NPU, KAZNU’S FACULTY OF PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY, AND THE INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN RADIATION MATERIALS SCIENCE

As part of the ongoing visit by a delegation from Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), China, researchers from NPU, the Faculty of Physics and Technology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, and the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) met to explore new opportunities for collaboration in radiation materials science and nuclear energy research.

The meeting at INP was led by Askhat Bekbayev, Deputy Director General for Research and a graduate of KazNU’s Faculty of Physics and Technology. The Faculty was represented by Svetlana Peshaya, Vice Dean for Research, Innovation and International Relations; Yerzhan Mukhametkarimov, Head of the Department of Solid State Physics and New Materials Technology; and Yerulan Sagidolda, Head of the Department of Electronics and Astrophysics, PhD, Associate Professor.

The visit continued discussions launched during the international symposium “Materials Genome Engineering and Intelligent Science.” While the symposium covered a broad range of topics, including additive manufacturing, advanced materials, electronics and artificial intelligence, the visit to INP provided an opportunity to focus on specific research facilities and areas for experimental collaboration.

During the tour, the NPU delegation visited the WWR-K research reactor and the Institute’s accelerator facilities. The guests were introduced to INP’s main research areas, experimental capabilities and high-technology products.

Radiation materials science was at the centre of the discussions. Researchers considered opportunities to study structural and functional materials under neutron and ion irradiation, including radiation-induced changes in their microstructure and properties. They also discussed how INP’s reactor and accelerator facilities could support collaborative experiments and future international research projects.

Materials for nuclear energy applications were another important area of discussion. INP’s experimental infrastructure provides opportunities to investigate radiation resistance, material modification and post-irradiation behaviour under different exposure conditions. The NPU delegation expressed particular interest in combining the expertise of its research groups with that of the Faculty of Physics and Technology and INP.

The visit also highlighted the long-standing research and educational links between the Faculty of Physics and Technology and the Institute of Nuclear Physics. Undergraduate, Master’s and PhD students from the Faculty regularly conduct research at INP in materials science, nuclear physics and radiation technologies. The fact that Askhat Bekbayev is himself a graduate of the Faculty further reflects the strong academic and professional ties between the two institutions.

Cooperation with NPU adds an international dimension to this established partnership. The Faculty of Physics and Technology is developing dual-degree opportunities at the Master’s and PhD levels with NPU, creating a framework in which academic training can be closely connected with experimental research.

This model is already being implemented in practice. A student in the Materials Science and Engineering programme who previously carried out research at the Institute of Nuclear Physics is currently studying at Northwestern Polytechnical University. This provides a practical example of how research conducted at INP can be linked with academic training and scientific collaboration at a partner university abroad.

During the working session, the participants discussed potential research topics, opportunities for joint international projects, and ways to involve Master’s students, PhD researchers and early-career scientists in collaborative work.

The meeting identified several promising areas for further cooperation, including radiation materials science, advanced materials and their modification, materials for nuclear energy applications, the use of reactor and accelerator facilities, joint training of young researchers, and international research projects.

By bringing together NPU’s research expertise, the academic capacity of KazNU’s Faculty of Physics and Technology, and INP’s experimental infrastructure, the visit provided a practical basis for developing new joint initiatives in radiation materials science and related fields.