New Research Areas

In its new strategic plan, ICTP announced new research areas it will pursue in fields related to existing ones which could have significant interdisciplinary research potential, especially in their possible impact on developing countries. Those fields are:

Energy and Sustainability

Energy is a topic of key importance for developing countries, which have special needs for energy use and production. This new ICTP research area will concentrate on different sources of energy (with a focus on renewable energy) and their impact in the developing world. The area complements current activities of the Earth System Physics and Condensed Matter Physics sections, in particular the latter section's computational modelling of different materials relevant for energy conversion and storage. The hope is that such research could be implemented in collaboration with other local and national institutions.

Computing Sciences

The systematic study of algorithmic processes that create, describe, and transform information and its applications in computing systems is an ever-growing field that somehow now mirrors the role that theoretical physics used to play years ago when ICTP was founded. It has direct impact on society as a whole, and can be implemented in developing countries through improved access to computers via the internet. It is directly related to development and has important financial implications. This activity could be considered as a natural extension of the mathematics group to more applied areas. Expanding the scope of this new group to include quantum computing could also link with current research interests at ICTP and the University of Trieste.

A local cluster of computers would provide a world-class facility for the Centre's scientists and visitors. This will be needed for independent computational resources at ICTP for the existing groups (mostly Condensed Matter and Earth System Physics) and for the proposed new sections mentioned above.

Seminars

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Activities view all

Europe/Rome 2017-08-18 08:00:00 2017-08-19 22:00:00 First Regional Maker Expo of Open Technologies and Inclusive Development | (smr 2873) ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM CLOSED ON 20 JULY 2017 The ICTP Science Dissemination Unit (SDU) is organizing, together with the Scientific Fabrication Laboratory of the University of Cartagena, the First Regional Maker Expo of Open Technologies and Inclusive Development, to be held at University of Cartagena, Colombia on 18 and 19 August 2017. This regional activity is a public event aiming at emphasizing the learning and research aspects linked to the making of something new using science and innovation. This kind of exposition activities arises great interest in scholars, society and the media. They also represent good platforms to deepen the knowledge about the creative work carried out in an institution and in its surrounding region. That is why we particularly encourage exhibits that are interactive and that highlight the process of making things, making science and technology accessible to the public. Particular attention will be paid to original activities, projects, ideas and contents created to the benefit of society, which can be reproduced within a Scientific Fabrication Laboratory. IT IS REQUESTED THAT EXHIBITOR PARTICIPANTS BE PART OF A RUNNING PROJECT TO BE PRESENTED AT THE MAKER EXPO. The project should be briefly described in the application form available below and fall into one of the following categories: Science, Biology/Biotech, Physics and Chemistry projects Electronics, Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc. 3D Printers and other prototyping technologies Robotics and DIY RC Toys and Models DIY Home Automation and IoT Recycling (How to Fix Things or Take them Apart) Interactive art projects, Large-scale Art, Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.) For further information regarding the event, please write to the Local Organizers in Colombia at: makerexpo@unicartagena.edu.co Grants: Scientists and Makers from all countries that are members of the United Nations, UNESCO or IAEA, may attend the event, however, since this is a regional activity, priority will be given to those coming from Colombia and neighbouring countries. As a rule, travel and subsistence expenses of the participants should be borne by their home institution. The event is free of charge for participants and visitors. Cartagena - Colombia ICTP pio@ictp.it 18 Aug 2017 - 19 Aug 2017

» First Regional Maker Expo of Open Technologies and Inclusive Development | (smr 2873)

Europe/Rome 2017-09-16 08:00:00 2017-09-17 22:00:00 4th Trieste Mini Maker Faire | (smr 3117) Call for Makers now OPEN: Please visit http://trieste.makerfaire.com/call-makers-2017/ and submit your application within 6 August 2017 Maker Faire is the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth —a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement. It’s a place where people show what they are making, and share what they are learning. Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters to homesteaders to scientists to garage tinkerers. They are of all ages and backgrounds. The aim of Maker Faire is to entertain, inform, connect and grow this community. The original Maker Faire event was held in San Mateo, CA, almost a decade ago. Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters to homesteaders to scientists to garage tinkerers. They are the guys and the girls who, after a long day of being “just normal people” will spend most evenings and weekends in the basement, making something new, playing bravely with new technologies (no fear of computers, PCBs, robots or whatever else this crazy digital age is bringing to us). Makers are – before any label or definition– just curious people, of all ages and backgrounds, who go beyond talking and start doing, making... exactly the ones that are primarily and above all into MAKING. More than a hundred community-driven, independently organized Mini Maker Faires are being organized every year around the world. Trieste is again in this list, after being the very first Italian venue for a Mini Maker Faire in 2014. The reason to host it here is to support the many communities of makers already established or just-starting in the Triveneto region (as well as in neighbor countries), giving them an occasion to meet, to know each other better, to collaborate and grow together. Following the great success of the first Trieste Science Picnic that was “attached” to the weeekend of the 2016 TSMMF, for this 4th edition of the Trieste Mini Maker Faire we decided to merge the two events, creating the Science Picnic Village within the campus during the whole Mini Maker Faire: a special area where crazy scientists and passionate explainers will engage a public mostly of kids and young people, showing the entertaining and creative side of science with various hands-on activities, shows, labs and demos. To apply and contribute to this “event-within-the-event” you may fill the same application form for the Makers, selecting “Science Picnic” as category. For further information, please visit http://trieste.makerfaire.com ICTP ICTP pio@ictp.it 16 Sep 2017 - 17 Sep 2017

» 4th Trieste Mini Maker Faire | (smr 3117)

Europe/Rome 2017-10-09 08:00:00 2017-10-13 22:00:00 Career Development Workshop for Women in Physics | (smr 3152) ICTP ICTP pio@ictp.it 9 Oct 2017 - 13 Oct 2017

» Career Development Workshop for Women in Physics | (smr 3152)

Europe/Rome 2017-10-22 08:00:00 2017-10-24 22:00:00 Second Workshop on "Science Dissemination for the Disabled” and the follow up Scientific Fabrication Laboratories | (smr 3156) Open technologies can and should be used to create and disseminate scientific know-how for all, as well as to facilitate the access to science for disabled people. Stressing this is the rationale behind the organization of the above-mentioned Workshops. The aim of these events is to analyze new ways to establish and support the creation of SciFabLabs in remote areas in order to inspire curiosity and understanding in young scholars and new generations of scientists without any exclusion. Particular attention will be paid to innovation on existing projects and technologies to be usable by people with disabilities to study science. Affordable prototypes designated and produced within Scientific Fabrication Laboratories for that purpose will be presented together with software applications for mobile and special devices. Both activities combine in a balanced mix technical details, general overviews and sense of the possible. There will be also discussions with experts and participants about the creation of modern Scientific FabLabs and Makerspaces in developing countries designed to be open places devoted to creativity for the benefit of the whole society. Topics: - Technologies to support students with disability - Interactive mobile tools to empower disabled learners - Video lectures for impaired students - Tools developed at SciFablabs for low-vision students - SciFabLab and Makerspaces experiences - Innovative use of mobile devices to promote education for all - New applications of m-Science ICTP ICTP pio@ictp.it 22 Oct 2017 - 24 Oct 2017