axions, …);
• low and intermediate energy nuclear physics;
• hadron structure and spectroscopy (including XYZ, gluttons, …);
• detectors, design of experiments;
• physics and technology of accelerators;
• fundamental nuclear physics.