Youth and Science

It was a useful experience

21 June marked the end of the first stage of the International Student Practice by the JINR University Centre. In under three weeks, students and postgraduates of South African universities got acquainted with the JINR basic facilities and the research conducted at the Institute through an interactive exhibition at the Mir Cultural Centre and in the laboratories. In addition, they completed educational research projects under the guidance of supervisors.

This year, the students chose the projects of the Laboratories of Neutron Physics, Nuclear Reactions, and Nuclear Problems.

On the last day of the internship, the participants made presentations about their projects, and several of their scientific leaders were present in the audience.

Pavel Nekhoroshkov (FLNP): Our students did not miss a single lecture or a hands-on class. There was no sleeping during the lectures. The students listened intently, asking questions and starting discussions from time to time. Everyone’s specialisation is different, from neutron physics to applied chemical research. One of the students is going to prepare a PhD thesis on wastewater treatment. This area is currently being developed in our Sector of Neutron Activation Analysis and Applied Research, so we have plenty to share, and he is eager to learn.

The participants have now finished their report presentations, and I am pleased with their talks. -Perhaps some of them will continue to work with us, since the method of neutron activation analysis is very popular today in applied physics research, namely ecology, biomonitoring, etc. We are expanding cooperation with South African Universities and iThemba LABS, and the students who participated in our project will share information about our sector back at their universities. I think we will continue to work with them in the future.

Sergey Stukalov (FLNR): The students are capable and well-prepared in terms of theory, but not very familiar with experimental physics. After three weeks of the internship, they have a clear understanding of experimental nuclear physics. The students have learned to make measurements, calibrate detectors, and work with data processing software, and I think that is quite a good result for this time span. Of course, they would learn even more if they had the chance to stay longer. Our student worked on a project dedicated to measuring the response function of scintillation detectors to high-energy neutrons and gamma rays. Utilising the tagged neutron method and a modern detector consisting of two scintillators, he analysed which interactions occurred in the first scintillator and which in the second one, differentiating between the pulse shapes. If he had had more time, he would have been able to make measurements for the entire facility, because a cluster consists of nine detectors similar to the one he worked with. That would have been a good learning experience.

Keletso Lebesana (Tshwane University of Technology): Dubna is a wonderful city with beautiful nature. My internship under the guidance of Vladimir Zhaketov (FLNP) was quite successful and full of hard work. We used scientific equipment, and I got to learn modern modelling programs that I had not been familiar with. I benefited a lot from the internship, making lots of small discoveries that I can implement in my further studies. I want to come here again, now that I’ve been introduced to the capabilities of JINR and its equipment and facilities. I would like to apply all the knowledge gained here in the PhD thesis that I am planning to defend. I am very happy with the trip.

Lebohang Kekana (University of Johannesburg): The internship was very interesting. I got to learn new analytical methods and acquired new skills. I liked the Institute, and I am sure I will come back here. My work is related to chemistry, and I am well acquainted with various analytical methods, such as the ICP method, but now I have learned about other non-destructive methods. Neutron activation analysis was new to me, and I will be sure to implement it in the future.

Wael Badawy (FLNP): Lebohang ‘s major is slightly different from the direction of our work. We invited him to conduct a joint project with Dr. Sihone (Nelson Mandela University) to study environmental condition using various components of the river system. He agreed and was eager for this to become the topic of his PhD thesis. After seeing Lebohang’s excellent performance today, Professor Sihone agreed to include him in this project. Personally, I was pleased, as he is a very hardworking student. He was attentive, read the materials, was always on time, and stayed late working in the laboratory. I think it would be great if he came back, and we would be glad to help.

– Does the number of people willing to participate in the internship increase every year?

Rudolph Nchodu (Internship Coordinator from South Africa’s side, Deputy Director of the iThemba LABS National Accelerator Centre): Yes, the number of young people interested in science and cooperation with JINR is growing each year. This is partly thanks to our work with Coordinator of the South African Scientists Group at JINR Arnoux Rossouw. We visit universities in South Africa to introduce students to the Joint Institute and its research. (This year, several new universities are taking part in the internship for the first time, a UC employee Landysh Ramzdorf added.)

– Does this increase the criteria for selecting students to participate in the internship?

Our requirements might be strict, but in order to make the event as effective as possible, we select the most experienced students, primarily seniors who have already gained some practical experience and are passionate about science.

– Based on the presentations, how do you assess the work of the participants?

They have done a good job, and seeing their presentations makes me happy for them. Unlike them, I did not have the chance to visit JINR’s laboratories and work under the guidance of such brilliant scientists on advanced experimental equipment when I was their age. I am glad they had this opportunity and used it well.

Olga TARANTINA,
translated by Landysh RAMZDORF,
photo by Igor LAPENKO