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Conferences and Hosted Activities

One of the main aims of ICTP is to foster the growth of advanced studies and research in the developing countries. Several thousand scientists, the majority of whom come from the developing countries, visit the Centre every year. In addition to the regular research activity, high-level training courses, workshops, conferences and topical meetings take place at the ICTP throughout the year.

Each year, ICTP organizes on its premises more than 50 training and research activities in all areas of physics and mathematics. The subjects cover theory, simulations and experiments. These activities are in the five main research areas of ICTP (Applied Physics, Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics, Earth System Physics, High Energy, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, and Mathematics) as well as in other scientific fields. About 5000 students and young scientists participate annually to these activities. ICTP provides funding for developing country participants and also sponsors a limited number of activities in locations outside Trieste.

In addition, ICTP hosts a number of scientific activities. In this case, ICTP makes available its facilities at a given cost, but does not provide funding or secretarial support for the activity. An effort is constantly being made to organize activities in new and emerging fields of research.

Proposals are invited from all segments of the international scientific community.

ICTP activities last for a few days to some three or four weeks and consist of presentations of recent results on timely subjects, perhaps prefaced by a few review lectures. After the ICTP Directorate has assigned the official venues, Organizers of approved events evaluate the Activity's logistics needs and fill some request forms: Space and Services and InfoLab/Computer Services and send them duly signed to the Conference Support and Hosted Activities. Organizer's requests are then forwarded to the ICTP services concerned.

ICTP's Hosted Activities bring their own funds and organization but seek an international venue provided that they are open to admitting as cost-free participants those scientists from developing countries that are selected by ICTP. If chosen, and if space and other amenities are available, such programmes may receive partial support from ICTP, depending on availability of funds. A request by Fax or Letter must be addressed to the ICTP Co-ordinator of Scientific Programmes for evaluation and sent to the ICTP Support Services.

The "Logistic Guidelines for Hosted Activities' Organizers" (PDF) aim at informing in the most concise way about ICTP services and how to request them in connection with a hosted event.

ICTP's co-ordinator of Scientific Programmes is Filippo Giorgi.