14 8 News from ICTP Autumn—Winter 2019 04 Features
04 Farewell and Thank You
06 Leadership Inspired by Salam As Fernando Quevedo winds down his term as ICTP director, he shares the insights he has gained during his 10 years of leadership
12 Nurturing Latin American Science ICTP assists with region’s research roadmap
14 Dirac Winners 2019
15 Diploma Graduation Ceremony 2019
The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical 16 Research Highlights Physics (ICTP) is governed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Atomic Energy Agency 16 Greenhouse Warming Complicates (IAEA), and Italy. It is a UNESCO category 1 institute. El Niño Predictions
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ISSN 2222-6923 Farewell and Russia, Cuba, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Dominican Republic, as well as several regions of China, Thank You India, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, to mention some. Science is naturally an international endeavor and ICTP excels at implementing this in the most inclusive, As I approach the end of my tenure as ICTP director, I unique way. Having visited more than 60 countries and would like to reflect on the extraordinary experiences welcomed thousands of scientists at ICTP over the past 10 I have gained from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity years, I am continuously reminded that the most important to follow in the footsteps of my role model, Abdus component of ICTP’s mandate is the support, collaboration Salam, and the previous ICTP directors. Additionally, a computational sciences research line and encouragement of students and scientists coming from has been developed, the cornerstone of which is a developing countries. They are the main reason for ICTP to I arrived 10 years ago full of passion and dreams about new master’s degree programme in High Performance exist and should always be the main focus of any initiative making an important contribution to society by leading Computing, in collaboration with SISSA. Our presence and action at ICTP. Witnessing first-hand the many success this unique institution. Coming from Guatemala, a on the Internet has been substantially enhanced, and stories of students and visitors, as well as the many human small and poor country that lacks a scientific tradition, fundraising has been at least partially successful by dramas that we are naturally exposed to on a daily basis I had managed to succeed in a scientific career that attracting support from organisations such as the Simon’s by just working at ICTP, enriches our lives and provides an brought me all the way to a professorship at Cambridge, Foundation, KFAS, OFID and opening-up the potential emotional satisfaction which is difficult to express in words. one of the most prestigious universities in the world, major funds from the European Research Council. This is what I like to call the human aspect of science. thanks to people who gave me the opportunities Furthermore, funding for each of the ICTP partner institutions to study and do research at high-level institutions. is an indirect way to obtain funds for the mission of ICTP and The talents and duties required to successfully lead ICTP far Directing ICTP was, for me, a chance to pay back is becoming a major source to expand ICTP resources. outnumber that which one person could possibly possess and support the many scientists from countries like and implement. From being a high-level researcher, to an mine that have little or no support for science. Opportunities also arose for unplanned projects. Notably, administrator, a diplomat, a fundraiser, a visionary leader the creation of the new master’s degree in medical physics and mentor, an inspirational role model, a dreamer and To broaden and enrich that support, one of my first was possible thanks to ICTP’s long tradition of organising bold risk taker: this is simply impossible unless you have actions as ICTP director was to create a five-year strategic medical physics schools in collaboration with the IAEA, the highly qualified staff that you can rely on to perform some plan for the centre. The strategic plan was designed to University of Trieste, and the International Organization of these roles. I am very thankful to have had that support. increase the impact of ICTP and adapt its mandate to for Medical Physics. Also the Physics Without Frontiers Also, a most important aspect of leading an institution and the economic, political and scientific developments in programme has gone far beyond my expectations. So, leaving a legacy is to hire the new generations of qualified the world and to strengthen all aspects of its mission even though it is always possible to achieve more, I am staff members. Over 10 years the composition of ICTP staff on research, education and outreach. The plan had satisfied with the ICTP achievements during my mandate. has been totally reshaped with many people reaching five priorities: first, to explore the creation of partner retiring age or leaving and many more joining ICTP. I am institutes worldwide to play the role of ICTP at a regional I have experienced many endearing moments witnessing very proud with the current composition of administrative level; second, to create a PhD programme at ICTP in the impact that ICTP has had on the careers of scientists and scientific staff, and have great expectations for their order to attract and support more high-level students from all corners of the world. I am reminded of my own role in carving the future of ICTP and international science. from developing countries and reinvigorate research at career path that was made possible by the intellectual Moreover, with the newly appointed director, I am very ICTP; third, to start new research activities in quantitative generosity of the international science community. It pleased to leave the institute in such good hands. biology, sustainable energies and computational is extremely gratifying to know that I have given back sciences; fourth, to substantially increase the presence of to society at least a little bit from all I have received to I would like to finish by thanking the entire ICTP community ICTP on-line; and fifth, to pursue new fundraising activities. achieve my dreams of becoming a professional scientist. for sharing the passion and dedication to our mission, from every single staff member to the governing bodies and Progress was achieved on each of the five priorities. A After these 10 years I have substantially expanded my scientific council members. My thanks extend to the whole PhD programme was created in collaboration with SISSA, perception of the