SAND Honors

Professor Giuliano Panza, head of the Structure and Non-Linear Dynamics of the Earth (SAND) Group at ICTP, has been awarded the Honorary Medal of the Egyptian National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), "in appreciation for fundamental scientific contributions for the better understanding of dynamics of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system, developing realistic seismic hazard assessment methodologies and earthquake prediction," said NRIAG Chairman Professor Hatem Odah.

Odah also cited the critical role of Panza, the late Professor Vladimir Keilis-Borok, and the entire SAND Group in advancing not only scientific research but also "scientific knowledge transfer and exchange with developing countries."

Receiving the medal was "an enormous surprise and honor for me," Panza said.  "This medal is given to me but it acknowledges the activity of a very large group of people who produced an intense cooperation with Egyptian scientists, including those working within SAND."

Panza and Keilis-Borok began the Physics of the Solid Earth Laboratory at ICTP in 1982, and in 1991 SAND grew out of this programme.  The two main research areas of the SAND Group are the non-linear dynamics of the Earth's lithosphere, originally led by Keilis-Borok, and the structure of the earth with application to seismic and volcanic risk mitigation, led by Panza. The research of the SAND Group applies mathematics to the problem of predicting earthquakes and modeling their outcome to provide decision makers with information to assess hazards and risks.  The group's work has led to over 450 publications thus far.

Egyptian scientists first became part of the SAND Group in 2000 with the collaboration of ICTP Associate Attia El Sayed.  "With Attia, we have been able to compose a strong network that led to a quite continuous advanced common research activity for more than a decade, involving several young scientists in solution of urgent geophysical problems," Panza said.

The collaborations begun with El Sayed, who passed away in 2003, are continued today, for example in the School on Advanced Modeling of Seismic Hazard in Africa, held from 24-29 October and supported by ICTP's SAND Group.

"The exciting scientific collaboration between Egypt and Italy has very ancient roots, back to even before Ptolemaic times, and I am very happy that the present interaction represents a contribution to the continuation of such understanding, so strongly needed in our times," Panza said.  "The medal affirms the recognition of the SAND work carried out over these last 20 years and thus the recognition of ICTP's goals, in this case very beneficial research for Egypt."