On March 17, 2026, the first vice-president of the NAS of Ukraine, academician Vyacheslav Bogdanov, together with the academician-secretary of the Department of Nuclear Physics and Energy of the NAS of Ukraine, academician Ihor Harkusha, the scientific secretary of the Section of Physical-Technical and Mathematical Sciences, Doctor of Technical Sciences Serhii Bespalov, and the scientific secretary of the Department of Nuclear Physics and Energy, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Ihor Kocheshev, visited the State Institution "Institute of Environmental Geochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine" on a working visit.
The Institute is a leading scientific center in Ukraine for research on geochemical, radiogeochemical, and environmental issues, nuclear-physical technologies, and mineral raw materials for nuclear energy, which are of significant importance for national security and sustainable environmental development.
During the visit, the Academy's leadership familiarized themselves with the scientific infrastructure of the institution, key areas of fundamental and applied research, modern developments, and innovative projects of the Institute. Special attention was paid to the development of the material and technical base, international cooperation, and support for scientific teams.
The Director of the Institute, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Yurii Zabulonov, together with his deputies, the scientific secretary, and leading scientists, presented to the delegation the structure of the institution, its personnel potential, and main areas of activity. These include geochemistry and radiogeochemistry, research on mineral raw materials for nuclear energy, technogenic environmental safety, scientific support of the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear-physical technologies, mathematical modeling of natural and technogenic processes, as well as the development of instruments for environmental and radiation monitoring.
Significant attention during the review was given to the scientific-analytical laboratories of the Institute, which work on modern geochemical, radioecological, and monitoring tasks. In particular, the delegation was introduced to the isotope geochemistry laboratory – a key unit for fundamental research of geochemical processes and assessment of environmental changes under the influence of anthropogenic factors – as well as the certified laboratory for environmental quality parameter assessment. The latter conducts analytical tests to solve scientific and technical problems, provides expert conclusions, and scientific-practical recommendations in the following areas: geochemical research of soils, waters, rocks, mineral raw materials, air, biosphere objects, agricultural raw materials, and food products; methodology of comprehensive geochemical and geoecological monitoring of natural environment and industrial objects; methodology for substantiating predictive-search signs and criteria of mineral deposits; improvement of existing analysis methods and their adaptation to the specifics of studied objects; research on the effectiveness of means and media for cleaning soils, waters, and other environmental objects from pollutants. Separately, the newly established chromatographic laboratory with unique chromatographic equipment was presented.
The participants of the visit familiarized themselves with the activities of the Shared Use Center for Scientific Instruments "Mineralogical-Geochemical Research", which ensures the performance of high-precision spectrometric and isotopic analyses necessary for research in the field of environmental and nuclear safety.
Among the unique developments of the Institute presented to the delegation were: the portable radiation monitoring station "FOOD LIGHT," the laser therapeutic installation "HELIOS," the tritium control system "TriUMF," the multifunctional radiation anomaly analyzer "VECTOR," the mobile radiation control station "HIPPOCRATES," and the installation for radioactive waste purification "PLASMA-SORB."
The delegation also familiarized themselves with the Institute's international scientific projects: the IAEA project T13021 on spent fuel management of small modular reactors (until 2028), the European grant project CLEANWATER on the development of adsorbents for water purification using plasma technologies, participation in the International Geological Disposal Technology Platform, as well as research within the Innovate UK programs.
Special attention was paid to developments in the field of sorption technologies for wastewater treatment, as well as physicochemical methods for extracting tritium and other isotopes from water systems.
Following the visit, prospects for modernizing the Institute's experimental base were discussed. The participants discussed prospects for modernizing the experimental base, expanding international cooperation, and supporting young scientists. Members of the delegation noted that the Institute of Environmental Geochemistry is a key scientific center where fundamental research is organically combined with innovative developments of practical significance for environmental protection and the safety of the country's nuclear fuel complex.
According to information from the Institute of Environmental Geochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine
Photo: Press Service of the NAS of Ukraine