world as well as my network of scientist international scientific community for their continuous and has already produced more than 20 graduates. Four friends who I can proudly say come from places as different professional support that has added more meaning to partner institutions in Brazil, China, Mexico and Rwanda as Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya, my life during these unforgettable 10 years at ICTP. have opened and been approved to be UNESCO Tanzania, Namibia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Tunisia, category 2 centres. New research areas have been Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Vietnam, Japan, the two Koreas, created, with a small group within the Condensed Matter Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Jordan, Israel, section investigating sustainable energies, and a totally Palestine, Sharjah, Abu-Dhabi, Azerbaijan, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Fernando Quevedo new research section in Quantitative Life Sciences. Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Poland, Belarus, Georgia, ICTP Director, 2009–2019
4 5 Features Leadership Inspired by Salam
As Fernando Quevedo winds down his term as ICTP director, he shares the insights he has gained during his 10 years of leadership
In many ways, ICTP outgoing director Fernando Quevedo In his final interview as ICTP director, Fernando the physics community and to do the same for others. Looking back, I think I have achieved more than represents the type of scientist Abdus Salam had in mind Quevedo reflects on the joys and challenges of Most of the job has met my expectations. I was able I was dreaming to, thanks to the scientists and when the Nobel Laureate founded the Centre in 1964. leading ICTP, and shares his post-ICTP plans. to do my own research, which was crucial, as I was administrative staff at ICTP. Without all this support Coming from a disadvantaged country in Latin America convinced that to be the director of a science institute over the years I could not have done it. It is good to (Guatemala), Quevedo overcame tremendous odds to you have to be an active scientist, not a person who have an idea, but the important work is the follow- reach career milestones that would eventually lead to his What were your expectations coming leaves science in the past. I kept up that commitment. up, for which you have to rely on other people. appointment as a professor at Cambridge University, UK, into the role as director of ICTP? I was able to support the community that needed the and as director of a major, international science institute. most help in science, from young students to visitors Indeed, Quevedo often points to Salam as an inspiration ICTP has been very close to my heart since I learned living in difficult conditions to people who are very good For nearly 55 years, ICTP has supported scientific not only for his scientific pursuits in theoretical physics, about it as a student. Over the years I participated in scientists in countries that are not supporting science so capacity building in the developing world. but also for his vision of how ICTP’s unique mission can activities here as a visitor, as a participant in conferences, much. So that part of the job is a pleasure and was what I In what ways is its mission still relevant? transform the lives of scientists in the developing world. as an organizer, and as lecturer. I have been involved expected from the job, knowing what Salam had done. with activities as part of the ICTP family for many, many I would say it is more relevant now than when it During his 10 years as ICTP director, Quevedo has years. When I was asked to consider being director, I was Furthermore, it allowed me the opportunity to come started. The map of developing countries has changed overseen ICTP’s transformation as a destination for overwhelmed to think that I could have the opportunity to up with new ideas and programmes that I managed to substantially; we always mention the case of China, students pursuing masters and PhD degrees, thanks to its make a difference within ICTP, so I didn’t hesitate to apply. achieve, together with the support of the ICTP community. Brazil, and India becoming scientific powers, but there joint programmes with local universities. The Centre has That is fulfilling the dream of what I expected here. are still scientists in those countries and in most of the expanded its geographical reach with the establishment I come from a developing country, Guatemala. I managed other developing countries for which ICTP’s mission has of four partner institutes on three continents. Responding to build a career thanks to people helping me to get What I was not prepared for was to see how been very good. Although we have happened to create to the needs of developing countries, ICTP has launched opportunities. I have always felt a duty to do the same difficult the administrative aspect of the job is in the a culture of science in many places and regions, the rich new research initiatives in areas such as renewable for other scientists. I sympathize with every scientist sense that you need to keep a balance between countries are becoming more and more advanced in energies and scientific computing. In addition, the who has had to struggle to be able to develop a career funding, reporting to the different members of science, so the gap is still growing. That means the need is Centre started a new research section in Quantitative in science. I was one of them; people gave me the the steering committee and coordinating with bigger, it is like the expanding universe, things are always Life Sciences, reflecting ICTP’s acknowledgement opportunities, opened the doors to me and I managed the administrative system within UNESCO. farther and farther away. Without an institution like ICTP of the importance of multidisciplinary research. to succeed, so I felt it as a duty to respond to society and this gap would have been even worse, so that justifies
6 7 ICTP’s existence and expansion. The only frustration challenge for ICTP to keep up with its mission. There you can have is that there are all these people who will are also good challenges: there are more institutions be definitely benefiting from any action that ICTP can with their eye on developing countries—we have some do for them, but we have limited resources and cannot healthy competition—so in that sense it is a challenge for reach all of them. In that sense there is plenty of room for ICTP to keep up as THE institution that is representing something to make ICTP bigger, the demand is there. excellence and support for developing countries.
