On April 15-16, 2026, the Centro Ricerche Enrico Fermi (CREF) hosted the annual meeting of the Commission C12 of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (C12-IUPAP) and Working Group 9 (WG9). This vital gathering brings together researchers in Nuclear Physics to discuss and coordinate international cooperation’s, continuing on decades long legacy of global scientific collaboration. The status of existing and planned major infrastructure worldwide, primarily devoted to nuclear physics research, was presented.

Working Group 9 (then chaired by Angela Bracco) was established in 2003, specifically dedicated to the International Cooperation in Nuclear Physics (ICNP). Formed upon the recommendation of the IUPAP Commission on Nuclear Physics (C12), WG9 was given a comprehensive mandate to evaluate and guide the key issues facing Nuclear Physics worldwide, including producing and maintaining a comprehensive compendium of operating and future nuclear facilities worldwide, exploring mechanisms to enhance international cooperation, and serving as a source of expert advice for governmental and intergovernmental organizations.

On the first day, news from various nuclear physics facilities was presented, and the second day was devoted to a symposium on emerging topics in basic nuclear science and applications. Experts from three continents delivered very informative presentations. An in-camera meeting with representatives of funding agencies, organized by Diego Bettoni (INFN, Ferrara), was also held on this second day.

The C12 committee (chaired by Maria J. G. Borge, Madrid) actively supports WG9’s efforts and held a parallel closed session during the meeting with main focused on discussing the terms of reference of the WG9 for the new figure of Standing Committee.

 

Beyond the formal sessions and strategic discussions, participants expressed profound appreciation for the opportunity to visit the Enrico Fermi Museum, located on the historic grounds of the Regio Istituto di Fisica, where Fermi worked. For the visiting physicists, the museum represented a pilgrimage to the very origins of their field. In the photo we see the participants of the meeting mainly members of C12 and WG9 surrounding the famous “Acqua Fontis” at the former Physics Institute of Panisperna Street in Rome (historical site of the European Physical society) where the afternoon of October 22, 1934, Enrico Fermi used the water from this fountain to establish the role of hydrogenous substances in neutron-induced radioactivity. This experiment revealed that slow neutrons were more efficient in inducing radioactivity, which was key to unlocking nuclear fission chain reactions.