Questions prepared by Nigar Salamzade.

A.T; You began your career in Azerbaijan and later continued your work in Russia, Slovakia, and various international institutions. How did the transition between different scientific schools and countries shape your worldview and professional philosophy?

B.S.; My professional worldview was shaped by the different scientific environments and academic cultures in which I worked. Each transition added a new layer to my understanding of science, responsibility, and the role of a researcher in society.

The early stage of my career shaped my scientific identity. It gave me a strong theoretical foundation, respect for fundamental science, and a deep sense of ethical responsibility. I learned that science is not only a profession, but also a way to serve society through knowledge.

Later, I worked in much more competitive and demanding research environments. There, scientific rigor was essential. Every idea had to undergo strict critical evaluation. This period greatly strengthened my analytical thinking and discipline.

Further stages of my career introduced me to a more open and structured research culture based on collaboration, transparency, and international cooperation. I fully experienced science as a collective, cross-border effort rather than a closed national system. I learned to work in multicultural teams, to connect theory with practice, and to think in terms of long-term institutional development.

Each transition required me to rethink how I solve problems, how I communicate, and how I build trust in diverse teams. This process taught me adaptability, intellectual humility, and strategic thinking.

I am convinced that a scientist’s professional philosophy should be built on the synthesis of all these dimensions: strong theoretical discipline, uncompromising standards of rigor, openness to cooperation, and a profound sense of social responsibility.

A.T; You actively engage with the Azerbaijani diaspora in Austria. In your opinion, how can the scientific community abroad contribute to strengthening Azerbaijan’s scientific potential?

B.S.; In my view, the main role of the scientific diaspora today is not only to support Azerbaijan occasionally, but to become a permanent and well-organized part of its scientific development. This idea lies at the core of the vision of the World Association of Azerbaijani Scientists (WAAS), where I serve as one of the co-chairs.

WAAS aims to transform individual success stories abroad into a coordinated intellectual force working systematically for the country. We believe that knowledge, experience, and international connections should not remain only personal achievements, but should be turned into national scientific capital.

This means building long-term cooperation between researchers abroad and institutions in Azerbaijan through joint projects, co-supervision of students, shared educational programs, technology transfer, and participation in international grant programs. Our goal is not symbolic cooperation, but real integration of Azerbaijani science into global research networks.

Another important part of WAAS’s mission is mentorship and ensuring generational continuity. We place strong emphasis on supporting young researchers and helping them work with international publication standards, research ethics, grant writing, and academic communication.

WAAS also acts as a platform for scientific diplomacy. By uniting Azerbaijani scientists abroad under a common professional identity, we strengthen the international visibility, credibility, and reputation of Azerbaijani science.

In essence, WAAS’s vision is to move from isolated goodwill to systematic, long-term, institution-level cooperation, where Azerbaijani science becomes an active and respected part of global scientific processes.

A.T; You participated in organizing exhibitions and cultural projects for Azerbaijani artists in Vienna. Do you believe that science and art/culture can complement one another? How does such interdisciplinarity influence the image of a country?

B.S.; Yes, I strongly believe that science and art not only complement each other, but also strengthen each other’s impact. Science speaks through logic, evidence, and innovation, while art speaks to emotion, identity, and cultural heritage. Together, they create a much richer and more complete image of a country.

Through my involvement in cultural and artistic projects alongside scientific activities, especially in an international environment like Vienna, I learned that culture can open doors beyond the reach of science alone. Art creates the first emotional connection by attracting attention and interest. Science then builds deeper trust through knowledge, credibility, and long-term cooperation.

This combination shapes a country’s image in a more modern and multidimensional way. Azerbaijan is then seen not only as a country of natural resources or geopolitics, but as a country of creative thinking, deep cultural heritage, and serious scientific potential. This leads to genuine respect, not just visibility.

Most importantly, such initiatives humanize the image of a country. Behind technologies, research papers, and institutions, people begin to see real stories, creative minds, and shared values. Today, this combination of intellect and culture plays a key role in building lasting international trust.

