A Bright Beginning

The ICTP community warmly welcomed 37 young scientists and mathematicians from 20 countries who have recently arrived to begin the Centre’s Postgraduate Diploma Programme. A welcome ceremony took place on Thursday 8 September, during which the students introduced themselves to an audience of ICTP staff and researchers.

In his greetings to the students, ICTP Director Fernando Quevedo highlighted the many benefits of the programme, which has successfully prepared hundreds of students for the rigors of doctoral studies. "As a Diploma student at ICTP, you will learn to be disciplined. You will be challenged as never before, but will have the opportunity to raise your knowledge to the highest level possible," he said. He added that it was important for the students to share their knowledge with each other, and to take advantage of their time at ICTP to learn about other research fields.

Since its inception in 1991, the Diploma Programme has seen 789 students complete the intense, year-long course of study in high energy physics, condensed matter physics, earth system physics and mathematics. Some 76% of alumni have gone on to earn PhDs, and more than half of those have returned to their home countries.

Pictures from the ceremony are available on ICTP's Flickr page. Over the next few weeks, ICTP will feature interviews with some of the new students, highlighting their hopes and dreams for a future in science.