What challenges does ICTP have now that What influence has ICTP had on may not have existed 50 years ago? your own scientific career?
There are many. I would say the first challenge that we Salam was a role model. I had a job interview once and usually overlook is survival. For every institution that was asked which scientist I most admired, and I thought is a challenge, to re-invent itself in order to survive. about all obvious cases like Darwin or Einstein and Funding is always complicated too. The appreciation Newton and Weinberg, who was my supervisor. But In its Strategic Plan 2010-2014, ICTP of basic sciences is under question because of all the then suddenly the figure of Salam came up and he is a envisioned the establishment of other challenges related to applied subjects. One of special scientific role model, because he represents the regional centres of excellence in developing countries. As of 2019, the reinventions of ICTP is to enter applied subjects, combination of doing good science but at the same time ICTP now has four such partner so that we don’t just rely on the basic science part, but having a strong commitment to developing countries. institutes, in Brazil, China, Mexico it is important to remain faithful to its original mission ICTP is the model institution that I and others in and Rwanda. and to start with the basic sciences as the core of the developing countries always dreamed to create centre. Both in developed and developing countries to provide opportunities for other scientists. there’s an emphasis on just applied subjects. It is a ICTP was an example of what can be done.
Major ICTP 2010 2012 2013 2014 milestones under Quevedo’s leadership
ICTP inaugurated a new ICTP launched a new, annual ICTP’s Physics Without Frontiers ICTP addressed the gender gap ICTP celebrated its 50th anniversary with a four-day In 2014, ICTP opened its Scientific colloquium series that aims to science outreach activity—the programme works to inspire, in science with the 2013 launch celebration attended by Nobel laureates and other Fabrication Laboratory, or increase interaction between Salam Distinguished Lecture train and motivate physics and of its Career Development top scientists, policymakers, and UN dignitaries. In SciFabLab, the first of its kind its research groups as well as Series—with a week-long mathematics university students Workshop for Women in Physics. photo, from left: former CERN Director-General Rolf- in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia expose doctoral students to the series of lectures by renowned worldwide, particularly those Held every other year since then, Dieter Heuer, Elisa Quevedo, ICTP DIrector Fernando region. It offers modern and Centre’s rich array of physics and theoretical physicist Nima Arkani- in science and technology the activity has created a unique Quevedo, Rwanda President Paul Kagame, former versatile computer-controlled mathematics activities. Speakers Hamed. Featured speakers have lagging countries, to help support network for women early UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, Prince El rapid prototyping tools such over the years have included included William Bialek, Subir build the next generation of in their scientific career. Hassan bin Talal of Jordan and his wife, Princess as 3D printers, 3D scanners, top scientists representing a Sachdev, Don Zagier, Sir Brian scientists. Each project is unique, Sarvath, former IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, laser engraving and cutting wide range of scientific fields. Hoskins, Sir Michael Berry, Alan developed with the country’s TWAS Executive Director Romain Murenzi, and former machines. In 2018, Kip Thorne (in photo) Guth, and Juan Maldacena. specific needs in mind. Since UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural delivered a colloquium on its founding in 2012. PWF has Sciences Flavia Schlegel. Geometrodynamics: The worked with over 5000 students Nonlinear Dynamics of Curved worldwide in 17 different Spacetime. countries.
8 9 Growth in ICTP Programmes What are your post-ICTP plans? On a more personal note, which physics theory would and Enrollment you most like to see experimentally validated? 160 I will go back to Cambridge, and continue my Master in High Performance research and teaching. I have already accepted a Of course, something related to string theory! In practice, Computing PhD student. Hopefully, here and there, I can still I would be extremely excited if they see tensor modes Master of Advanced contribute to activities related to the ICTP mission. (gravitational waves) from the cosmic microwave Studies in Medical background. That would be evidence of the earliest 120 Physics One of the activities I would like to continue is the Latin moments of the universe. And of course I experienced Joint PhD Programme, American Science Forum for Research Infrastructure that feeling before: they had announced that they had Earth Science and Fluid Mechanics (LASF4RI; see related story on page 12). I have been discovered these a few years ago, but it was wrong, ICTP-UniTS Joint involved for more than two years in this, and as it is in so the excitement I felt at that time, I will feel it again! 80 Masters in Physics my region of the world, I know the community and I know that this is the next stage for things to be done Joint ICTP-SISSA PhD there. I am not an experimentalist so I can play a role Programme in Physics and Mathematics but not a leading role; I think it is important to support 40 the community, together we can do much more. ICTP-STEP Fellows’ visits
Postgraduate During the past 10 years, ICTP 0 Diploma Students degree programmes have 1991 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2018 nearly doubled the number of students on campus.
