Workshop on the use of Open-Source Software and Satellite Data in the Prevention of, and

Response to, Disasters in Mesoamerica

Status of MCTP

Arnulfo ZepedaCoordinador General

CENTRO MESOAMERICANO DEFISICA TEORICA

UNACH

 19 – 23 May 2014, Tonantzintla, Puebla, México

Antecedents

• On December 20, 2011 the Autonomous University of Chiapas (UNACH) and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the conditions for the creation of a regional headquarters of ICTP.

• With the authorization of UNESCO, this new institute would be named ICTP-UNACH-Mesoamerican Institute for Science (ICTP-UNACH-MAIS).

• As a first step in the formation of the ICTP-UNACH-MAIS, on August 27, 2012, UNACH creates the UNACH Mesoamerican Center for Theoretical Physics (MCTP).

• This center is a unit of UNACH with an internal structure as close as possible to that of ICTP.

• MCTP’s strategic development areas are Physics, Mathematics, Energy and Environment.

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BUILDING FOR BEGINING OPERATIONS

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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

1. Scientific Objectives

The purpose of “the institute” is to promote the advance of basic and applied sciences in countries of the Mesoamerican region composed of Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico, through education, research and application of knowledge. “The Institute” will begin its activities in Physics, Mathematics, Energy and Environment, and gradually it will increase its activities to other scientific areas, depending of the research funding and the regional needs.

“The institute” will be part of the System of Regional Centres for Scientific Excellence, of which “the ICTP” will be the general coordinator.

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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING-2

2.- Government Structure of “the institute”.

2a. Steering Committee. The main government authority of “the institute” will be its Sterring Committee, that will be integrated by a UNACH representative, an ICTP representative, a National Council of Science and Technology representative, and the representatives of the main sponsors.

The decisions of the Steering Committee will be mandatory by the vote of the majority of its members.

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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING-5

c) Scientific Council. This Council will be integrated by up to ten internationally recognized scientists, among them, prominent scientists of the region. Its main activities will be to analyze and say on the scientific program of the institute, prepared and proposed by its Director, and on the recruitment policies, on the composition of the permanent staff and the group of postdocs, and to suggest new ideas for the activities of “the institute”.

The Scientific Council will be appointed by the Steering Committee, following a proposal of the Director of “the institute” . The members will be appointed for a four year period, renewable once. The appointment of a member for the Scientific Council will be honorific.

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FIRST STEP: created on August 27, 2012

MCTP was created on the 27 of August of 2012 as an academic unit of Unach

MCTP will transmute to ICTP-UNACH-MAIS

The main purpose of MCTP is to develop:

o teaching

o research

o and extension of basic and applied science in:

PHYSICSMATHEMATICSENERGYAND ENVIRONMENT

in the region of Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico 7/28

Contributions of UNACH

• First part: For the first 5 years:

1) Funds for operating expenses of MCTP.

2) Salary of the Director and Deputy Director of MCTP.

3) 5 positions of Full Professor.

4) Salaries for the administration personnel.

5) Building and Furniture.

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0PENING CEREMONY

JUNE 14, 2013,

Presentation of the Development Plan-

Installation of the Scientific and Advisory

Councils.

Invited talks:

–Prof. Sheldon L. Glashow: A Parable of Pure and the Practical. Why we Must Pursue Basic Scientific Research.

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Advisory Council

The advisory Council is the top-level advisory body of MCTP and reports directly to the Rector. At present it is integrated by

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Advisory Council 2

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Advisory Council 3

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Scientific Council

•The Scientific Council of MCTP is a board of opinion and evaluation on scientific and academic matters.

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Scientific Council 2

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Scientific Council 3

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Programs

‣Research Associate Program

‣Program of schools and scientific meetings

‣Program of visiting scientists

‣Agreements on Academic Mobility and Exchange

‣Preparatory courses.