A.T; Your scientific background spans applied mathematics and work in the field of nuclear energy. Which of these areas do you believe will become most crucial for scientific development in the coming years, and why?

B.S.; I do not see these fields as competing with one another. On the contrary, I see them as increasingly connected, and it is this connection that will shape the future of scientific development.

Applied mathematics will remain a fundamental backbone of modern science. Without strong mathematical models, there can be no real progress in artificial intelligence, climate research, financial systems, cryptography, or nuclear simulations. As systems grow more complex, the need for deep mathematical thinking will only increase.

Information technologies, especially artificial intelligence, data science, and high-performance computing, will be the main drivers of scientific progress in the coming years. They speed up discovery, automate analysis, and allow scientists to simulate complex processes that were previously impossible to study in detail.

At the same time, nuclear science and energy will remain strategically important for humanity. As the world looks for clean, reliable, and large-scale energy sources, nuclear technologies will continue to play an important role—not only in energy production, but also in medicine, materials science, and security.

In summary, applied mathematics provides the language, information technologies provide the tools and speed, and nuclear science represents one of the key practical applications of this combined power. The future belongs to those who can work at the intersection of these fields.

A.T; Working at the IAEA requires a high level of discipline, responsibility, and precision. What professional lesson learned at the Agency do you consider most significant, and how has it influenced your approach to scientific research?

B.S.; The most important professional lesson I learned at the IAEA is that in certain areas of science, precision is not just a technical requirement—it is a moral responsibility. When scientific decisions affect not only laboratories, but entire countries, ecosystems, and human lives, the meaning of responsibility becomes much deeper.

At the Agency, I learned that there is no room for approximation in critical matters. Every calculation, every report, and every safety parameter must pass the highest level of verification. This culture taught me strong respect for evidence, procedures, and accountability. It also showed me that good intentions alone are never enough—only rigor, transparency, and verification can truly protect people and the environment.

Another key lesson was the importance of trust within international teams. At the IAEA, science works beyond national interests. Specialists from many countries work together, and trust is built not on titles or nationality, but on accuracy, professionalism, and ethical behavior.

This experience permanently shaped my approach to scientific research. Today, I view precision as an ethical value, not only a technical one. I try to work more systematically, demand stronger verification, and always consider the real-world consequences of scientific decisions. In this sense, the IAEA deeply transformed my understanding of what it means to be a responsible scientist.

A.T;  In 2005, as part of the IAEA team, you were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Could you share what specific tasks and projects were within your scope of responsibility during that period?

B.S.; It is important to clarify that the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as an institution and to its Director General at the time, for the Agency’s work in nuclear safety, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. I was part of the large international team whose collective efforts made this recognition possible.

My own responsibilities during that time were related to the technical and technological support of the Agency’s verification activities. In particular, I was involved in the development and implementation of IT solutions for data processing, analysis, and secure handling of verification information. These systems ensure that inspection data, measurements, and technical reports remain accurate, consistent, and fully traceable.

This type of work is largely invisible to the public, but it forms the digital foundation of international verification. Without reliable information systems, it is impossible to guarantee the level of transparency and confidence that global control mechanisms require.

For me personally, the Nobel recognition underlined an important truth: even highly specialized work in applied mathematics and information technologies can directly affect global peace and security. Your code, algorithms, and data systems may remain behind the scenes, but their quality directly influences trust between states.

This experience strengthened my sense of scientific responsibility and shaped my long-term approach to research: precision is not only a technical standard—it is an ethical obligation.

A.T; How do you think artificial intelligence can significantly transform the nuclear sector in the near future? What opportunities and risks do you foresee?

B.S.; Artificial intelligence will become a powerful factor in transforming the nuclear sector in the near future, but it must be introduced with great caution. The nuclear field is different from most other industries because here mistakes are not only costly—they can be irreversible.

On the positive side, AI can greatly improve safety, monitoring, and efficiency. It can be used for predictive maintenance of nuclear facilities, early detection of unusual reactor behavior, optimization of fuel cycles, and advanced simulation of physical processes. In verification and safeguards, AI can help analyze large volumes of sensor data, satellite images, and inspection records much faster than humans alone.

