For more than 50 years, ICTP has promoted scientific expertise and research excellence throughout the world. Founded in 1964 by the late Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam, ICTP seeks to accomplish its mandate by providing scientists from developing countries with the continuing education and skills that they need in order to enjoy long and productive careers. ICTP opens its doors every year to more than 5000 scientists from 140 countries, in the spirit of Salam’s belief that “scientific thought is the common heritage of mankind”. These visitors attend the Centre’s offering of nearly 60 conferences a year. Some stay longer, perhaps as participants of the Centre’s Associates Scheme, which supports visits of several months at a time over a three year period; or, as students in ICTP’s Postgraduate Diploma Programme, a year-long, intense course of study to prepare young scientists from the developing world for graduate study. ICTP’s unique strength lies in its ability to bring together large numbers of gifted scientists from developing and developed countries to participate in joint research. From its early focus on theoretical high energy physics, the Centre’s research areas have evolved in response to the needs of physicists and mathematicians from the developing world, and now include: > High Energy, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics > Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics (including renewable energy) > Mathematics > Earth System Physics > Applied Physics > Quantitative Life Sciences Today, ICTP continues its role as an international crossroad for science. Curiosity and the will to explore the mysteries of the universe are still at the very heart of what motivates the Centre. Its inclusive approach spreads knowledge and peace to every corner of the world, to every country despite adverse learning or research conditions.