Ukraine Expands Cooperation with the International Particle Physics Outreach Community

On September 15, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Denys Kurbatov met with Steven Goldfarb, an experimental physicist at the University of Melbourne, a member of the ATLAS experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider, and Chair of the International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG).

During the meeting, the participants discussed establishing official cooperation between Ukraine and IPPOG, developing STEM education, and expanding opportunities for Ukrainian schoolchildren, students, teachers, and researchers. Following the meeting, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and IPPOG signed a Declaration of Intent, paving the way for Ukraine's further accession to the international network.

IPPOG is an international network of scientists, educators, and science communication professionals that promotes particle physics and develops educational initiatives in this field. The organization cooperates with CERN and other leading scientific centers around the world. Its activities include international particle physics masterclasses, educational resources for schoolchildren and teachers, as well as professional development and science communication programs. For Ukrainian education, this means an opportunity to expand young people's access to modern science and the international scientific community.

An important condition of the agreement is the waiver of Ukraine's membership fee for a period of up to one year after martial law is lifted. At the same time, the Ukrainian side will have access to IPPOG's opportunities, activities, and membership benefits on an equal basis with other members, in accordance with the organization's rules.

Karazin University already has experience of such cooperation. With its participation, 10 international particle physics masterclasses have been held in Ukraine in recent years. In particular, IPPOG has highlighted the resumption of these events in Ukraine after their forced suspension in 2022.

The meeting marked another step toward integrating Ukrainian education and science into the international scientific community and creating new opportunities for the direct involvement of Ukrainian youth in cutting-edge scientific research.