AI can also speed up research in areas such as new reactor materials, radiation medicine, and nuclear waste management. In this sense, AI becomes a strong multiplier of scientific progress.

However, the risks are also serious. Excessive dependence on automated systems can weaken human control. Software errors, biased data, or cyber vulnerabilities can create new types of danger. In the nuclear field, a software failure is not just a technical problem—it can become a safety risk.

There is also a security aspect. AI can be used both to improve verification and, potentially, to hide violations. This creates a new technological competition between monitoring and concealment.

In summary, AI will not replace human responsibility in the nuclear field, but it will strongly reshape decision-making. The future lies in cooperation between humans and AI, where technology increases speed and precision, while humans retain ethical judgment and final responsibility.

A.T; Many people are concerned about the rapid development of artificial intelligence. In your view, is AI more of a “force for good” or a “force for harm”? Could its development lead humanity toward catastrophe, or are these fears exaggerated?

B.S.; To address this question, I would refer to Geoffrey Hinton, the British–Canadian scientist who played a very important role in developing modern artificial intelligence and deep learning.

In 2024, he received the Nobel Prize in Physics for foundational discoveries that made modern AI possible. His work helped transform AI from a largely theoretical field into a powerful practical technology used worldwide.

In his Nobel speech, he spoke clearly about both the great benefits and the serious risks of AI. AI can greatly increase productivity and help many industries. At the same time, it can be used for mass surveillance, cybercrime, biological weapons, and autonomous weapons.

He also warned about the long-term risk of creating digital systems that may become more intelligent than humans and difficult to control.

For me, his speech was not only a warning, but also a reminder that technology becomes dangerous when responsibility is delayed. Having worked in fields where mistakes have irreversible consequences, I strongly believe that AI must be developed with strict ethical rules, solid verification systems, and international oversight—just as we do in nuclear safety, aviation, and cybersecurity.

A.T; How do you assess Azerbaijan’s role in the global scientific ecosystem? In which fields, in your opinion, does our country have the potential to become a regional or even international leader?

B.S.; I see Azerbaijan today as a country with strong latent scientific potential that is now moving toward deeper international integration. In recent years, important progress has been made in education, digital infrastructure, innovation, and international cooperation. The next key task is to convert this growing capacity into stable international visibility and leadership in key areas.

I believe that Azerbaijan has strong potential across several fields and should strategically focus on becoming globally competitive in high-impact areas that are most critical to the country’s economic growth, while remaining closely integrated with international research networks.

If this approach is supported by long-term policy, strong universities, open international cooperation, and active involvement of the scientific diaspora, Azerbaijan can move from being mainly a user of advanced knowledge to becoming a regional exporter of scientific expertise and innovation.

A.T; If you had the opportunity to initiate a new scientific project in Azerbaijan today—considering your international experience—what area would you prioritize, and why?

B.S.; If I had the opportunity to initiate a new scientific project in Azerbaijan today, my highest priority would be to launch a coordinated portfolio of projects focused on strategically vital fields such as energy, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and national security—alongside other critical areas including artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, agriculture and food security, water resource management, smart cities, and advanced materials. Together, these directions address both Azerbaijan’s immediate national needs and its long-term economic competitiveness.

Artificial intelligence and advanced computing have now become universal tools that dramatically accelerate research, reduce costs, and enable solutions to highly complex problems—ranging from energy system optimization and environmental forecasting to medical diagnostics and infrastructure safety.

Such projects must not operate in isolation. They should create strong links between universities, industry, and government, while being closely integrated into international research networks. This would position Azerbaijan directly within the global stream of cutting-edge scientific and technological development.

Another essential pillar of this initiative is human capital—the education and training of a new generation of specialists with deep foundations in mathematics, computing, and applied sciences.

In summary, national priority should be given to initiatives that transform data, algorithms, and computing into core elements of the country’s scientific infrastructure. This is the most realistic and sustainable path toward converting scientific potential into economic resilience, technological sovereignty, and long-term global competitiveness.