Novosibirsk State University Create New Education and Research Station at the CCU SCPS (SKIF)

Novosibirsk State University is designing a training and research station at the Center for Collective Use "Siberian Circular Photon Source" (CCU "SKIF"). This is being created as part of a partnership agreement between the University, the G.I. Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS (INP), G.K. Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, and the CCU. It will become an important component of the SKIF research complex together with the first stage research stations. Sergey Tsybulya, NSU Department of Physics, has been named Project Head.   

Tsybulya explained, 

The educational and research Station 1-7 of the SKIF-NGU “Basic methods of synchrotron diagnostics for educational, research, and innovative student activities” can become the first of the SKIF working stations for several reasons. No complex technical devices for generating synchrotron radiation, such as wigglers or undulators, are required to launch it as radiation directly from bending magnets will be used. It is important that many nodes of the Station can be assembled from the equipment already available in partner organizations. The creation of this Station will help solve the problem of training professional personnel who are ready to work on interdisciplinary scientific research at the frontiers of science.

Hundreds of employees are needed for the CCU SKIF project and this will require several years of training. Evgeny Levichev, SKIF CCU Director, Deputy Director INP SB RAS, and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reported that 100 people currently officially work at the CCU SKIF. About 500 people are needed but these specialists are not available now. In the future, the need for them will only increase not only in the region, but throughout the country. With the creation of a training and research station, NSU will be able to undertake the training of specialists in synchrotron research methods in various fields: physicists, biologists, chemists, geologists, archaeologists, and physicians. These specialists will not only be able to formulate a problem, choose an experimental technique, and correctly interpret the results of research, but will be able to replenish the scientific and engineering SKIF staff. 

Mikhail Fedoruk, NSU Rector and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, described future prospects for the Station,

Having such a unique material and technical base for organizing the educational process, Novosibirsk State University will be able to take a leadership position in training personnel for synchrotron research. It will also provide opportunities to develop and implement network educational programs and internship programs together with leading universities in Siberia, the Urals, and the Far East. Training sessions will be conducted and students will be able to practice and complete their final academic qualifications work at the Station. In addition, professional development courses will be organized for existing specialists. It is envisaged that the Station will be used to carry out “trial” scientific experiments and to test and develop new equipment through joint programs with other universities and departments.

The next stage in the implementation of the project, part of the «Priority 2030» strategic academic leadership program, will be the development of design solutions, as well as the terms of reference for the units and components of the Station. The University will also purchase two detectors to implement the X-ray fluorescence analysis method.