Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics and Vietnam Science: 60 years of cooperation and building the future

26/12/2024
On its 60th anniversary, on November 29 and 30, 2024 in Hanoi, Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) collaborated with two type 2 centers sponsored by UNESCO, the International Center for Mathematics Research and Training and the International Center for Physics at Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), organizing the event "Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics and Vietnam Science: Celebrating 60 years of cooperation and building the future". The event is an opportunity for Vietnamese alumni, scientists and policymakers to look back on the important contributions of ICTP to Vietnamese science over the past 60 years, and at the same time open up many potential prospects for future cooperation.

Overview of the event

The International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) is an international research center in physics and mathematics founded in 1964 by Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist Abdus Salam. ICTP serves as an important bridge between scientists around the world, especially scientists from developing countries. ICTP is a type 1 center of UNESCO and is located in the city of Trieste, Italy. ICTP's operations are funded by the Nobel Prize of Abdus Salam, the Government of Italy and Unesco.

ICTP's main activities include: (1) Training programs: ICTP offers a wide range of training, from short-term courses to doctoral programs, covering fields such as high-energy physics, solid state physics, mathematics, geophysics and computer science; (2) Conferences and seminars: ICTP organizes hundreds of scientific conferences and seminars every year, attracting the participation of the world's leading scientists; (3) Cooperation programs: ICTP collaborates with universities, research institutes and other international organizations to build research and training centers in developing countries.

ICTP has a proud history of cooperation with Vietnamese science. ICTP has helped many Vietnamese scientists develop and maintain their scientific research careers. Through many stages, the Center has supported more than 1500 Vietnamese scientists to attend conferences, seminars and training programs of the Center. Many Vietnamese physicists and mathematicians have been associate members, postdoctoral researchers, students in the "Federation scheme" exchange program and especially participated in ICTP's Diploma Program. In the 1980s and 1990s, ICTP was one of the very few "windows to the world" forof Vietnamese scientists. ICTP helps many young scientists mature and serves as a bridge for Vietnamese scientists to participate in scientific networks and research collaborations with scientists from all over the world. This has really helped the development and integration of Vietnamese science into world science. In particular, with the recent establishment of two type 2 centers under the auspices of UNESCO, International Center for Mathematics Research and Training and the International Center for Physics at Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), the cooperation between ICTP and the Vietnamese scientific community has been further strengthened.

Particularly for VAST, there are many special staff from the Institute of Mathematics and the Institute of Physics who have come to ICTP to attend scientific activities at this International Center. Leading professors such as Prof. Nguyen Van Hieu, Prof. Nguyen Van Dao, Prof. Dao Vong Duc, Prof. Ha Huy Khoai, Prof. Ngo Viet Trung and Prof. Le Tuan Hoa have actively participated in many activities of ICTP. One of ICTP's significant contributions to VAST is that it has provided financial support for many scientific activities in Vietnam such as international conferences and classes co-organized by specialized institutes, especially for many years ICTP has provided financial support for the Vietnam School of Physics (VSOP organized by the Institute of Physics and Rencontre du Vietnam) to welcome invited lecturers as well as foreign students to Vietnam to attend the class.

VAST has signed an MOU with ICTP on bilateral cooperation, including the regular organization of regional classes in Vietnam rotating according to the topics of Math, Physics, Energy, Earth Science, etc.; exchange scientific publications and support scientists to develop their research careers.

The research areas at VAST that have received significant support from ICTP are: Physics (Institute of Physics); Mathematics and mechanics (Institute of Mathematics, Institute of Mechanics); and Earth Sciences (Institute of Geophysics, Institute of Geography). Most recently, the ICTP Director was a member of the Executive Board of the UNESCO Type 2 Centres for Mathematics and Physics established at VAST Institute of Mathematics and Institute of Physics. 

Prof. Dr. Tran Tuan Anh, Vice President of VAST, speaking at the event 

Speaking at the Celebration, Prof. Dr. Tran Tuan Anh, Vice President of VAST, emphasized that for many years, ICTP has been a consistent partner of VAST in its journey to promote science in Vietnam, especially with ICTP's recent valuable support for two UNESCO-funded centers at VAST – the International Centre for Physics (ICP) and the International Centre for Mathematical Research and Training (ICRTM). These two centers have become two of VAST's pillars of excellence in science, nurturing talent and fostering groundbreaking research. This long-term partnership has made important contributions to the Vietnamese scientific community, improving human capacity in the fields of natural sciences and related fields, and bringing Vietnamese science into the global network. Prof. Dr. Tran Tuan Anh highly appreciated ICTP's contributions to Vietnamese science and congratulated ICTP on its achievements on the global network. The Vice President expressed that as we look to the future, VAST is committed to continuing to strengthen cooperation with ICTP, contributing to promoting research and fostering the next generation of scientists in Vietnam.

Prof. Atish Dabholkar, ICTP Director, speaking at the event 

Prof. Atish Dabholkar, Director of ICTP, expressed his pleasure to be present at the event. He hoped that young Vietnamese scientists would become more confident and develop further in scientific research, saying and ICTP is always ready to support them.  

Within the framework of the event, there was also a scientific conference with seven07 reports on the results of cooperation and research between universities and research institutes of Vietnam and ICTP. Rapporteurs from Institute of Geophysics (VAST), Institute of Physics (VAST), University of Natural Sciences, Hanoi National University (VNU), Quy Nhon University, Phenikaa University; In addition, there were two lectures of Prof. Ngo Bao Chau (University of Chicago and Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics), and Prof. Dam Thanh Son (University of Chicago).

Some other photos at the event:

Ambassador Marco DELLA SETA delivered a speech

Prof. Ngo Viet Trung delivered a speech

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Xuan Hoang, Institute of Physics delivered a speech

Delegates attending the souvenir photo ceremony

 

   

    

   

Scientists report at the event 

Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version

 

 

 

 

 



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