Adapting to Abrupt Changes

Social distancing and self isolation are powerful tools we can all use to protect each other from the indiscriminate Coronavirus causing a global pandemic. But as ICTP’s Diploma students have found, it requires some adaptation to the new circumstances, especially when it comes to learning. The changes to ICTP’s intense Postgraduate Diploma Programme in response to the COVID-19 crisis are considerable, but the Diploma students are optimistic and ready to continue  their studies and their science. 

Italy, ICTP's host country and one of the worst COVID-19 affected countries, has been under lockdown for three weeks now. As concerns mounted and cases spread, the ICTP Diploma coordinators faced a difficult question: should Diploma students remain in Trieste to continue their studies online, or should they return home? “We gave them the possibility to choose,” says Paolo Creminelli, ICTP scientist and overall coordinator of the Diploma programme. “Most of them decided to stay. At a certain point we had to take tough decisions without really knowing what is better for the students.” 

ICTP has taken action to support the students’ health: salaries were increased to make up for the loss of meals available at ICTP, the students’ health insurance was upgraded, and psychological counseling is available. “They are stressed, as we all are, but on top of that they are alone, in a foreign country and the idea of ending up in a hospital is even more frightening in these conditions,” explains Creminelli. In addition, all of the students’ home countries may be especially vulnerable to coronavirus. “They are also worried about the situation at home, since it is possible the virus will hit hard in developing countries. But we talk with them every day, and most are doing ok and try to focus on studying.” 

The decision about where to self-isolate was a fairly simple one for several of the students. “I decided to stay here and my family agreed with that, because first of all our home country is a developing country and already coronavirus has started to spread there, so it is even safer for us to stay here,” says Amna Mohsin Abdalla of Sudan. “And our life there is so social and many people are in my home so I would not be able to focus and follow the lectures as well as I will do here.” Victor Valera Baca from Peru agreed: “I knew that it was a matter of time before the virus arrived to my country, and I didn't feel very responsible taking a flight full of possible positive cases from Italy to wherever, I would probably carry the virus with me. On the other hand, I feel like I have more freedom to focus on research and study here, even when I have to stay inside.” Besides contagion and distraction concerns, technical issues were part of the decision: “Having internet access in my country is still very limited because of the cost,” says Valisoa Rakotonirinjanahary of Madagascar. “So under these conditions the chance for which I could complete my diploma is unlikely.” 

Working and studying from isolation continues, with classes held on a plethora of new ICTP Zoom meeting rooms with other online platforms as supplements. “When I start my lectures the students are usually already there, in the system and having a lively conversation,” says Lothar Göttsche, coordinator of the Math section’s Diploma students. “I think altogether they are doing reasonably fine. They have accepted that they have to stay in their apartments for a long time, and the situation will stay like it is for a while. Some are also starting to worry how the situation will affect their possibilities for PhD studies or if they will be able to go to the places where they have been admitted.” 

Online learning of course comes with its own challenges and drawbacks. Students find it easier to get distracted, and miss the human interaction and discussion that is easier in in-person lectures. “Many of our courses are strongly based on active learning and interaction during lectures which simply can't be done online,” says Antonio Celani, the coordinator of the Quantitative Life Sciences (QLS) Diploma programme, which is in its first year of existence. Some sections and professors are using lectures recorded in previous years, which the QLS section does not have as a resource. “I can say recorded lectures are not a very good option because students are not able to interact and ask questions,” says Nour El Kazwini, a Diploma student from Lebanon. Maintaining the same level of focus and productivity is also nearly impossible, not because of the technology but because of the global situation. “In general, it’s not that bad, as we already do many things independently,” says Diploma student Aziza Yusupova of Uzbekistan. “But quarantine study is not equivalent toonline courses in normal days, because we can't go to the library, study rooms, any other places and it increases the anxiety. So, one shouldn't expect the same productivity and result like normal days.” But there is a widespread knowledge that everyone is dealing with challenges these days. “Our professors are mainly interested in finishing the lessons in the best possible way,” says Juan Carlos Morales from Colombia, who is studying mathematics. “They are making a tremendous effort using the available tools.”

After the classes of this second semester are over, students will turn to the final part of the Diploma programme, their independent research projects. “I was planning for experimental research for my thesis at a research center in Germany,” says Amel Alhassan of Sudan. “With the increasing restrictions, this plan is almost impossible, but ICTP’s response was great, providing me with an license to the program required for the computational work online with my prospective supervisor and his team.” Mikhail Kiselev, the coordinator for the Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics Diploma programme, knows there will be considerable challenges for research. “The pandemic definitely affects research. The online facilities are limited, sometimes use of licensed software is needed, and access to the library is limited. However, many issues are in the process of being resolved, thanks to fruitful collaboration between different ICTP teams.” “We will have to be creative,” says Riccardo Farneti, the coordinator of the Earth System Physics Diploma programme. “We’ll have regular online meetings and change the project topics so that students do not need our help physically.” 

Discussion and social interaction, key parts of scientific research, are keenly missed. “The problem is that most of the progress on my research came from random talks with other professors and deep dives in the library, both are limited now,” says Valera Baca. Other students appreciate how the home isolation has given them time for study: “this lockdown gave me the time to sit with myself and talk a lot with our professors, to finally identify my passion in maths,” says Mohsin Abdalla. “Now I have a plenty of time to investigate more about the topic and come up with a good thesis.” 

Their absence from the dynamic environment at ICTP has left the Diploma students longing for the place. “I definitely miss the blackboards,” says Alhassan, “and the ability to bump into a lecturer, tutor or just a senior student and start bugging them with questions.” Other students agree: “I miss the interaction with the professors and all ICTP staff. We all enjoyed the ICTP environment and miss it a lot,” says El Kazwini. “Blackboards definitely, and social interactions in general. I really miss how easy it was to jump into a professor's office to have discussions,” says Valera Baca. “Also having coffee after lunch with the group.” Morales puts it simply: “I miss the people, the library, the bars, the classrooms. Everything, ICTP is an amazing place!” 

“The students are generally showing good resilience,” says Celani. “I am sure they will get through these challenging times stronger than ever.” Students are staying social, playing games and doing puzzles, and have found things to look forward to, especially the summer thesis. “I would like a miracle to happen so we can do our thesis semester at ICTP,” says Mohsin Abdalla. “We are trying to find PhD positions and filling out applications, that’s what I’m looking forward to,” says El Kazwini. But overall, safety and a return to normalcy is the priority. “I just want to have the feeling that my family and friends are safe, and the situation is under control,” says Valera Baca, “so I can go for a coffee with my friends, and work calmly on my research at ICTP.”