Spirit of Abdus Salam Remembered

Related link: photos of the ceremony

ICTP founder Abdus Salam is perhaps most remembered for his contributions to physics, which culminated in his sharing the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics. Yet Salam's humanitarian achievements are just as important, and he dedicated his life promoting the development of science and technology in disadvantaged parts of the world.

His vision continues through ICTP's activities, and particularly through the efforts of outstanding scientists and staff members who maintain the high standards that Salam set when he founded ICTP in 1964. In 2014--the 50th anniversary of the Centre--Salam's family established the Spirit of Abdus Salam Award to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a strong dedication to Salam's vision.

The recipients for the 2015 award were honoured at a ceremony held at ICTP on 14 August. They are:

• Luciano Bertocchi: ICTP has been the focal point of Luciano Bertocchi's working life since he began his career and he has been instrumental to its success and long-term growth. He served as ICTP's Deputy Director for more than a decade and Acting Director from 1994 until 1995. After his retirement in 1997, he has continued to offer his expertise and advice to ICTP as a scientific consultant. He has been one of the cornerstones for ICTP's involvement in medical physics, culminating in its Master's Programme in Medical Physics which was inaugurated in February 2014.
• Giuseppe Furlan: Giuseppe Furlan has been collaborating with ICTP since its inception, initially for particle physics activities and subsequently in the field of environmental sciences and renewable energies, organizing at ICTP a regular and vigorous programme of workshops and conferences. In 1983,  Furlan initiated the Training and Research in Italian Laboratories (TRIL) programme, one of ICTP's most successful achievements. He served as head of TRIL until 2009. In 2006 he was awarded the Ravani-Pellati prize for physics, given by the Science Academy of Turin, for his outstanding contributions to scientific research and international cooperation.
• Yu Lu: Yu Lu led ICTP's Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics (CMSP) section from 1986 until 2001. The award recognizes his lifelong statesmanship in theoretical physics and his tireless work bringing together the world's condensed matter physics community, especially supporting young and isolated scientists. As head of CMSP he consolidated a strong research group and organized world-celebrated international conferences. He was awarded the 2007 Tate Medal of the American Institute of Physics.
• Chao-Zheng Zha: Professor Zha has conducted both teaching and research at Xinjiang University since 1980. He has advocated for improvement of the education level of ethnic minorities in science in order for them to pursue careers in physics. His students of minority nationalities -- and students of those students -- now work in universities, middle schools and high schools throughout the Xinjiang province and China, reflecting his huge contribution to physics education in the country. He hosted Abdus Salam's first visit to China, and has been in close contact with ICTP for many years, promoting scientists from the Xinjiang province.