Latvian Partner Day in Riga

The event was organised on 2 June 2016 by European Spallation Source (ESS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia (IZM), and Latvian institutes, including the Institute of Solid State Physics.

Gatis Kveps, Senior Expert at IZM, welcomed the participants on the premises of the Academic Centre for Natural Sciences of the University of Latvia and officially opened the Partner Day.

Representatives from ESS presented an overview and status of the project, focusing on in-kind collaboration opportunities, the Neutron Scattering Systems Project, Integrated Control Systems and the Machine. The participants also had the opportunity to learn about the Nordic Neutron Science Program, which aims to support long-term use of ESS among the Nordic countries, and to increase the number of Nordic-region researchers skilled at utilising neutrons in scientific analysis.

The event included a session dedicated to the potential of Latvian contribution, during which local experts presented research conducted at forefront Latvian institutes in the field of neutron radiography, neutron imaging of liquid metals, and biological physics.

The lively discussion between the participants and speakers demonstrated high interest of the Latvian scientific and academic communities in active collaboration with ESS. The event ended with a Meet and Match Session to discuss concrete steps forward and build up on Latvia’s engagement with ESS during the early stages of the project.