2014 2015 2018 2019
ICTP and the International ICTP held its first Trieste MiniMaker ICTP and the University of Trieste Five alumni of ICTP’s ICTP and ICTP and three other Italian science ICTP, together with the During the past 10 years, School for Advanced Studies Faire, a show-and-tell event launched a two-year master’s Postgraduate Diploma organizations inaugurated a new institute dedicated International School for ICTP has opened new (SISSA) launched the Master in where innovators (“makers”) can in medical physics programme Programme were the first to to the exploration of the fundamental laws of nature Advanced Studies (SISSA) research directions, including High Performance Computing show their creations, present their designed to provide graduates receive PhD degrees from the from a cosmological and astrophysical perspective, and the University of Trieste, Quantitative Life Sciences (MHPC) programme. Set ideas and share what they are of physics or related fields joint ICTP/SISSA PhD Programme the Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe launched a new institute (QLS), Renewable Energy, and in the stimulating research learning with the general public. (mainly from developing in Physics and Mathematics. (IFPU). In photo, (from left) ICTP Director Fernando dedicated to research in Scientific Computing. In photo, environment of ICTP and SISSA, The Faire has been held every countries) with postgraduate Quevedo, inauguration keynote speaker George quantum technologies. The Antonio Celani and the programme combines year since, exposing thousands theoretical and clinical training Ellis, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) President Trieste Institute for the Theory Matteo Marsili of the QLS lectures with hands-on and of visitors to the wonders of so that they may be recognised Nicolò D’Amico, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare of Quantum Technologies section, which now employs applied projects to prepare science, engineering, art, as clinical medical physicists in (INFN) President Fernando Ferroni, and Scuola (TQT) serves as a catalyst for five staff researchers and future HPC specialists for performance and craft. their home countries. Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) theoretical activities not only in has recently launched a QLS academia and industry. Director Stefano Ruffo. Italy, but also in neighbouring Diploma programme. and developing countries.
10 11 Features
ICTP Director Fernando Quevedo, a founding only among the Latin American scientific community but member of LASF4RI, explained why that momentum also among the region’s policy makers. When LASF4RI is growing. “We have a critical mass of scientists representatives, including Quevedo and co-founders These Latin American research infrastructures reflect the in the region, which we didn’t have in the past. So Marcela Carena (Fermilab and the University of Chicago, region’s growing capacity for large-scale, sophisticated there is already expertise in the region, and a sense USA) and Marta Losada (Universidad Antonio Narino, science. The region’s research community, including a of community, and this community is ready to take Colombia) presented their ideas at a meeting of the Ibero- large diaspora of scientists placed at such world-class leadership in proposing their own facilities,” he said. American Ministers for Science and Technology last year, facilities as CERN and Fermilab, are keen to harness the ministers fully supported the initiative and issued a this capacity to raise the profile of Latin American Organizers are using a bottom-up approach to build ministerial declaration to that effect. That declaration was research on the international stage. How to do that, LASF4RI’s foundations. A crucial first step is to reach ratified at a subsequent meeting of the heads of state. Nurturing Latin and ensure adequate financing, are the key tasks for out to the Latin American scientific communities to the Latin American Strategic Framework for Research establish a strategic roadmap for long term planning and Big research infrastructures inspire big ideas. From American Science Infrastructure (LASF4RI (https://lasf4ri.org/)), an funding. To that end, the community is looking at what CERN’s particle detectors to LIGO’s gravitational initiative by a group of scientists and representatives of has already been done in Europe and the United States. wave observatory, physicists have a history of development agencies from Latin American countries. dreams on grand scales that often contribute to giant ICTP assists with region’s “We want to learn what other countries are doing and leaps in our understanding of the physical universe. research roadmap The group held its first meeting last spring at ICTP’s then adapt that to Latin America,” explained Quevedo. Quevedo’s pet project in this realm is to build a partner institute in São Paulo, Brazil, the South He added, “For Latin America, the goal is to have gravitational wave detector in Latin America. American Institute for Fundamental Research (ICTP- something similar to ESFRI (the European Strategy Forum SAIFR). The timing was strategic, taking place the day on Research Infrastructures), keeping into account the “There is not a single gravitational wave detector in the In Argentina, the Pierre Auger Observatory detects before the annual meeting of the Global Research regional scientific situation to reach a critical mass.” southern hemisphere, not even any proposals yet, so high energy cosmic rays. Brazil recently opened Council (GRC), which was organized by the São this is a golden opportunity to have a next-generation Sirius, Latin America’s only synchrotron light source Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Argentina’s Setting research priorities is important to having an facility in this part of the world. This is much longer facility. Chile is home to some of the world’s most National Council for Scientific and Technical Research overall perspective of what the scientific focus should term—several decades—but we have to start thinking powerful telescopes. The proposed Agua Negra (CONICET) and Germany’s Research Foundation be, explains Quevedo. “Basic science is important, about it now to build up the community,” he said. Deep Experiment Site (ANDES), to be placed 1700 (DFG). The GRC promotes collaboration among but we also need to think about applied subjects meters underground in the planned Agua Negra funding agencies worldwide, and the LASF4RI such as energy, health and climate change.” With the LASF4RI initiative gaining traction, that tunnel linking Argentina and Chile, holds promise for organizers hope that their initiative will attract the dream — and the vision of a vibrant, collaborative, studying weak interacting particles and dark matter, financial support necessary to sustain the momentum LASF4RI’s vision for large-scale, long-term research internationally connected Latin American scientific the first such facility in the southern hemisphere. of science development in Latin America. collaborations will require coordination of resources, not community — is moving closer to reality.
