ICTP in Trieste: Creative Research for Global Development an International Forum for Progress in Science

The IAEA at 30

ICTP in Trieste: Creative research for global development An international forum for progress in science

by Andr6 Hamende

The International Centre for tion (UNESCO). Italy had also and helped talented visitors from Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in offered a new buikhng, which was developing countries who, after Trieste is 7 years younger than its made available in May 1968, and a rather long periods of silence, have parent institution. It was inaugu- provisional seat until the new build- begun to write and publish during rated in 1964 after lengthy con- ing was finished. During its first their visit to the Centre in Trieste. sideration by the IAEA Board of year, the Centre welcomed 154 This is true of physicists whom I Governors and the approval of the scientists, 60 of them from know from Latin America, from the General Conference. Prof. Abdus developing countries. In 1986, Middle East, from Eastern Europe, Salam, Nobel Laureate for physics 22 years later, 3651 scientists and from Asia. It is doubtless true in 1979 along with two other distin- representing 109 countries came. of others. The Centre has become a ^uishedTieoreticiansT^STGlashowr (See accompanying laBle fdr^ focus for the mostfrunjularufleri^ and S. Weinberg, had suggested overview.) ous collaboration between experts the idea of its establishment as early ICTP's scientific reputation was from the United States and those as 1960. He has been its Director set right at the outset. Professor from the Soviet Union on the fun- since its creation. R. Oppenheimer wrote in 1965: damental problems of the instability ' 'It seems to me that the Centre ICTP started with the modest of plasmas, and of means for con- budget of US $55 000 from the has been successful in these eight or trolling it. Without the Centre in IAEA, US $278 000 from the nine months of operation in three Trieste, it seems to me doubtful that Government of Italy, and important ways. It has cultivated this collaboration would have been US $22 000 for fellowships from and produced admirable theoretical initiated or continued. In all the the United Nations Educational, physics, making it one of the great work at the Centre of which I know, Scientific and Cultural Organiza- foci for the development of fun- very high standards prevail. In less damental understanding of the than a year it has become one of the nature of matter. The Centre has leading institutions in an important, Dr Hamende is an officer at the ICTP. obviously encouraged,, stimulated difficult and fundamental field. "

Overview of ICTP activities: scientists and scientific preprints, 1964-86

Scientists Man-months Total number Preprints Countries represented Year Total % Developing Total % Developing of Total % Developing Total % Developing number country number country activities number country number country

1964-65 154 38.9 410 44 3 — — — — 1970 582 37.5 864 45 8 154 52.6 53 66 1971 885 38.5 533 60.7 8 160 78.1 68 54.4 1972 888 45.9 1 214 57.4 7 161 67.1 71 74.6 1973 878 40.5 1 258 58.7 9 194 73.2 64 73.4 1974 862 38.3 854 68.9 11 141 73.8 65 73.8 1975 928 43 1 018 65.2 12 172 82 82 75.6 1976 962 40.2 820 68.7 14 127 80.3 71 76.1 1977 1 331 48.4 1 080 71.9 14 158 68.4 92 77.2 1978 1 327 49.4 1 079 73.3 18 160 72.5 91 76.9 1979 1470 42.1 961 63.3 18 167 64.7 90 75.6 1980 1 461 42.1 1 296 76.5 22 183 80.9 93 77.1 1981 1 933 49.7 1 533 74.9 18 239 66.5 90 77.8 1982 2 139 45.7 1 749 73.1 19 236 75.8 83 75.9 1983 2 188 53 1 810 77.2 22 238 78.2 99 79.7 1984 2 082 52.2 1 870 ^- 76.2 24 249 84.3 96 79.1 1985 2 720 61.4 2 669 81.6 27 313 85 109 81.7 1986 3 651 59.7 3 820 82.3 39 401 80.5 109 78.9

50 IAEA BULLETIN, 3/1987 The IAEA at 30

Disciplines offered In the early years, the Centre focused its efforts on disciplines related to the IAEA's statutory mis- sion, that is, in nuclear and plasma physics and elementary particle physics. Condensed matter physics appeared in the Centre's curricu- lum in 1967. Thanks to UNESCO's joining the Agency as an equal part- ner in the operation of the Centre in 1970, applicable mathematics was introduced and condensed matter physics could be strengthened with two 3-year grants from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Nowadays the spectrum of scientific topics covers a very large range including:

