ICTP: A Year in Review 1 2020: A Year in Review 2 Contents Foreword 4 Science During a Pandemic 6 ICTP Research 8 ICTP Impact 16 2020 Timeline 20 Governance 30 Donors 31 Scientific and Administrative Staff 2020 32 2020: A Year in Review The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics Compiled by the ICTP Public Information Office Designed by Jordan Chatwin Photos: Roberto Barnabà, ICTP Photo Archives, unless otherwise specified Public Information Office The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Strada Costiera, 11 I – 34151 Trieste Italy e-mail: [email protected] www.ictp.it ISSN 1020–7007 3 Foreword Looking back on the unusual year of 2020 throughs at the frontiers of science. We is an occasion for reflection as well as for will aim to expand a broader ‘International renewed optimism. The trying circum- Science Alliance’ that can help overcome stances of the pandemic have underlined the barriers of geography, gender, class or the magnitude of some of the great chal- ethnicity by building capacity in advanced lenges facing the world, as well as the im- sciences, especially in developing coun- portance of science in addressing them tries, through novel initiatives for online effectively and the need for international and regional connectivity. We will seek to cooperation transcending geographic bor- increase ICTP’s role as an international fo- ders. It was also an occasion to witness cal point for scientific research, education, the enormous goodwill that ICTP enjoys and outreach, with active engagement in around the world. ICTP has a unique global science advocacy and international coop- mandate and therefore a special responsi- eration. bility in this regard to play a leading role in promoting `Science without Borders’ in the The pandemic starkly brought home the years to come. importance of ICTP’s mission in a world that faces new obstacles that can accentuate On this backdrop, ICTP’s new five-year fragmentation and the intellectual isolation Strategic Plan was presented to and en- of scientists. ICTP successfully continued thusiastically endorsed by its Scientific its Postgraduate Diploma Programme with Council and approved by its Steering Com- students coming in from more than 30 mittee in November. The plan was in the different countries to the Trieste campus. making for almost a year, building upon We also continued successfully online with input from the entire ICTP community to most of our major scientific schools and identify priority areas important for the fu- conferences. It was heartening to see this ICTP Director Atish Dabholkar at ture success of ICTP. resolve and resilience under difficult cir- the 2020 Postgraduate Diploma Programme graduation ceremony. cumstances. I am proud of ICTP’s scientists Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the The new Strategic Plan emphasises ICTP’s and staff who have worked tirelessly to ceremony was held as a hybrid event, with most students following special global mission to promote scientif- ensure that ICTP maintains its level of ex- the ceremony online. A small ic excellence around the world, especially cellence and engagement with the global number of faculty and student in developing countries, and to bridge the community of scientists, especially those representatives attended in person, following strict guidelines for social knowledge divide and advance internation- from disadvantaged countries. distancing and wearing masks. al cooperation. In the coming five years, we will aim to enhance the nurturing environ- Atish Dabholkar ment at ICTP to enable even greater sci- Director, ICTP entific accomplishments and new break- 4 5 Science During a Pandemic: How the ICTP Community Rose to the Challenge As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world in 2020, ICTP took swift action to protect its staff and visitors from the growing international health emergency. By early March, the institute had suspended all on- site activities and staff began teleworking. Courses for Postgraduate Diploma students became 100% virtual, with professors teaching online from their home offices or living rooms. Science for Policy COVID Prevention Science Never Sleeps Adapting to Abrupt Staying Connected ICTP took additional steps to ensure that its ICTP on regional COVID ICTP SciFabLab creates How ICTP’s partner Changes ICTP scientists find scientific community could remain connected data task force informing facial shields for local institutes prevail ICTP’s Diploma innovative way to and overcome isolation as the world entered policymakers civil protection agency during COVID-19 students on studying create virtual, random national lockdowns. It quickly embraced online, during a pandemic encounters interactive platforms like Zoom to deliver its seminars and