BelSU Physicists Take a Seat at One of the World's Most Ambitious Astrophysics Projects

Since December 2025, BelSU has been an associate member of the Baikal-GVD collaboration, an international effort that brings together the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, the Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk State University, MEPhI, Moscow State University, ITMO University, and now Belgorod National Research University (BelSU). The telescope itself, suspended in the icy depths of Lake Baikal, sits at the crossroads of particle physics and galactic astronomy, probing the large-scale workings of the Universe while also shedding light on the lake’s deep-water ecosystem.

In the months since joining, BelSU representatives and graduates, guided by Andrey Oleynik, senior research fellow at the Laboratory of Advanced Radiation Research and Technology, have already contributed to detector simulations and online data visualisation. In February, Rector Evgeniya Karlovskaya attended a working meeting of the collaborating organisations, signalling the university’s strategic commitment to the project.

The most recent summer session, a twice-yearly gathering of the collaboration’s key players, focused on the results of the winter ice expedition, analysis of accumulated data, and the technical nuts and bolts of deploying the detector. For BelSU, it was a chance to move from observer to active partner.

“The trip was productive, above all because it let us get to grips with every aspect of the experiment and talk face-to-face with a wide range of collaborators,” Oleynik said. “There are several areas where Belgorod National Research University can not only be helpful but become a truly active participant.”

Two opportunities stand out. The collaboration is keen to bring BelSU undergraduate and graduate students into IT-related tasks – data management, online visualisation, encryption, and security. The second, more adventurous pathway, involves joining the winter ice expeditions, where cutting-edge science meets sports tourism and the raw beauty of Baikal’s frozen expanse.

Rector Karlovskaya described the partnership as a gateway for young talent.

“Such projects are further confirmation that young BelSU scientists can engage in world-class research early in their careers, work in strong teams, and see real prospects for professional growth,” she wrote on her channel.

Five BelSU representatives and alumni are already working on the collaboration's tasks. Participation remains open to all interested students and staff, with Andrey Oleynik serving as the university’s coordinator.