Nobel Peace prize recipient at Northumbria

Nobel Peace Prize recipient explores a world without nuclear weapons at Northumbria University this week

A visiting academic at Northumbria, Professor Calogero is coming to the University as part of the international workshop 'Integrable Systems in Newcastle', organised by Dr Sara Lombardo, Dr Matteo Sommacal, Dr Antonio Moro and Dr Benoit Huard, from the Mathematics and Information Sciences department.World-renowned theoretical physicist Professor Francesco Calogero will be giving a public lecture at Northumbria’s City Campus East on 4 October to explore the issues surrounding worldwide nuclear disarmament.

Prof Calogero is currently Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’ and was the former secretary-general of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.

His lecture, A World Free of Nuclear Weapons: Desirable? Feasible? discusses the diverse range of historic activities that have contributed to the promotion of disarmament and will give an insight into the potential future transition to a nuclear weapon free world. It will also highlight the significant development initiated by an article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal, which culminated in a speech by President Obama in Prague during 2009.

Prof Calogero served as the Secretary-General of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs from 1989 to 1997. Pugwash Conferences were launched in 1957 to bring together influential figures from around the world to discuss the danger of armed conflict and global solutions. In 1995, Prof Calogero accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly awarded to Pugwash and to Joseph Rotblat. The rationale of the award states: “for their efforts to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and, in the longer run, to eliminate such arms”. Prof Calogero was also a member of the Governing Board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute from 1982 to 1992.

The international workshop 'Integrable Systems in Newcastle' is supported by The London Mathematical Society and takes places in the lecture theatre 401 at Northumbria University’s City Campus East on 4-5 October to promote the research of the group on Nonlinear Waves and Integrable Systems. Prof Calogero’s public lecture will be held on Friday 4 October in lecture theatre 002, Business and Law building on City Campus East at 12 noon. If you would like to attend please email here to reserve your place at the lecture.