• Physics of condensed matter ICTP today occupies a 3000-square-metre building made available by the Trieste local (condensed matter physics and authorities, with 2 lecture halls, a 30 000-book library, a cafeteria, a computer facility, related; atomic and molecular and 80 office rooms. An additional building, equal in size and presently under construction, will be ready for occupancy In about 2 years. Another building, a former elementary physics; material science) school, has been rented for housing the microprocessor laboratory. • Fundamental physics (high- (Credit: Bernardy for IAEA) energy and particle physics; relativ- ity; cosmology and astrophysics) • Physics and energy (nuclear physics; plasma physics and nuclear fusion; solar energy; wind energy, and others) • Mathematics (applicable mathematics; system analysis; mathematics of development, mathematics in industry; algebra; geometry; topology differential equations; analysis and mathematical physics) • Physics and environment (geophysics; soil physics; climato- logy and meteorology; physics of the oceans; physics of desertifica- tion, and physics of the atmosphere, troposphere, magne- tosphere, aeronomy) • Physics teaching • Physics of the living state (neu- rophysics; biophysics and medical external activities; and training in 28% of the total. The majority of physics) Italian laboratories. the 400 preprints issued in 1986 • Applied physics (physics in Research is carried out through- originate from this group. Other industry; microprocessors; com- out the year in elementary particle research groups in low-power laser munications instrumentation; syn- physics, condensed matter physics, and in plasma physics are planned. chrotron radiation; non-destructive and mathematics by members of the Training for research activities evaluation; lasers and computa- scientific staff and visiting scien- includes extended high-level tional physics) tists with the collaboration of the courses and workshops, confer- • Physics of space faculty of the Department of ences, and topical meetings in all Physics and of the International the disciplines listed above. Their Programme components School for Advanced Studies of the average duration is of the order of The present programme covers University of Trieste. In terms of 3 weeks; some may last as long as research; training for research; man-months, research accounts for 10 weeks while. others last just

