Unification of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics into a coherent theory of Quantum Gravity has been one of the outstanding challenges in theoretical physics. Such a framework is necessary for understanding the structure of spacetime in extreme conditions where quantum gravity effects are important, for example, in the vicinity of a black hole or the big bang singularity. String theory offers one of the most promising approaches towards such a theory that has the potential to unify all known elementary particles and fundamental interactions into a single framework.
ICTP's theorists have made important contributions in these explorations. Some of the key areas of research include the physics of quantum black holes, strongly coupled quantum field theories, string compactifications, topological string theory and connections with new mathematics, and the fundamental principles of the holographic correspondence.