12 13 Features
2019 Dirac Medal Announced
Three share prize for The Dirac Medallists for 2019: Viatcheslav Mukhanov, Alexei important contributions Starobinsky, and Rashid Sunyaev to modern cosmology
singularity, and was followed by a further, but much slower, expansion of the Universe that still continues.
Alexei Starobinsky was one of the first developers of the cosmic inflation theory in the late 1970s. The theory was then further developed, with great contributions from the studies that Viatcheslav Mukhanov and others carried out in the 1980s. Rashid Sunyaev had predicted 2019 Diploma to study”. Ullah has applied to some PhD positions the acoustic peaks of the CMB in the 1970s and then in European universities and wishes to continue his ICTP has awarded its 2019 Dirac Medal and Prize to largely contributed to the experiments that tested these Graduation research in the field of dynamical systems. “After my year three physicists whose research has made a profound models. The theory of inflation is now considered one here at ICTP, I feel more confident to apply for a PhD.” impact on modern cosmology. Viatcheslav Mukhanov of the most relevant developments in fundamental Ceremony (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich), Alexei physics and cosmology, since it explains many properties Other students also share their appreciation not only Starobinsky (Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics) and of the Universe as we know it, such as its uniformity for the Diploma Programme’s high-quality education, Rashid Sunyaev (Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics) and its flatness. It also provides a theory for primordial 33 ICTP Diploma students but also for the informal and friendly atmosphere at share the prize for “their outstanding contributions fluctuations that no other model has yet explained. In the honoured at ceremony ICTP. “My favourite thing about the months I spent at to the physics of the Cosmic Microwave Background framework of general relativity and quantum field theory, ICTP is that I could play ping pong here at the Centre, (CMB) with experimentally tested implications that the inflationary theory describes these fluctuations as even with my own professors,” said Rabindra Raj Oliya, have helped to transform cosmology into a precision coming from quantum effects at a microscopic scale, that The ICTP Postgraduate Diploma Programme class of 2019 a student in the Condensed Matter Physics section scientific discipline by combining microscopic physics have macroscopic effects on a cosmic scale, manifest in graduated on 29 August, in a joyful ceremony that concluded from Nepal. “During classes, they are our teachers, with the large scale structure of the Universe.” the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe. a long and intense year of learning and hard work. but outside the class they are really accommodating people. We could share with them any problem All three winners have made important contributions The theoretical predictions derived from this model The programme assists students from developing we had, may it be study-related or personal.” to the understanding of the early Universe in have been confirmed by several experiments, and countries who are interested in further study in physics the context of inflationary cosmology. have contributed greatly to modern cosmology. or mathematics. It especially helps students reach Of the 33 graduating students, four were singled out international standards of knowledge and competences, as the top students of their respective programmes: The CMB is weak cosmic background radiation “The calculations of the primordial density perturbations striving to fill in any past gaps in their education. This is that fills all space. In the Big Bang model of the represent one of the most beautiful achievements in done in order to prepare them to compete successfully Asem Abdelraouf (Egypt) studied mathematics Universe, the CMB is residual electromagnetic theoretical physics, providing important information about for graduate studies at any institution in the world. The and has been admitted to an MSc2 radiation from an early stage of the Universe, that our origins and with spectacular experimental verification,” programme offers four areas of instruction: high energy programme at University Paris Diderot; can be detected with a sufficiently sensitive radio explained ICTP Director Fernando Quevedo. “The physics, condensed matter physics, mathematics, Nicolas Loayza Romero (Ecuador) studied high telescope. Discovered accidentally in 1964 by two important contributions to this field by the three awardees and Earth system physics. A fifth area of study, in energy, cosmology and astroparticle physics and will radio astronomers, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, it fit with the high standards of the ICTP Dirac Medal.” Quantitative Life Sciences began in September 2019. be attending an MSc programme at Bonn University; is a key proof of the Big Bang origin of the Universe. Nishan Ranabhat (Nepal) studied condensed “Their work on the profound consequences of “At the beginning, when I started my year here, I found it matter physics and will be starting a joint ICTP/ According to the inflationary theory of physical fundamental physics on the universe we observe is a little difficult to understand things, because the level of SISSA PhD programme after the summer; cosmology, the Universe went through an exponential measured not just by the accuracy of their predictions,” what is taught here is rather higher to what I studied in my John Bosco Ssebandeke (Uganda) studied Earth expansion of space in an extremely short period of time. added ICTP Staff Associate Ravi Sheth, “but also by the country,” said Asad Ullah, a student in the Mathematics system physics and is extending his stay at ICTP The so-called inflationary epoch may have lasted from profound impact that their work – and they themselves section from Pakistan. “But here I got more motivation, to continue investigating the topic of his thesis. 10-36 seconds to about 10-33 seconds after the Big Bang – have had on generations of cosmologists.” and I learnt the most important thing of all, that is, how
