Russia's unjustified invasion of the independent country of Ukraine caused the geopolitical reality of Central and Eastern Europe to be irrevocably changed. Everyday life of Ukrainian citizens has been dramatically altered and their priorities, including professional ones, have been redefined, often becoming impossible to implement. It should be noted that the activity of the scientific community in Ukraine has also been severely affected. Multifaceted limitations influencing research projects, both at the national and international levels have become a fact. Laboratory and university infrastructure destroyed by the war, restrictions in access to electricity, as well as general military mobilization, and a ban on traveling abroad are just some of the challenges the Ukrainian scientific community currently faces.
In order to support Ukrainian researchers, the Board of LEAPS (The League of European Accelerator based-Photon Sources) appointed the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Center as a coordinating institution of activities aimed at consolidating and strengthening the Ukrainian community of users of 3rd and 4th generation light sources.

Light for Ukraine – a project to support scientists from Ukraine

To meet the needs of the Ukrainian scientific community, in February 2023, NCPS SOLARIS organized a workshop in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The meeting, aiming at getting to know the Ukrainian partners and their research, was attended by over 200 scientists from all over Europe. It was the first step towards establishing a project under the common name "Light for Ukraine". Under the leadership of LEAPS, the main objectives of the action and the priority steps have been defined. Consequently, "Light for Ukraine" became a bridge connecting the scientific community of Western and Central Europe with scientists from Ukraine. From then on, "Light for Ukraine" was no longer the motto of a one-time meeting, but a multidimensional project, the aim of which is to support the Ukrainian community in its efforts to build its own third-generation light source after the end of the war. Until then, the main area of project activities will be initiating and coordinating activities supporting the Ukrainian scientific community, organizing projects to consolidate scientists using light source-based methods, and lobbying for the construction of a Ukrainian synchrotron line.
In this context, the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Center has created, through its website, a joint Information Point gathering all activities related to programs and forms of support for the Ukrainian scientific community using third and fourth-generation light sources.

Light for Ukraine Information Point - what is it?

The main purpose of the Light for Ukraine Information Point is to gather all the support possibilities offered by facilities associated with LEAPS (and others) in one place. Thus, offering the Ukrainian scientific community simplified access to information about privileged remote access, job offers, internships, and other opportunities offered by LEAPS facilities in one easily accessible and concise form.