IAEA BULLETIN, 3/1987 61 The IAEA at 30

1 week. There are now 35 of these placed for periods of the order of The third is the Synchrotron meetings each year, whereas 10 months.* Experimental research Light Radiation Laboratory, the 15 years ago there were only 3 or can be done in a wide range of sub- facilities of which will be accessible 4. In 1986, 3091 scientists (1705 jects: low-power laser, optical to scientists from developing coun- from developing countries) took fibres, nonconventional energy, tries. It is headed by Prof. Carlo part in them. geophysics, meteorology, nuclear Rubbia, Nobel Laureate for This component of the Centre's physics and many others. Since the Physics in 1984, and is expected to programme plays an essential role inception of the programme, 207 start functioning in about 5 years. in the transferring of the science scientists have benefited from the underlying technology from the scheme. International links North to the South. It gives scien- In 23 years, ICTP has considera- tists from developing countries Other scientific enterprises bly expanded its international links, opportunities to learn about the both at the individual and at the latest developments in their own The Centre's reputation and institutional level, through its speciality and to meet the finest success has provided a stimulus for associateship and federation international experts for discussion other scientific enterprises in schemes. Associate members are and for further collaboration. Trieste. The first of them is the International School for Advanced scientists from, and working in, The third component of the Studies (ISAS), an autonomous developing countries who have the programme, the Office of External department of the University of right of paying 3 scientific visits to Activities, was established in 1985 Trieste, founded in 1978 by Profes- the Centre in 6 years for periods of through a special contribution of sor Paolo Budinich, former Deputy 6 weeks to 3 months. Associates the Dipartimento p_er_Ja_Coope_ra^_ Director of the Centre, and the are selected by the Scientific-Coun- zione allo Sviluppo of the Italian moving spirit of those who brought cil of the Centre. The scheme was Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in ICTP to Trieste. ISAS is a graduate created in 1964 as a measure to order to encourage scientists from school and awards the degrees of combat the brain drain. It provides the Third World to build up scien- M.Sc. and Ph.D. in several special- regular opportunities for scientists tific communities in their home ities of physics and mathematics. A in developing countries to renew countries. It provides financial and conspicuous fraction of its students their contact with science in intellectual support to selected is from developing countries. progress, with new ideas on which meetings, schools, conferences, The second is the new Interna- they can elaborate once they are and research workshops in the tional Centre for Genetic Engineer- back home. The Centre had four developing countries. In 1986, 54 ing and Biotechnology (ICGEB), associate members in 1964; they such activities were sponsored in created under the aegis of the numbered 349 in 1986. 23 countries. Some activities which United Nations Industrial Develop- Some of these associates with are normally held at the Centre are ment Organization (UNIDO). exceptional scientific records may replicated, with some adjustments, Operation starts this summer. be appointed as senior associates in the developing countries them- ICGEB has in fact two seats, one in for 5 years. A fixed sum is reserved selves under the auspices of the Trieste and one in New Delhi, for them out of which they can same office. The workshop on India. Its creation, modelled on draw for subsidizing their visits to microprocessors is one of these and ICTP, was suggested by the former the Centre. The title of honorary is held every second year in a Secretary-General of UNIDO, associate has also been awarded in developing country. It was held in Mr Abd-El Rahman Khane, after a a very few cases. A quarter of the Hefei, China, in 1986 and will be visit to Trieste. 1986 preprints was produced by the held in Yamoussoukro, Cote associates. d'lvoire, in 1988. These workshops For younger scientists, the involve the shipment of some 2 tons * The microprocessor laboratory uses the Centre has set up the junior of computer equipment for the same equipment needed for the workshops on the physics and technology of associateship, which provides small practical demonstrations. microprocessors. It welcomes scientists grants for purchasing scientific The fourth component is the from the Third World wishing to develop books or subscriptions to periodi- training of experimentalists in their microprocessor-based systems projects cals. Junior associates are eligible for subsequent implementation in their home Italian laboratories, which started country. It is operated in conjunction with for appointment as a regular asso- in 1983. As ICTP has no permanent the Department of Experimental Physics of ciate after their 4-year appoint- experimental facilities except for the University of Trieste and of the Instituto ments; this is not, however, the microprocessor laboratory, it Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare of Italy. Other automatic. has concluded agreements with temporary laboratories are created as a back- up to extended courses, e.g. for low-power Federation agreements are the some 150 Italian university labora- laser physics, fibre optics, and others with instrument for contacts with institu- tories where experimental physi- equipment received on loan from universi- tions, i.e. physics and mathematics cists from developing countries are ties or research institutions. departments in universities or

62 IAEA BULLETIN, 3/1987 The IAEA at 30

Qatar, United States, and several ICTP: International links international organizations. It is remarkable that ICTP has Year 1964 1970 1980 1984 1985 1986 1987 expanded since 1970 (by a factor of about 4.5) in a period of imperative Number of associate members since 1964 "zero-growth" in the UN family of Regular 4 44 70 206 266 349 313 international organizations. The Senior — — 22 40 47 47 31 Junior — 11 34 75 96 119 122 reasons for this success are the Honorary — — 2 3 3 4 5 scientific standard set by its Direc- tor, its efficiency in transferring the Number of federation agreements since 1964 science which is at the roots of Number of 8 16 55 103 137 196 264 technology so much needed by the agreements Third World, its cost-effectiveness, and the support and response from the world scientific community research centres in developing inflation in Italy was a two-digit from countries of the North and countries, whereby each of these figure from 1972-85. If one takes South alike. Each year, for institutions may send their younger inflation into account, 1970 prices instance, several Nobel Prize scientists on a cost-sharing basis for (in Italian lira) have to be multi- Laureates visit the Centre. Other 40 to 120 days, depending on the plied by a factor of eight. Account- prominent visitors have included location of the institution itself with ing for inflation, it is worth noting the Secretary-General of the United respect to Trieste. This arrange- that the overall cost of one man- Nations, Mr J. Perez de Cuellar; ment provides the opportunity to month for one scientist has the Italian Minister for Foreign take part in any of the Centre's remained essentially the same — Affairs, Mr Giulio Andreotti; and programmes of interest to the approximately US $2900 at 1987 the Italian Minister for Scientific federated institutions. The Centre prices. (See table.) and Technological Research, Mr has concluded 264 such Luigi Granelli. It is in fact thanks to Other contributions were agreements. the extraordinary generosity of the received from many other sources. host government that the Centre has Three of them were crucial for the reached the present level of Financial aspects survival of the Centre in the 1960s activity.* and early 1970s: the Ford Founda- ICTP's regular annual budget is tion, UNDP, and the Swedish made up of contributions from the International Development Agency "Significant" contributions IAEA, UNESCO, and the Italian (SIDA) in support of the associate- Government. From an annual ship and extended courses The Centre's programmes and budget of US $355 000 the budget programme. The Swedish grant is modes of operation were reviewed has grown, in 1987, to about still active and is presently handled by independent ad-hoc committees US $13 million, i.e. a factor of 36! by the Swedish Agency for This calls for clarification. Most Research Co-operation with * In addition to the basic operational fund- expenditures are in Italian lira, and Developing Countries (SAREC). ing being provided, the Dipartimento per la during this time, the US $/lira The Centre's budget has also been Cooperazione allo Sviluppo of the Italian exchange rate — which was very augmented by contributions from Ministry for Foreign Affairs provides sub- stable until the early 1970s at 620 Canada, Denmark, Federal Repub- stantial funding for various activities carried lic of Germany, Iran, Japan, out at the Centre and in developing coun- lira to the dollar — went as high as tries, and for the programme of visits to 2000-to-l in 1985. Moreover, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Italian laboratories.

