History

Even in the early 1950s physics scientists of the Republic of Kazakhstan were pointing out at the importance of basic and applied research in nuclear physics and atomic power for advancements in civil economy.

On the base of INP there were organized: Institute of high energies physics of Kazakh SSR SA (1970), Physical-technical Institute of Kazakh SSR SA (1990), Almaty department of Atomic en-ergy Institute of NNC RK(1993).

With organization of National Nuclear Center (NNC)of the Republic of Kazakhstan (in January 1993) there took place at the Institute the structural changes. Firstly, INP became a member of RK NNC,secondly, there was organized an Almaty department of the Atomic Energy Institute (OJSC AEI) NNC RK, to which there were transferred a number of laboratories, experimental facilities and offices of INP, including reactor VVR-K.

The crucial role in establishing the Institute was played by distinguished scientists Kanysh Imantayevich Satpayev and Igor Vasilievich Kurchatov. Presedent of the Academy of Sciences of KazakhSSR, Academician K.I. Satpayev in his address to the USSR Council of Ministers and Central Committee of the Communist Party said: "Vast expansion of productive power in Kazakhstan requires corresponding strengthening of science in Kazakhstan and, first of all, implementation of recent achievements in nuclear physics into all spheres on industry, agriculture, and medicine." I.V. Kurchatov also paid continuous attention to creation of the Institute.

Governments of both the Soviet Union and KazakhSSR supported a petition signed by many famous physicists of Kazakhstan and based on the Cabinet of Ministers of decree No.524-263 from May 17, 1957 and the Decree of CC CP of KazSSR and CM KazSSR No.462-30c from July 16 1957, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of KazSSR issued a decree No.14/4 from July 25, 1957 about creation of the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) on the basis of the Physics-and-Technology Institute of KazSSR Academy of Sciences.

Construction of the Institute was initiated in 1959 with thorough prospecting site allocation and designing works. During 1961 - 1966 all the main facilities were constructed and commissioned.

In 1993 due to organization of National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Institute of Nuclear Physics joined NNC as a daughter enterprise.

The Directors of the Institute of nuclear physics were:

• from 1958 to 1965 - the academician of the Academy of Science Kaz SSR Latyshev G. D.
• from 1965 to 1970 - the academician of the Academy of Science Kaz SSR Takibaev Zh.S.
• from 1970 to 1987 - the academician of the Academy of Science Kaz SSR Ibragimov Sh.Sh.
• from 1987 to 1997 - the corresponding member of NAS RK Zhetbaev A.K.
• from 1997 to 2007 - the academician of NIA RK Kadyrzhanov K.K.

Now the director of Institute of Nuclear Physics is Tuleushev A.Zh.

An important contribution to the development of the basic scientific directions of the Institute of nuclear physics have made:

• the academician of the Academy of Science Kaz SSR Nemenov L.M. - Physics of low and average energies, designing and commissioning of cyclotron U-150
• the academician of the Academy of Science Kaz SSR Korsunsky M. I - solid state physics
• the academician of the Academy of Science Kaz SSR Kelman V. M - physical electronics, mass spectroscopy
• the academician of the Academy of Science KazSSR Takibaev Z.S. - physics of high energies and space rays
• the academician of the Academy of Science Kaz SSR Latyshev G. D. - nuclear spectroscopy
• the academician of the Academy of Science Kaz SSR Ibragimov Sh.Sh. - the radiation solid state physics
• the corresponding member of AS Kaz SSR Kaipov D.K. - nuclear gamma resonant dispersion, processes of ultracold neutrons formation
• the corresponding member of NAS RK Zhetbaev A.K. - gamma resonant spectroscopy of the radiation phenomena in firm bodies
• the academician of the Academy of Science Kaz SSR Okolovich V. N. - physics of nuclear fission
• the academician of NIA RK Kadyrzhanov K.K. - radiation solid state physics