Develop, learn, relax!

On 15 September, a seminar organized by the Association of Young Scientists and Specialists of JINR was held in the JINR Scientists' Club. Head of the JINR Social Infrastructure Management Office Andrey Tamonov made a presentation on "Beautiful and healthy people. Become one of them!.. and how the SIM Office can help with this". Andrey Vladimirovich at one time has headed the AYSS for several years, he has an idea of the needs of young employees and the possibilities for their implementation. The seminar was also attended by the Heads of sports and cultural facilities.

Andrey Tamonov began his report with a surprising remark: The JINR Social Infrastructure Management Office is intended for all staff members of the Institute, it has existed for many years, but it has turned out that not everyone knows about these objects, even at the level of Heads. Afterwards, he spoke about the goals of the SIM Office and the current work carried out in all areas.

The tasks of the SIM Office, as stated in the regulation, are ensuring appropriate conditions for physical education and sports, cultural and intellectual development; organizing leisure activities, holding seminars and conferences, developing folk art and professional skills, providing JINR staff members and members of their families, as well as other citizens and organizations with services for holding cultural, sports, educational, scientific and other events, organizing recreation and leisure.

At one time, international experience has been analyzed - whether other scientific centres of the world deal with the same issues. At CERN, for instance, there are more than 50 clubs for lovers of aquarium fish, cricket, jazz, books ... The Argonne National Laboratory has a campus, various social activities are supported on its territory. The ANSTO Australia's Nuclear Center also has social clubs, swimming pools and staff training sessions.

Why, it would seem, is this necessary? Since, such worries make an additional expense item. There are scientific investigations of organizations that are actively involved in social support. The results show that such activities provide comfortable living and working conditions for JINR staff members and their families; there is a rapid adaptation and integration of newcomers, micro-communities within JINR develop, there is an exchange of information and ideas within the communities. And of course, this is competition for attracting highly qualified personnel, even in Dubna. At other equal conditions, the social package plays a role. In addition, regular sports activities increase motivation, labor efficiency and the amount of time worked, create a friendly atmosphere. All this, in turn, enhances the recognition of JINR and allows saving a little on taxation. This is especially important for staff members from Member States and young scientists. Since, young employees come to a city foreign to them and their working capacity largely depends on how quickly they feel comfortable at home.

The SIM Office of JINR includes: Universal Public Library, Sports Complex (Swimming Pool "Archimedes", Sports Club, Stadium "Nauka", Yacht club, Tennis Courts), Cultural Centre "Mir", Recreation Centre "Volga".

Afterwards, figures and a list of services provided were presented in the report.

Sports Complex. 200 000 visits per year, including about 70000 visits by JINR staff members, holding and participation in 50 competitions per year. Swimming Pool "Archimedes": swimming, sauna, gym, rhythmic gymnastics, athletic gymnastics, fitness room, children's bath, aqua aerobics. Sports Club: sports hall, sauna, weightlifting hall, billiard room, fitness room. The Stadium "Nauka": sports hall, sauna, table tennis room, tennis courts, skating rink, football field, city playground, shooting gallery, chess room, sports equipment rental. Tennis courts: by the Swimming Pool "Archimedes" and by the Cultural Centre "Mir". There are sports groups for gorodki, football, volleyball, table tennis, rock climbing, windsurfing, weightlifting, kettlebell lifting, historical reconstruction, tennis, aqua aerobics, archery, pneumatic shooting, yoga and other groups.

Cultural Centre "Mir". About 25000 visits per year, about 90 mass cultural events annually. There are 11 clubs: Ballet studios "Fantasia" and "Ballet of Dubna "; Choirs "Bel canto", "Credo", "Podsnezhnik", Youth and Student Choir; Theatre studio; Photoclub "Focus", Folk group "Metelitsa", Club of JINR artists, Dance club Ai-Andalus.

Blokhintsev Universal Public Library. 6000 readers, including 3000 JINR employees, about 140 mass cultural events per year: literary evenings, presentations of new books, library lessons, joint reading and discussion of books and films, art and exhibition activities.

Recreation Centre "Volga". First of all, recreation for the families of JINR staff members and citizens of Dubna, the annual holding of a large-scale educational project "Summer School" for 500-1000 participants from all over the country living in a tent camp.

A survey of compatriots in 2020 revealed a number of wishes and comments. For instance, the re-equipment of the gym is underway. The request to update the sports equipment is partially completed. The wish to organize a bike rental in winter has been rejected, as it is unsafe. The wish for completely free classes at sports facilities is an issue for the Directorate of the Institute.

In 2021, surveys among JINR staff members were carried out, including on cultural and sports activities. The share in percent rather and quite satisfied was 76.9; the share of dissatisfied - 23.1. The most demanded facilities are: the Swimming Pool "Archimedes"- 43, the Cultural Centre "Mir" - 39, the Stadium "Nauka" - 32, the Universal Public Library - 24. The main claim was also made - low awareness, high cost and low quality of services.

Currently, there is a Council for the Programme of Social and Infrastructure Projects at JINR that has been instructed by JINR Director to prepare a long-term plan for the development of facilities, as well as to reform the system of the Social Infrastructure Management and of the Hotel and Restaurant Complex Management Office. There are already design projects for the transformation of the yacht club on the banks of the Volga, for the overhaul of the Great Hall of the Cultural Centre. In recent years, the stadium has been significantly transformed: a football field, a hockey rink, a multi-purpose ground, courts, a running track and a practically new gym have appeared. Today, we see that in addition to the sports infrastructure, it is necessary to put in order the general condition of the stadium - landscaping, facades, recreation areas. In winter, the skating rink is poured. Since it is a natural pouring, it all depends on the weather - the pouring will begin at -10 degrees. A part of the stadium for children is being poured, a running track - for those who like to run and a hockey rink - for hockey fans. One of the complaints of employees is that there is no place to ride roller skates, scooters and other wheeled vehicles. Therefore, we have designed another path around for roller skaters, scooters and young cyclists. Projects to construct a modern gym are ready.

"The SIM Office works on a self-supporting principle," Andrey Tamonov reminded. "This means that it is necessary to earn money in order to pay salaries, pay for a communal apartment and it is also desirable to leave money for repairs. They add a subsidy from JINR to us, help with repairs, we ourselves would never have extended such transformations for the purchased tickets. But we have to organize regular maintenance ourselves."

After the presentation, a dialogue began. They discussed pouring the skating rinks, rules of conduct at the stadium, closing the second entrance (this allowed to improve the situation with littering and the presence of strangers, transit persons), lighting the workout area, equipment rental, working hours, arrangement of individual rooms, lighting ...

In terms of informing, there are intentions to make a website for sports facilities, the same as for the Cultural Centre and the Library, as well as to organize a mailing list with a calendar of events.

At the end, Heads of SIM Office facilities spoke, adding more detailed information on their units. Everyone is invited to participate in existing communities, regardless of the level of sports training and previously acquired skills.

If you want to organize a personal exhibition, a creative meeting, you know interesting people who can brighten up the evening with their stories or creative work, you want to organize a hobby club - welcome to the Universal Public Library, Cultural Centre "Mir", sports facilities!

Galina MYALKOVSKAYA, photo from jinr.ru