In Memoriam

ICTP was deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of Eduardo Ponton, a faculty member of ICTP's partner institute in Brazil, the South American Institute for Fundamental Research (ICTP-SAIFR).

Ponton was one of ICTP-SAIFR's first permanent faculty members. He received his PhD in 2000 from the University of Maryland under the supervision of Markus Luty. He then completed postdoctoral research at Yale University and then Fermilab before becoming a professor at Columbia University in 2004. Eduardo coauthored several important works on high energy particle physics uncovering important features of supersymmetry breaking and extra dimensions.

"All of us who knew him are very sad for the news. He was an excellent physicist and human being, was our first hire in ICTP-SAIFR and had been a wonderful colleague and friend. He will be deeply missed," said ICTP Director Fernando Quevedo.

Giovanni Villadoro, of ICTP's High Energy, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics section, recalls Ponton's determination to continue working as co-organizer of ICTP-SAIFR's first school on particle physics, in spite of his debilitating medical condition.

"This initiative started from him, and the event was a great success. Indeed, we planned to organize it again next year, I hope we manage to make the event survive after him. At the time he was already fighting his illness .... everybody was impressed and inspired to witness his strength and dedication. He will not be forgotten," said Villadoro.