Spirit of Abdus Salam Award Recipients Announced

Three long-time ICTP staff members have been chosen by the family of ICTP founder and Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam to receive the Spirit of Abdus Salam Award. The award recognizes scientists and non-scientists alike who have demonstrated a tireless dedication to Abdus Salam's humanitarian passion and vision for the cooperation, promotion and development of science and technology in the developing world.

The recipients of the inaugural award are:

• Andre-Marie Hamende: Dr. Hamende, a nuclear engineer from Belgium, was present at the very inception of ICTP and served as the Centre's Senior Administrative and Scientific Information Officer from 1964 to 1990.
• Anne Gatti: Described as "a pillar of ICTP", Mrs. Gatti began her service in 1983 as administrative assistant to Abdus Salam and has provided crucial support to every director since then.
• Pierre Agbedjro: As ICTP's official driver, Mr. Agbedjro has been behind the wheel since 1985, providing efficient and faithful service to the Centre's thousands of visitors.

"Abdus Salam will be remembered for his ground-breaking scientific work, but to thousands in the developing countries of the world he will be remembered as the man who gave them the opportunity to sit with their peers from the developed countries, learn and study with them and then spread that knowledge back into their respective countries," said Ahmad Salam, the Nobel Laureate's son.

"My father would always go out of his way to help and support these worthy men and women. The three recipients of this inaugural award have each in their own way demonstrated an enduring commitment to do what they could to support Abdus Salam and his noble aims. We, the Salam family, are delighted and honoured to recognize Andre, Anne and Pierre as truly worthy of the Spirit of Salam prize. I know how much my father loved and valued each of them; without them ICTP would not be what it is today," said Salam.

"I am very excited about the announcement of these three awardees, who are obvious choices for this honour, and I invite the whole ICTP community to join me in congratulating them," added ICTP Director Fernando Quevedo, who expressed particular appreciation for the fact that the prize recognizes all people--not only scientists--who support the vision of Abdus Salam.

Abdus Salam is primarily remembered for his scientific work, but his family wish him to also be remembered for his humility of spirit and humanitarian passion and zeal which ultimately led to the creation of ICTP and TWAS.

The award, consisting of a certificate and a cash amount of Euro 1000, will be awarded during ICTP's 50th anniversary celebration in October 2014.