A delegation from the Republic of Kazakhstan at the ILL
This week the ILL welcomed a delegation of the Atomic Energy Agency (AEA) and the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, led by AEA Chairman Almassadam Satkaliyev and INP Director General Sayabek Sakhiyev.
The discussions focused on the future of international cooperation in neutron science and on building a long-term scientific partnership.
On the first day, A. Satkaliyev introduced the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency (AEA) to the ILL Management, prior to a presentation of INP key research areas - including the development of neutron science at the WWR-K research reactor and plans to establish an ultracold neutron source.
The second day offered an opportunity for the delegation to visit the ILL facilities, accompanied by ILL's Director Ken Andersen.
The tour to ILL’s high-flux reactor was led by Jérôme Estrade, Head of the Reactor Division.
From left to right: Adilzhan Serikov, Valery Nesvizhevsky, Sayabek Sakhiyev, Mark Johnson, Almassadam Satkaliyev, Ken Andersen, Jacques Jestin
The visit to the instrument halls was guided Jacques Jestin (Associate and Science Director) and Mark Johnson (Head of the Partnerships and Communication Service).
The scope of possible collaborations around Kazakh neutron activities could also be discussed following the visit of several state-of-the-art neutron instruments : PF2, D33, D17 and SuperSUN - which highlighted also the strong ILL expertise in cryogenics and tailored sample conditions through a presentation by Eddy Lelièvre–Berna, Head of the ILL Services for Advanced Neutron Environments.
The world's leading research centre in neutron science and technology, the ILL is governed by its Associates from the three founding countries. Today, 10 other countries are ILL Scientific Members, allowing their scientific communities to benefit from ILL's cutting-edge facilities.
The next step of this partnership will be a scientific workshop to be organised this Spring by INP in Almaty, Kazakhstan - where ILL scientists and experts will participate in further presentations and exchanges.