14 15 Research Highlights
Greenhouse Warming Complicates El Niño Predictions
Earth is a strictly interconnected system, in which what happens locally can have global effects. This is particularly true in climatology and atmospheric science, in which it is common to investigate how climate anomalies “This paper reviews all these previous works,” said are related to each other, even at large distances. ICTP research scientist Fred Kucharski, one of the paper’s authors. “The idea is that there are some A relevant example of this is the link between oceanic events, like ENSO, that influence the global climate, currents and winds in the atmosphere, known as the El and we can use climate models and simulations to Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This is an irregularly explain, for example, what would happen in the Eastern periodic fluctuation that affects the climate of the tropical Pacific after an event took place in the Atlantic.” Atlantic and Pacific Niño phenomena in a scenario and subtropical regions in the Pacific Ocean. Since of a warming Earth, but obtained an unexpected tropical sea surface temperatures are rather easy to The connection’s mechanism is based on a cyclic result. “The simulations showed exactly the opposite predict, this connection is an extremely useful aid for movement of matter between atmosphere and of what we expected,” said Kucharski. “The models “Since the Atlantic Niño phenomenon happens the predictability of extreme atmospheric events, such oceans, in the form of air currents and ocean waves. pointed out clearly that in a global warming scenario, before the Pacific anomaly, we can use the inter-basin as strong rainfalls, floods or droughts, that affect the “If we have a warm anomaly in the Atlantic, for this Atlantic-Pacific connection is actually weaker.” connection to predict what will happen in the tropical climate in tropical and also extra-tropical regions. example,” explained Kucharski, “the air becomes Pacific after several months,” said Kucharski. “The most more unstable, and we get convective heating. It is a very well-known consequence of global warming relevant contribution of this work, I think, is the hint A few years ago, scientists began to investigate a new Then this must be compensated by a rising motion that the atmosphere cools less with height, and this that with increasing greenhouse warming the ENSO connection at a larger distance. A research group guided on a large scale, that will have to sink somewhere, has the effect of stabilizing it. “Now, overall the Earth is predictability will become more tricky in the future.” by Belen Rodriguez-Fonseca, from the University of influencing climate in other regions. Essentially, we warming, and if there is a phenomenon like the tropical Madrid, identified a link between anomalies in the Tropical can say that what goes up must come down.” Atlantic warm anomaly, additional to global warming, But the ability to predict extreme events in the Pacific Atlantic and those happening in the Eastern Pacific. Later with a more stable atmosphere, this means that an remains a major research question given its impact works confirmed this connection, showing that there is In a world that becomes warmer, extreme weather increase of convective events is less likely,” explained on seasonal climate. “The climate is so complex that actually significant evidence that some of the major El events increase in size and frequency, and being Kucharski. “This reduces the anomalous vertical each event could be actually caused by anything else Niño events have a precursor counterpart in the Atlantic. able to predict them would be an advantage velocity and then the teleconnection is weakened.” through any kind of relationship,” said Kucharski, and in risk prevention and management. the complexity of climate science gives researchers This correlation has been increasing since the 1960s, Moreover, extreme weather events in the tropics endless inputs for further investigations. and researchers started to speculate if this increase To test the influence of greenhouse warming on the are projected to increase in a global warming was connected to global warming, given that this Atlantic-Pacific connection, the authors of the paper scenario, due to the releasing in the atmosphere of “This is still a very active research area,” said is a phenomenon whose relevance has become used hundreds of already existing climate simulations more water vapour. “If we have more water vapour Kucharski, “as many questions are still open. Why more important in recent decades. The results of this organized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate in the atmosphere,” said Kucharski, “it will have an did this correlation increase in recent decades? investigation were recently published in the journal Change (IPCC) to project the impacts of global warming overwhelming effect whenever there is a convective And how are these connections influenced by Science Advances (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax4111). on climate. The authors tested the link between the event. It will rain more, and more violently.” climate variations? We still don’t know!”
