Proposal for an UNESCO Category 2 Centre for advanced training and research in physics in Măgurele, Romania (CIFRA) Sabin Stoica (HHF)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS PHYSICS BUCHAREST-MAGURELE

Atomistilor Str. 105 bis, P.O. Box MG-7, 077125 Magurele-Ilfov, Romania

Phone: +40(0)21 3690185, Fax: +40(0)21 3690177, email: pintilie@infim.ro, http://www.infim.ro

28 August, 2011, D. Milanovac

Outline

Objectives & functions Legal status & coordonation Structure Infrastructure Financial support Participation Calendar

Objectives and Functions

provide facilities and opportunities for research and advanced training for scientists from Central and Eastern European countries, as well as from least developed countries, particularly from Africa;

organize training programs and outreach activities in collaboration with UNESCO, ICTP, and other international organizations, as well as with Romanian institutions;

provide an international forum for exchange of information and ideas among scientists from different countries;

facilitate access to Romanian research laboratories, especially from the Măgurele Platform of Physics, thus offering to participants opportunities for research and training in the Centre's activities;

provide expertise to decision makers, educators and general public in physics and related interdisciplinary areas and their possible application for development;

develop regional collaborative networks that bring together researchers from Romania and neighbouring countries;

strengthen the Research and Development potential in the region through advanced training and participation in joint projects for students and young researchers at various training stages;

stimulate participation of students and young researchers in international projects compatible with UNESCO, European Union, and International Research Programs.

2. Legal status & coordonation

The Centre will be created as an independent, legally autonomous unit within the national context (shall enjoy the status and legal capacity necessary to exercise its functions)

The Centre shall be guided and supervised by an International Governing Board (IGB) to be renewed every five years which includes:

(a) a representative of the Government, who will chair the board.

(b) a representative of the Director-General UNESCO

(c) a representative of ICTP-Trieste

(d) representatives of UNESCO’s Member States, which have sent to the Centre notifications for membership and has expressed interest in being represented on the Board;

The Centre shall have an International Scientific Committee (ISC)

- ISC shall comprise scientists from both developed and developing countries who are actively engaged in the basic sciences that relate to the objectives

of the Centre and shall assure the excellence of the required scientific expertise,

as well as a representative of the UNESCO International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) Scientific Board and an ICTP representative.

- The members of the ISC will be appointed by the Director of the Centre, in pursuance of consultation with UNESCO and endorsement by the IGB.

Current management: Secretariat

The Secretariat shall consist of a Director and staff necessary for the proper functioning of the Centre.

The Director of the Centre shall be appointed by the IGB after consultation with the Director General of UNESCO.

2. Structure

Structure will be similar to that of ICTP-Trieste: will run activities in three directions

i) Scientific research will be developed by the Centre permanent staff and by short/long term visitors. Cooperation with national and international institutions and participation in international research projects will be part of its strategy, as well.

Fields: regenerable energy (photovoltaic conversion), nanoscience, nanophotonics and optics, astrophysics and cosmology, computational physics and biophysics

ii) Educational and training activities (in cooperation with UNESCO and ICTP-Trieste) will be directed mainly to the benefit of young researchers from Central and Eastern European countries and also to least developed (mainly African) countries. The lectures will be given by well qualified professors from Romania and from abroad (international recognized diplomas?)

iii) Outreach: schools, workshops, conferences, etc.

Infrastructure Research infrastructure of the Centre will include:

access to research Labs of the national research institutes from Magurele Platform of Physics. In addition, collaboration with other research and educational institutions will be developed.

acces to the National Library of Physics from the Magurele Platform of

Physics

access to the Computer centers from Magurele, to perform large scale scientific calculations.

in time, the Center may develop its own specific laboratories and computer facilities.

Basic infrastructure: different solutions are taking into account, including the rehabilitation of an historical building (Otetelesanu Castle)

Contribution of the Government

Government shall provide all the resources, financial or in kind needed for the administration and proper functioning of the Centre:

the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sport shall be responsible for the implementation of the Centre’s institutional funding.

UNESCO’s contribution

UNESCO has no financial obligations or accountability for the functioning and management of the Centre and shall not provide financial support, except to specific activities and projects, if they correspond to the Organization programme priorities and to the budget approved by the governing bodies .

Calendar February 2011: Romania, through the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and

Sport, submitted a proposal for the establishment of an International Centre for Advanced Training and Research in Physics, at Măgurele-Bucharest, as a category 2 institute under the auspicies of UNESCO. The Romanian authorities requested that this item be included on the Agenda of the Executive Board at its 186th session.

June 2011, a technical mission of UNESCO has been conducted to Bucharest and Măgurele and the feasibility study has been undertaken in line with the guidelines and criteria for category 2 institutes and centers as approved by UNESCO’s General Conference at its 35th session (35 C/Resolution 103). It was carried out in consultation with the relevant Romanian Authorities

July – August 2011: processing of the documents within UNESCO internal services

September 2011, discussion of the proposal in EC

October 2011, discussion and approval by the GC

Participation

The Centre shall encourage the participation of Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO which, by their common interest in the objectives of the Centre, desire to cooperate with the Centre.

Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO wishing to participate in the Centre’s activities shall send to the Centre notification to this effect. The Director of the Centre shall inform the Government and UNESCO of the receipt of such notifications.