A former ICTP Diploma student calls on ICTP to help improve the climate for science in developing countries.

New Course of Action

For nearly 40 years, ICTP has worked diligently--and successfully--in cultivating the talents of scientists from the developing world.
The Centre's achievements are remarkable and indeed worthy of praise. However, if we examine the status of scientists in some developing countries, we find that, despite ICTP's efforts, neither their working conditions nor their career prospects have improved greatly.
ICTP should not be criticised for these shortcomings. The Centre's scientific and administrative staff have done their best to advance the institution's lofty goals. However, the results have proven less successful than Abdus Salam envisioned four decades ago.
ICTP has concentrated its efforts on assisting promising young scientists in developing countries. The Centre has tried to nurture their talents so that they could return home to help their countries. While this strategy makes sense at a certain level, it is based on a blueprint for action that can only be achieved at a very slow pace.
Let us take the example of the ICTP Diploma Programme, which is one of the Centre's most important training activities.
The Diploma Programme began 12 years ago. Over the years, ICTP has spent a great deal of time, effort and money to provide advanced academic training to about 400 young scientists in the fields of high energy physics, condensed matter physics and mathematics.
As a graduate of the Diploma Programme, I experienced first-hand the staff's skill and dedication.

Khalil Shaaban Said as Diploma Programme student in 1991

Most Diploma Programme students go on to earn Ph.D. degrees and many are appointed to postdoctorate positions at excellent universities in Europe and North America. Yet, when they return to their home countries to teach the next generation of students, many find the situation so fraught with problems and disappointments that they soon decide to pursue their careers elsewhere.
Many ICTP Diploma Programme students from Arab countries, for instance, have sought to work in Persian Gulf countries. As a result, it seems as if these countries have benefitted from ICTP's efforts. Yet, if history is any guide, most of these students will choose to leave the region for teaching and research posts elsewhere.
ICTP Diploma Programme students cannot be blamed for their unwillingness to stay home. It is not possible to ask them to remain in countries within their regions when earning salaries that they cannot comfortably live on. Moreover, most do not have access to work environments that would allow them to do world class research; nor have they been given positions that would facilitate their career advancement.
In such settings, young professors find themselves able to teach young students but unable to do research. As a result, many of ICTP's Diploma Programme students often spend as much time as possible abroad even if they do not leave their home countries permanently. I know. I am one who has taken this career path.
Although the situation for scientists in some Third World countries is not much different than it was 40 years ago, I remain stubbornly optimistic.
Yet, to correct this situation, ICTP should begin to work closely with other organisations throughout the developing world to help alter societies' view of science and to convince governments of the benefits that can be derived from providing greater support to their scientists and scientific institutions.
ICTP has made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of scientists from the developing world over the past 40 years. What I am suggesting now is that ICTP develop mechanisms for encouraging the societies of the Centre's visitors to become more science-friendly.
Specifically, I propose ICTP create branches in the Arab world and other developing regions to promote research activities that help scientists remain in their own countries.
Such endeavours, I believe, will ultimately advance ICTP's most cherished goal, which is to build scientific expertise and capacity in countries throughout the developing world.
In a sense, this new course of action would not be new at all. Instead it would parallel the broad strategic vision that Abdus Salam had for ICTP when he first launched this venerable institution in 1964.

Khalil Shaaban Said
Associate Professor
Department of Physics
Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
On Leave 2003, University of Durham, UK

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