16 17 Research Highlights
Open Access, Separating Curated Data ICTP researcher Jean Barbier The Data investigates alogrithms used Provides New for data reconstruction. Resource at ICTP From The Noise
When ICTP opened in 1964, one of its main goals Sitz. The long-term goal of the data sharing initiative What do you do when you have a lot of data points, which does not mean not exact.” Barbier and his was to give scientists in developing countries access is to store and curate data from all sections of ICTP and you’re trying to make sense of what they tell you? collaborators managed to establish the limits of to key resources like journals, books, networks, and as open source and easily downloadable. Which data points are noise, meaningless information reconstructing data from the GLM in a mathematically conferences. Today, computing power and datasets and fluctuations, and which represent the phenomenon rigorous way. Coming from a physics background, the are important additions to the list of key resources. A pilot project of the ICTP data sharing initiative is driven you’re interested in knowing more about? team used physics methods and mathematical proofs That’s where ICTP scientist Lina Sitz saw a way for ICTP by a team from ICTP’s Telecommunications/ICT for to establish precisely when it’s possible to use an to provide a new important tool: open access curated Development Laboratory (T/ICT4D), and its Information The generalized linear model is a flexible model that is algorithm to sort signal from noise and when it is not. data, a resource for scientists in places without large and Communication Technology Section (ICTS). used in signal detection and processing in many fields, computational capacities. With a new data sharing including digital communications, developing medical The new limits help provide a rigorous way of assessing initiative, ICTP is taking steps towards just that. “This new project is intended as a framework to help imaging techniques, or studying machine learning. specific algorithms’ success, but go beyond the binary of scientists adopt recognized best practices and standards Separating noise from signal produced through a whether a specific algorithm works or doesn’t work. The Powerful computational infrastructures like research in data publishing,” says Sitz. The goal is for the data to be generalized linear model (GLM) is a common challenge, paper identifies several phases or levels of functionality computing clusters or supercomputers are less FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. and one of ICTP’s recently hired researchers, Jean Barbier, and success. “It’s actually very similar to the phases of accessible in developing countries, requiring much “Scientists want to share their data but don’t want to has analyzed the fundamental limits of reconstructing matter in physics,” says Barbier. “It’s a bridge between more time and money to process data. In addition, take the time to make it FAIR, which is like making a data from the GLM. His work clarifies the overarching the physics of data and the physics of matter.” software used to clean or calibrate data can be library without any indexing. Having the data searchable, characteristics and power of algorithms used for data proprietary and expensive. Sharing existing data publicized, and usable on different platforms is important.” reconstruction. The results were recently published in could help remove some of these barriers to research, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. and some scientists try to make their data and model The initiative was recently awarded a Research Data outputs available already. But with no curation or Alliance grant. With luck, the data sharing initiative will “The most interesting part of this result, to me, is the publicizing, it can be difficult to find or use the data. turn into a key resource ICTP can offer scientists in generality of it, how we’ve outlined a single framework developing countries. that can be applied to lots of fields,” says Barbier. “The “Coming from Argentina, I started thinking about GLM is now used by the machine learning, signal how to connect the needs of scientists who have processing, and statistical physics communities among lower computational resources with the powerful others, it’s commonly used. But a lot of the approaches tools that can result from sharing resources,” says to data reconstruction are not mathematically rigorous,
18 19 News Briefs
Extreme ICTP Helps BRIDGES Science Climate: CUI Launch Pedro Vieira of ICTP- Diplomacy Network What Will the Master’s Degree SAIFR Receives Meets at ICTP Future Bring? Programme New Horizons Prize
Science diplomacy has played a significant role in Flash floods, heatwaves and hurricane-strength Thanks to ICTP’s help, COMSATS University Islamabad Pedro Vieira, a researcher with the South American the history of big, international research institutions winds. Is it our imagination, or is our weather (CUI) has launched a new master’s degree programme Institute for Fundamental Research (SAIFR), ICTP’s and organizations like CERN and ICTP, where becoming more extreme? And if so, will extreme in mathematics. ICTP’s Mathematics section is partner institute in Brazil, has received a prestigious New science overcomes political borders. But what weather become even more frequent in the future sponsoring and coordinating internationally recognized Horizons Prize for Early-Career Achievements in Physics. does science diplomacy practically mean, and and how certain can we be of our predictions? researchers to supplement lectures and courses. how can science organizations leverage it to their The prize is awarded