colloquia, providing expanded, Researchers in ICTP’s Quantitative ICTP’s SciFabLab, a hub of do- In the face of enormous challenges They arrived at ICTP in August ICTP is well known for its ability to interactive access to ICTP’s rich programme Life Sciences (QLS) section it-yourself innovation, put their with the COVID-19 pandemic, 2019, eager to embark on a year bring scientists together, whether of lectures by staff scientists and invited participated in a regional scientific expertise to work in response to ICTP’s partner institutes in Brazil, of intense academic study. By it is in a lecture hall, a corridor or at speakers (all colloquia were recorded and can task force to ensure the integrity a scarcity of personal protection China, Mexico and Rwanda have spring 2020, ICTP’s Postgraduate its beloved coffee bar. When the be watched on ICTP’s YouTube channel). While of data being used in efforts to equipment for local civil protection discovered ways to overcome the Diploma students found themselves COVID pandemic made impromptu, most of ICTP’s Scientific Calendar activities fight the spread of the coronavirus. workers on the frontlines of difficulties imposed by lockdowns in lockdown as the COVID-19 encounters impossible, ICTP (conferences, schools and workshops) for Matteo Marsili, head of the QLS the COVID-19 pandemic. After and social distancing. But longer- pandemic took hold. Isolated from researcher Mehrdad Mirbabayi 2020 were postponed or cancelled, some, like section, and his colleague Jacopo consulting its Maker community as term consequences loom: “As their classmates and professors, devised a virtual solution. the Summer School on Superstring Theory Grilli used models to simulate well as technical assistants from universities and institutes across the not to mention their families and Related Topics, went online as well, the consequences of policies Trieste Hospital, the Lab produced country go virtual, researchers are thousands of kilometres away, the offering livestreamed talks by the world’s aimed at reducing the number of 90 re-useable facial shields. scrambling to protect their funding students relied on perseverance Read more ↗ top string theorists to some 149 registered infections. Their goal, and that and their careers,” said Zhang Min, and virtual learning to continue participants from 32 countries plus thousands of the task force, was to help coordinator of the ICTP-Asia Pacific their studies. Read how ICTP helped more who watched the proceedings online. policymakers find ways to intervene Read more ↗ (ICTP-AP) in Beijing. Read how the the young scholars cope with the ahead of COVID-19 infections, to four partner institutes have coped. pandemic restrictions by minimizing “The mission of a global institute like ICTP minimize the enormous social and interruptions to their learning. Photo: A coordinator of a perhaps has an even greater relevance economic disruption caused by local civil protection agen- and urgency in this crisis, which could outbreaks. “It’s important to give cy inspects the SciFabLab ↗ facial shields. Photo credit: Read more accentuate intellectual isolation in different an informed view to policymakers, unknown. Read more ↗ parts of the world,” said ICTP Director Atish with a clear quantification of Dabholkar, adding, “Perhaps this adversity the uncertainties so that they Photo: ICTP Diploma is also an opportunity to think of new ways understand what data are needed students (clockwise from to deliver on this mission. Using interactive to monitor the situation,” says Grilli. top left): Prakash Timsina, Muhammad Saleem, Amna technology is one way ICTP can help diminish Mohsin Abdalla and Vali- the intellectual isolation many of us are soa Rakotonirinjanahary. experiencing during this coronavirus crisis.” Read more ↗ Image credit: Markus Spiske, Unsplash 6 7 ICTP Research ICTP Research in Numbers 2020 In spite of the upheaval caused by the COVID Number of Number of pandemic, ICTP research flourished in 2020. A Mathematics researchers countries record 546 papers were published, representing a ICTP’s Mathematics section empha- represented 7% increase over the number of papers published sizes two core functions: the creation Staff, consultants, by ICTP researchers in 2019. ICTP is proud of its of new mathematical knowledge and by ICTP longterm visiting long research tradition, which began in 1964 when its global dissemination, in particular scientists, researchers Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam founded the centre. to developing countries. Research by postdoctoral fellows Over the decades, ICTP has stayed true to its ICTP’s mathematicians reflects the im- 166 40 roots, maintaining a strong presence of theoretical portant synergy between mathemat- physics research. At the same time,