DESY and DZA strengthen cooperation with Ukrainian astronomy
Deepening scientific relations with Ukrainian partner institutions and demonstrate solidarity with the Ukrainian scientific community: DESY Director of Astroparticle Physics Christian Stegmann and Stefan Ohm, representative of the German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA), visited the western Ukrainian city of Lviv this week.
DESY Director of Astroparticle Physics Christian Stegmann, and Stefan Ohm, representative of the German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA), visited the western Ukrainian city of Lviv this week to deepen scientific relations with Ukrainian partner institutions and demonstrate solidarity with the Ukrainian scientific community.
Together with Dr. Iryna Vavilova, Vice-President of the Ukrainian Astronomical Association, they signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation aimed at supporting the recovery and strengthening of Ukrainian astronomy and recognising the significance of the Rome Declaration of Intent for Science, Research, and Innovation in Ukraine.
“This agreement marks an important step in building long-term scientific bridges between DESY and the Ukrainian astronomy community,” said Stegmann. Ohm added: “The DZA is fostering close ties with our neighbours. I am very pleased that, following successful collaborations with partners in the Czech Republic and Poland, Ukrainian astronomy is now also joining as a partner.”
During their visit, Stegmann and Ohm met with Prof. Roman Gladyshevskii, Rector of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Prof. Roman Korzh, Vice-Rector for Institutional Development at Lviv Polytechnic National University, and representatives of scientific institutions of both universities.
Stegmann emphasised: “We were deeply impressed by the strength and courage of the people in Lviv, particularly by the resilience and determination of the students.” Lviv, one of Ukraine’s major academic hubs, is home to around 100 000 students. The Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and the Lviv Polytechnic National University are the largest universities in the city and play a central role in higher education and research in western Ukraine.
As part of their visit, Stegmann and Ohm gave students at Ivan Franko University an insight into research at DESY and the DZA. The discussions opened the door to future collaborations.
A special highlight was a meeting with former DESY Summer Students from Ukraine – Valeriia Pinchuk, Mariia Seniak, Nataliia Mykhailyshyn, Yuliia Shevchuk, and Albina Tabachynska – who demonstrated the importance of continuing to offer positions for Ukrainian students in the DESY Summer School. The programme plays a vital role in establishing first contacts between young Ukrainian scientists and DESY’s international research community.
The visit was made possible thanks to the support of Ukrainian colleague Pavlo Plotko from the DZA, whose coordination from Germany contributed significantly to the preparation of the meetings and the success of the trip.