annually by the Breakthrough best interests and to the interests of society? Three climate experts addressed these issues at a free “It was through the prestige of being named an ICTP Prize Foundation, which also awards its public event on Monday 8 July at ICTP. Titled “Clouds, affiliated centre, which is a programme of the ICTP namesake prize to the world’s top scientists. To answer these questions, the collaborative Extreme Weather, Global Warming: What is Happening Office of External Activities, that the leadership of BRIDGES network (Big Research Infrastructures to our Climate?”, the event gave the general public the university allocated the programme a significant Vieira, who has a joint appointment with the for Diplomacy and Global Engagement through an opportunity to see how the world’s top climate budget,” says Stefano Luzzatto, ICTP mathematician Perimeter Institute (PI) in Canada, was cited for Science) was founded by some of the world’s largest researchers study our climate and what those studies and a key figure in setting up the master’s profound contributions to the understanding of international research organizations. The informal tell us about our current and future climate. Speakers programme. Courses start in September 2019. quantum field theory. He shares the award with collaboration aims to share resources, experiences included Sandrine Bony, a senior scientist at the French Simon Caron-Hoot of McGill University, Canada. and strengths, offering practical help to its members. National Center for Scientific Research; Kerry Emanuel, a The financial support will go to fellowships for professor of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts students from Pakistan and for students from Vieira, whose research focus is on quantum field ICTP and the Vienna-based International Institute Institute of Technology; and Bjorn Stevens, a director countries belonging to the Commission on Science theory and quantum gravity, said he was honoured for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) are founding at the Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology. and Technology for Sustainable Development in the and surprised to receive the award. “It is great to members of this network; ICTP hosted the group’s South (COMSATS) organization, a brainchild of ICTP’s see one’s work recognized. I usually work with first meeting in July. The other current members “This public event was part of a two-week workshop founder Abdus Salam. The ICTP Office of External people as junior or more junior than myself and of the network include CERN, ESA, JRC, SESAME, for students and junior scientists coming from around Activities will also award up to 5 fellowships every many (to name a few: Gromov, Penedones, Sever, EMBL, ESO, ILL, ITER, SKAO, and European XFEL. the world to hear a team of 20 top scientists debate year to exceptionally well qualified applicants from Basso, Komatsu) would be as deserving of this issues relating to cloud dynamics and climate,” says developing countries, especially in the region. prize as me for sure. So I was very fortunate as well, “Today there are a number of challenges for all ICTP researcher Adrian Tompkins. “Cloud dynamics as I have been so many times in my career.” humankind, like climate change,” says Jan Marco Müller, contribute greatly to uncertainty in climate projections.” As an ICTP affiliated centre for the south Asian region, IIASA’s Acting Chief Operations Officer, who had the initial Tompkins and his colleagues use global or very fine CUI will be able to expand international research Vieira has received other prestigious science idea for BRIDGES. “There are also challenges that are resolution models of cloud dynamics to try to improve collaborations as well as strengthen the graduate prizes, including the 2017 Raymond and Beverly science- and technology-driven, and these are areas in understanding and reduce this uncertainty. programmes it offers to young mathematicians. Sackler International Prize in Physics, while in 2015 which all of our research institutions are operating, so we he was awarded a Sloan Fellowship as well as the could share our perspectives on how to communicate The new international master’s degree is European Physical Society’s Gribov Medal. with policymakers and how to get messages across.” composed of one and a half to two years of classes, capped off by a thesis of original research.
20 21 In Memoriam
Yukiya Amano Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was born in Japan and led the IAEA since 2009. He was an advocate for non-proliferation and disarmament, and was proud of the work IAEA has done to promote the use and exploration of nuclear Credits science for development purposes, Editor such as medical physics, forensics Mary Ann Williams science, and agricultural reseach. Scientific Editor/ Amano visited ICTP in 2014 for its Direttore responsabile 50th anniversary celebration. Sandro Scandolo
Statistician Giuliana Gamboz
Writers Kelsey Calhoun, Marina Menga
Photos All photos by Roberto Barnaba, except:
pg. 6–7: Tomasz Abramowicz
pg. 10–11: Alberto Colavita By ESO - http://www.eso.org/ Alberto Colavita was the head of public/images/ann13033b/, CC BY 4.0, https://commons. ICTP’s former Microprocessors wikimedia.org/w/index. Laboratory (now the Multidisciplinary php?curid=25568151 Laboratory), the first experimental pg. 18: facility at ICTP, from 1986 until BRIDGES Science Diplomacy his retirement in 2004. Network: Tommaso Tiberio
pg. 19: COMSATS: COMSATS University Islamabad
pg. 19: Pedro Vieira: Perimeter Institute
Design Jordan Chatwin
Printed by Grafica Goriziana
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