In Kharkiv, the V. M. Voevodin International Conference “Challenges of Modern Nuclear Energy” was held

Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, and following a one-year break, the conference dedicated to the challenges and prospects of the development of Ukraine’s nuclear energy complex returned to its traditional venue — V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.

This year, more than 100 participants from several dozen scientific institutions, higher education establishments, and enterprises of the nuclear industry of Ukraine and foreign countries registered to take part in the event. Around 40 specialists attended the opening and the first day of the conference in person (with an option for remote participation). The following two days of the conference were held online.

The opening ceremony and the first day of the conference took place at the university’s contemporary art center “Yermilov Center,” which also serves as a shelter for the university. This, along with the availability of alternative power sources, allowed the event to proceed according to the planned schedule across all three days.

Welcoming addresses to the conference participants were delivered by representatives of the event organizers: Vice-Rector for Research and Teaching at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University Anton Panteleimonov; Acting Director General of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (KIPT NASU), Professor Mykola Azarenkov; Director of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research and Technology Complex at KIPT NASU, Volodymyr Krasnorutskyi; and Executive Secretary of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society, Danylo Lavrenov.

The conference sessions were moderated by Kostiantyn Lobach, Junior Researcher at KIPT NASU; Serhii Lytovchenko, Head of the Department of Reactor Materials and Physical Technologies at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University; Serhii Saienko, Doctor of Technical Sciences and Head of Department at KIPT NASU; and Oleksandr Khomych, Shift Supervisor of Khmelnytskyi NPP.

The conference presentations addressed current issues in nuclear physics and energy. Many speakers focused on the prospects for the development of Ukrainian nuclear science, as well as the achievements and innovations of Ukrainian scientists and industry specialists. The event featured lively discussions and debates both on highly specialized topics and on broader issues concerning the development of Ukraine’s nuclear industry and energy sector.

One of the most widely discussed topics was the operation of nuclear energy facilities and scientific institutions under the extremely difficult conditions of war in Ukraine. Particular attention was paid to preserving the scientific and professional potential of industry organizations and ensuring the stable operation of nuclear enterprises during wartime.

Moreover, the conference — one of whose initiators was the prominent Ukrainian physicist and expert in radiation physics, Viktor Mykolaiovych Voevodin — once again served as a platform for meetings among numerous scientists and industry professionals, providing an opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and discuss plans for the future.

In addition to the National Science Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology,” the conference was attended by representatives of the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants, the Institute for Nuclear Research, the Institute of Environmental Geochemistry, the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, the G. V. Karpenko Physico-Mechanical Institute, the Institute of Applied Physics, and the M. S. Polyakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics; specialists from Ukrainian nuclear power plants and other enterprises and organizations in the industry; representatives of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute,” and the National University of Civil Defense of Ukraine. The event also featured presentations by experts from foreign universities and scientific institutions, including the Szewalski Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Radium Energy Sp. z o.o, and the University of Science Technikum Wien.

Despite the challenging conditions, partial blackouts caused by constant shelling of Kharkiv, and near-continuous air raid alerts, the conference was once again held at an exceptionally high level, as noted by many of the participants.

Recordings of the conference broadcast are available at the following links:

Conference Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/live/Vkf2cmzOMsE?si=OFVw1IgOvFz5LWyR

Conference Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/live/I0L7-0QSsW0?si=ssaidfeaT1SBwdqU

Conference Day 3: https://www.youtube.com/live/UELVLzMnpZE?si=VtB3GdHvBN-Rajsk

Зі збірником тез Конференції можна ознайомитися за посиланням:

Conference Proceedings: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AzbxUTMubGuNVpYG6UTrzsXgdSXgd77V/view?usp=sharing