News from ICTP Autumn—Winter 2019 04 Features
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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 News from ICTP is a bi-annual publication designed to keep scientists and staff informed on past 18 Open Access, Curated Data and future activities at ICTP and initiatives in their Provides New Resource at ICTP home countries. The text may be reproduced freely with due credit to the source. 19 Separating The Data From The Noise ICTP on the web: www.ictp.it Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Instagram 20 News Briefs ICTP Public Information Office Strada Costiera, 11 22 In Memoriam I-34151 Trieste Italy [email protected] 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.