ICTP’s Vision for the Future Gains Momentum

Following the event in New York City last October—where Simons Foundation International President David Spergel and ICTP Director Atish Dabholkar welcomed friends and supporters to share the vision for a new International Science Complex—the momentum for ICTP’s future took a significant step forward. The evening highlighted the strategic plan to transform the Adriatico Guest House into a state-of-the-art hub for global science and culminated in the announcement of the ICTP 2.0 €60 million fundraising campaign.

In the months that followed, the response from the ICTP community has been extraordinary. A $25,000 challenge gift from Professor Jagadish Shukla sparked a powerful collective effort, inspiring those whose lives ICTP has touch to come together in support of ICTP’s mission. The challenge has now been fully met, unlocking an impact of $100,000 considering both Shukla's donation and the Simons Foundation International's $15 million challenge grant, all of which is directly supporting the renewal of the Adriatico Guest House—an essential cornerstone of ICTP’s scientific life.

A banner year-end giving campaign further amplified this momentum with almost €300K in donations. Many donors increased their contributions, and new supporters stepped forward for the first time, demonstrating a shared commitment to ICTP’s vision and to strengthening the global scientific community it serves.

Honoring a Legacy: The Abdelkrim “Karim” Aoudia Memorial Scholarship Fund

Building on this momentum, ICTP is proud to announce another important initiative: the establishment of The Abdelkrim "Karim" Aoudia Memorial Scholarship Fund. In honor of the late Professor Karim Aoudia, the scholarship will be awarded annually to an Earth Systems Physics or other Postgraduate Diploma student from Africa or the Middle East.

Prof. Aoudia exemplified ICTP’s three pillars—Scientific Excellence, Global Inclusion, and International Cooperation—particularly through his dedication to the many students he taught and mentored over nearly 20 years at the Centre. Students often describe him not only as a teacher, but as a father or brother, committed to ensuring their success and helping them bring knowledge back to their home countries.

To inspire participation in the fund, Professor Adnan Shihab-Eldin—a close friend and colleague of Karim’s for many years—has issued a matching grant challenge of €30,000. Every donation given up to €30,000 will be matched 1:1 by Shihab-Eldin. When the endowment reaches €300,000, the scholarship will be fully funded, ensuring it can be awarded annually in perpetuity.

Donors can contribute any amount and will be recognized on ICTP’s Donor Recognition Wall and in the 2025/2026 annual reports. Karim’s family will also be notified of all contributions.

How to Contribute
Donations can be made via the ICTP/UNESCO PayPal account here. Please select the option "Students From Developing Countries" and add "For Prof. Karim" in the notes section.

Donors interested in making a tax-deductible donation in the U.S. or Europe can contact abaldoni@ictp.it for additional information.