<div>From 20 to 27 July 2017, the first Festival of Science with scientific and educational activities focused on nuclear science and technologies organized by the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom with support of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Chennai will be conducted in Chennai.</div>
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<div>Mikhail Kornienko, Russian pilot-cosmonaut, Ilya Kabanov, a science journalist, and Andrey Akatov, senior lecturer in Saint-Petersburg State Institute of Technology will speak in educational institutions of Chennai and in the Tamilnadu Science and Technology Center within the scope of the program for schoolchildren, students and teachers.</div>
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<div>Andrei Lebedev, vice president of Rosatom's engineering group ASE in South Asia, said, “Not only will the Science Festival become a venue for popularization of science and an instrument for generation of ideas for subsequent development, but it will also facilitate strengthening international relations. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a symbol of Russian-Indian relations in the area of nuclear energy. We hope that Russian-Indian cooperation will continue to develop successfully and the festival will help to answer the participants’ questions on the nuclear subject.”</div>
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<div>“The Festival will give an opportunity to the participants to learn how nuclear technologies facilitate improvement of the quality of life of the population, about current practices of their use and their role in sustainable development of the country,” added Aleksey Pimenov, Regional Vice-President of Rosatom South Asia.</div>
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<div>“For a number of years, Rosatom and Rossotrudnichestvo have been taking students to Russia and Russian professors have been conducting outreach activities in universities and schools of India. The Science Festival will become another remarkable event contributing to development of friendship and cooperation between Russia and India,” commented Mikhail Gorbatov, deputy representative of Rossotrudnichestvo in India, director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Chennai.</div>
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<div>For the first time, a book about the nuclear energy in the Tamil language “Nuclear ABC” will be presented at the festival.</div>
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<div>For reference:</div>
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<div>Within the framework of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of India on cooperation in construction of additional power units of Kudankulam nuclear power plant, as well as construction of nuclear power plant on new sites in the Republic of India according to Russian design, dated 5th December 2008, the Parties started implementation of the project of Kudankulam NPP power units 3 and 4 with VVER-1000 MW reactor plants each. </div>
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<div>In July 2012, Protocol to the Agreement on terms of extension of the Russian state credit for construction of Kudankulam NPP power units 3 and 4, was signed.</div>
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<div>In March 2013, the Indian governmental organizations approved the implementation of the Project (construction of power units 3 and 4). On 10.04.2014 the GFA on construction of Kudankulam NPP units 3 and 4 was signed.</div>
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<div>In January 2016, the Indian regulatory authority granted permission for commencement of the construction of Kudankulam NPP power units 3 and 4. Currently construction works are under way, the foundation pit is being excavated and a new administrative building has already been constructed. ASE has started the supply of design documentation, equipment and materials.</div>
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<div>Kudankulam NPP is being constructed under design developed by JSC Atomenergoproekt with VVER-1000 MW power units, which is fully compliant with the requirements of valid regulatory and technical documents of Russia, IAEA and which is certified for compliance with EUR requirements.</div>
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<div>Kudankulam NPP is being constructed in Tamil Nadu state of India within the scope of the Russian-Indian agreement dated November 20th, 1988 and addendum thereto dated 21st June 2 1998, and within the scope of Agreement dated 08 December 2008.</div>
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<div>General Contractor (for detailed design, equipment supply and technical assistance) is JSC Atomstroyexport. General Designer is JSC Atomenergoproekt. The Customer is Nuclear Power Corporation of India (Ltd) (NPCIL). <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<div>Speakers:</div>
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<div>Mikhail Kornienko is a Russian cosmonaut. Kornienko served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station during Expedition 23/24 and was selected along with Scott Kelly for a year long mission aboard the ISS. Kornienko began the year long mission in March 2015, blasting off on Soyuz TMA-16M.</div>
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<div>Ilya Kabanov is a science journalist, science communicator, and award-winning blogger with 15 years of experience. His science blog metkere.com won numerous professional awards, including Deutsche Welle prize for the Best Russian Blog. metkere.com covers topics such as technology, astronomy, biotech, archeology, medicine, physics, and innovations. It has more than 10 000 subscribers. In 2012 Elia Kabanov became co-author of the non-fiction book Scientific Answers to Cosmic Questions. Among his projects were science festivals and popular science conferences, educational outreach programs, and many others.</div>
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<div>Andrey Akatov is senior lecturer in Saint-Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical University). Co-author of more than 20 popular science books, brochures and websites on nuclear technology and radiation safety. Research works are in the field of radioactive waste management and decontamination.</div>