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ICTP maintains a programme of prestigious physics and mathematics prizes that honor top physicists and mathematicians, especially those from developing countries.
Its Dirac Medal, one of the most prestigious medals in the field of theoretical physics, can be considered as a barometer for future success: eight medallists have proceeded to win Physics Nobel Prizes.
ICTP's prize ceremonies, celebrated throughout the year, are occasions for esteemed scientists to visit ICTP, present their work, and interact with ICTP’s community of scholars and students. The winners of the prizes awarded by ICTP become role models for young researchers around the world and active members of ICTP’s global scientific network.
Some of the ICTP prizes are named to honor the scientific contributions from the global South. These include the ICTP-IBM Brahmagupta AI Prize for Early Career Scientists, and the ICTP-IMU Ramanujan Prize in mathematics. This choice exemplifies ICTP’s founding principle that scientific endeavours are the shared creation and heritage of all humankind.
P.A.M. Dirac
First awarded in 1985, the Dirac Medal is given in honor of P.A.M. Dirac, one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century and a staunch friend of the Centre. It is awarded annually on Dirac's birthday, 8 August, to scientists who have made significant contributions to theoretical physics.
The ICTP Prize was created in 1982 by the ICTP Scientific Council to recognize outstanding and original contributions in physics by young scientists from, and working in, developing countries.
Prof. Gallieno Denardo
The ICO/ICTP Gallieno Denardo Award recognizes the work of young researchers from developing countries who are active in optics and photonics research and have contributed to the promotion of research activities in in their own or another developing country.
Srinivasa Ramanujan
The Prize is awarded annually to a researcher from a developing country who is less than 45 years of age on 31 December of the year of the award, and who has conducted outstanding research in a developing country.
Walter Kohn
The Prize, jointly instituted and co-funded by ICTP and the Quantum ESPRESSO Foundation, is awarded biennially to a young scientist for outstanding contributions in the field of quantum-mechanical materials and molecular modeling.
Abdus Salam
An award honouring the spirit of ICTP's founder.
Brahmagupta
An ICTP-IBM annual prize for the best early-career researcher working in AI for Science/Science for AI.