‣Diploma in Science

‣Postdoctoral positions program

‣Training and Research in Mexican Laboratories16/28

For graduate students

We will open a registration page for graduate students

wishing to take advantage of MCTP opportunities. They

will receive information about activities in which they

could participate. This includes MCTP courses,

conferences or the possibility of making a short stay to

collaborate with an associate or a professor of MCTP or to

make an stay in a Associate Laboratory, always with a

well defined work program.

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Visiting Scientist Program

In order to maintain an atmosphere of

continuous high academic level, MCTP will

promote at all times the presence of

international researchers and the

interrelationship between all researchers and

students.

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Scientific Activities and Scientific Calendar

The MCTP organizes international conferences, workshops, seminars and symposia.

Those interested in attending an activity must complete an online form for the event.

There are travel grants available for conferences and workshops in the MCTP for individuals in the Mesoamerican region.

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Scientific Activities at MCTP

Some of the current and past activities are:

Weekly Research seminar on "Physics of extra dimensions“

Entrepreneurship Workshop for Scientists and Engineers December 2-6, 2013. Organizers: AMITE, APS, ICTP, IOP, MCTP.

Meeting on Extra Dimensions November 20-22, 2013. Organizers: MCTP.

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Scientific Activities 2

Workshop on the Use of Space Science and Technology for the Prevention of and Response to Disasters in Mesoamerica

November 19-22, 2013. At MCTP-UNACH. Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico.

Organizers: The Regional Centre for Space Science Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRECTEALC), the Mesoamerican Centre for Theoretical Physics (MCTP), the Association of Institutions for Fostering Mexican Space Sciences (AIFOCEM). the Secure World Foundation (SWF), and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration as cochair of the CEOS Working Group on Capacity Building and Data Democracy (WGCapD)

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Scientific Activities 3

International Symposium on Micro-emulsions, foams, rheology, Colloids and Interfaces in honor to Dominique Langevin Studies in the experiments Pierre Auger, IceCube and HAWCThursday October 24, 212 -15 November, 2013. Organizers: Universidad de Sonora, Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, ANUIES, Conacyt, Mesoamerican Centre for Theoretical Physics (MCTP).

Studies in the experiments Pierre Auger, IceCube and HAWC October 24, 2013, at CEFyMAP. Speaker: Dr. Karen S. Caballero, Cinvestav .

The Higgs Boson and the Nobel Prize in Physics 2013October 10, 2013, At CEFyMAP. Speaker: Dr. Gabriel Lopez, Cinvestav.

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Diploma in Science

• Initially there will be two diploma programs in the areas of Physics and Mathematics.

• These programs are designed for university teachers, and outstanding students with Bachelor degree in physics or mathematics, from institutions in the region.

• Will aim to update university teachers and complement the academic training of students by providing them with adequate training for efficient development in high level physics and mathematics postgraduate programs.

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Professor positions

UNACH has offered three professor position tostart in 2014. A call for application was openedand widely announced. We received about 40applications. A Review Committee analyzed theapplications. The final considerations of theReview Committee were sent to the wholeScientific Council for the final selection of 3 best candidates. The offer has already been made to them and the process for their contract in progress.

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Plan on Academic Staff in 2014

TYPE 2014 2015-2018

Permanent staff 5 15

Sabbatical stays 2 16 (4 per year)

Postdocs 0 16 (4 per year)

Guest researchers 10 10 per year One

month each

Associate researchers 40 40 per year One

month each

Visiting scientists 10 10 per year One

month each

About 13-15

simultaneously

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More immediate plans

• Preparatory courses, next week.

• Appointment of associates

• 2014 CONACYT suport

• Transition to ICTP-UNACH-MAIS

• Call for new Director of MCTP

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Propossed activities for 2014

X International Symposium on Radiation Physics (ISRP)April 2 – 5, 2014-

ICTP-ICO-MCTP College on Optics and EnergyApril 28 - May 9, 2014.

Escuela de Matematicas de America Latina y del CaribeJuly 21 – August, 2014.

VI School on Cosmic Rays and AstrophysicsJuly 21 - 25, 2014. Postponed.

Curso: Fisica de AstroparticulasAugust 18‐30, 2014La Antigua en Guatemala

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