Scientists Kseniia Minakova and Leonid Konotopskyi from NTU «KhPI» attended a prestigious educational event – the 14th International School ITER dedicated to the topic «Integrated Modeling in Magnetic Thermonuclear Plasma Fusion,» which took place in France. The event was attended by 232 participants from 39 countries, including leading experts in thermonuclear energy and researchers in the fields of modeling, plasma physics, materials science, and IT. Teachers from Kharkiv Polytechnic visited the construction site of the international thermonuclear reactor ITER, gained valuable experience and new approaches to modernizing educational disciplines. The significant results of the event included the establishment of international scientific contacts, the prospect of new partnerships in the field of metal and semiconductor physics, and support for the project of Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute scientist Leonid Konotopskyi, related to nuclear and thermonuclear energy.
Professor of the Department of Micro- and Nanoelectronics Kseniia Minakova and Senior Lecturer of the Department of Physics of Metals and Semiconductors at the Institute of Computer Modeling, Applied Physics and Mathematics of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» Leonid Konotopskyi attended the 14th ITER International School, IIS-2025. The trip was made possible thanks to the support of the NURECAB mobility grant program. The event took place in Aix-en-Provence, France, and was dedicated to the topic of «Integrated Modeling in Magnetic Thermonuclear Plasma Fusion.»
The school brought together 232 leading European and international experts in thermonuclear energy, young scientists, and researchers in the fields of modeling, plasma physics, materials science, and IT. Participants came from 39 regions, including the US, South Korea, Japan, India, France, and other countries. Lectures were given by 17 prominent experts in integrated modeling of magnetic fusion devices. In addition, the program included practical classes, panel discussions, and a poster session. One of the highlights of the school was a visit to the ITER organization. Participants had a unique opportunity to see the large-scale infrastructure of the future reactor with their own eyes and learn about the stages of implementation of one of humanity’s most ambitious energy projects. According to experts from Kharkiv Polytechnic, this provided a powerful professional impulse and inspired further educational and scientific activities in the field of thermonuclear technologies.
As a result of the event, scientists from the NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» achieved significant results in establishing international contacts. In particular, scientific ties were established with Professor Sadruddin Benkadda, Director of the School ITER at the University of Aix-Marseille, and Dr. Sven Wiesen, a scientist at the Dutch institute DIFFER and an expert in integrated modeling of plasma-material interactions. Professor Sadruddin Benkadda also agreed to help in the search for scientific partners whose activities are close to the scientific direction of the Department of Physics of Metals and Semiconductors. Equally important was the discussion on the submission of a project on nuclear and thermonuclear energy by Leonid Konotopskyi, senior lecturer at NTU «KhPI,» to the competition of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for young scientists. The above-mentioned scientists agreed to provide written support for the work in the form of letters of recommendation.
Teachers at NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic University» note the valuable experience, in particular new approaches to modernizing academic disciplines, gained at the school ITER. Based on the knowledge they have gained, Leonid Konotopskyi and Kseniia Minakova aim to enrich the content of their courses «Materials for Nuclear and Thermonuclear Energy» and «Computer Modeling of Physical and Technological Processes.»
Note:
NURECAB is a coordination and support program aimed at implementing the Euratom Work Program for 2023–2025, with a focus on education, training, and capacity building for the younger generation of nuclear scientists. The goal of the NURECAB program is to promote the integration of the Ukrainian nuclear research community into European research networks, with a particular focus on improving Ukraine’s educational and training infrastructure. The NURECAB project (GA#101173510) is funded by the European Union under the Euratom Research and Training Program (HORIZON EUROPE).
The 14th ITER International School was held in Aix-en-Provence, France, from 30 June to 4 July. The ITER International School is held regularly to give young scientists and engineers the opportunity to try their hand at fusion energy. The school is jointly organized by Aix-Marseille Université and the Organization ITER, alternately in Aix-en-Provence, France, and in ITER member countries. Since 2007, 14 editions have been published, covering a wide range of physical and technological issues important to the success of ITER.
ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is an international scientific project aimed at building and operating an experimental thermonuclear reactor, as well as demonstrating the technical feasibility of controlled thermonuclear fusion as an energy source.