On 25 October, an international symposium entitled "The 50th anniversary of the MARIA reactor" was held at the National Centre for Nuclear Research. During the event, the role of research reactors and their use in science, the economy and health care were discussed. Topics concerning the operation of research reactors and their safety were addressed.

The event was attended by representatives of government authorities and key nuclear and reactor research centres from around the world, including: Andrzej Szeptycki - Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Etienne de Poncins - Ambassador of France, Mark Brzezinski - Ambassador of the United States of America (video), Jennifer Tyldesley - Embassy of the United Kingdom, Andrzej Głowacki - President of the State Atomic Energy Agency, Sylwia Sztark - Marshal's Office of the Mazowieckie Voivodship, Jarosław Margielski - Mayor of City of Otwock, Jeffrey Chamberlin - National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Ralf Gathmann - Director of Framatome, Petr Chakrov - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Roy W. Brown - Vice President of Curium, John Stevens - Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Tsuchiya Kunihiko - Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA).

The symposium featured an exhibition showcasing fifty years of contributions from generations of experts in various scientific fields and the potential of the MARIA reactor. Part of the exhibition are paintings by Ms Daria Solar inspired by the interior of the MARIA reactor. The exhibition will be available in the Polish Parliament building from 18 to 25 November this year.

Honorary patronage: Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Health, State Atomic Energy Agency, Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, City of Otwock