ICTP cost effectiveness

Cost per Exchange Budget in Cost per Budget Scientists man-month in rate constant lira man-month Year in US $ in lira (man-months) current US $ (lira/1 US $) (Base: 1986) in lira (US $1 = 1295 lira)

1970 650 000 403 000 000 620 3 252 210 000 864 3 764 000 2907 1986 9 446 000 13 791160 000 1460 13 791 160 000 3820 3 610 000 2788

Notes: The ratio of the 1986 to the 1970 budget, after correction for the impact of inflation and exchange rate fluctuations, is 4.25. The ratio of total scientist man-months for 1986 in relation to 1970 is 4.42.

IAEA BULLETIN, 3/1987 63 The IAEA at 30

"(T)he Committee would like to put on record its profound admira- tion for the remarkable achievements of the Centre during the period under review...The Centre has operated with a very small permanent scientific staff and has worked to a very tight budget. It has made a very significant contribution to research of the highest qual- ity in the physical sciences at the international level; it has provided opportunities for a large number of physicists from developing countries to maintain their activities in this international field in such a way that it has also enhanced the contribution which they could make in their home countries; in recent years it has taken specific action to ICTP annually awards the DIrac Medal for significant achievements. Prof. Yoichiro Nambu of stimulate the growth of scientific China (left) is shown here receiving the 1986 award from ICTP Director Abdus Salam (center) communities within the developing and^Prof. Herwig Schopper, Director General of_CEBN in Geneva. Also receiving the 1986 countries—themselves and—the medal was Prof. A. Polyakov of the USSR. involvement of these communities with the development process. Individuals and organizations from over one hundred different coun- appointed by the Directors General physics of the living state, and a tries have been involved in this of the IAEA and UNESCO in 1963, strengthening of the atomic, remarkably harmonious exercise. 1974, and 1983. Each meeting molecular, and laser physics com- Thus, in a wider context, the activi- had an important impact on ponent. The last one, chaired by the ties of the Centre can be read as an activities. The first of them, late Prof. P. Matthews, focused on impressive example of international presided over by Prof. H. Casimir the need for a continuity of scien- collaboration, which redounds from Netherlands, recommended tific staff, for training facilities for greatly to the credit of its two inter- the introduction of mathematics and experimentalists in Italian laborato- national sponsors, IAEA and condensed matter physics as regu- ries and/or in small laboratories to UNESCO and to the Italian lar segments of the Centre's be set up at the Centre, and for Government. We would also like to activity. The second, headed by helping to build up scientific com- express our appreciation of the wis- Prof. L. Van Hove of the European munities in the Third World dom shown by the IAEA, UNESCO, Centre for Research (CERN), through appropriate action. The and the Italian Government for recommended a further extension concluding remarks of the last providing the basic financial sup- of the programme to other review committee were particularly port which has made this disciplines, such as geophysics and encouraging: programme possible''.

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