Eikestad

A special event for Stellenbosch, South Africa and Africa was the inauguration of the National Institute for Theoretical Physics (NITheP) at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (Stias) on Tuesday.

The presence of the world?s most famous living scientist, Stephen Hawking, added special lustre to the occasion.

Guests were also privileged to be addressed by the Noble Laureate and Director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Prof David J Gross, who delivered the keynote speech on the topic "The coming revolutions in fundamental Physics".

After Prof Hendrik Geyer, interim director of the NITheP and director of Stias, welcomed the guests, felicitations on the inauguration of the NITheP were presented by Profs Nithaya Chetty, President of the South African Institute of Physics, George Thompson of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy and S James Gates, member of the 2003/4 International Physics Panel in South Africa.

Hawking, who is unable to speak because of a motor-neuron illness, then also volunteered his felicitations by means of a very advanced computer system. He said that the establishment of NITheP by the South African government signaled development for basic science in South Africa and also on the African continent.

"The NITheP has my enthu?siastic backing," he concluded.

In the opening address, the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, said that the question was asked how South Africa as a developing country with so many infrastructure needs could afford the ex?pense of such an institute.

"We cannot afford not to," he explained. "We must produce a steady stream of well-educated citizens, especially in the field of mathematics and science, citizens capable of analytical and critical thought."

Minister Mangena said the NITheP will produce creative solutions to pressing problems. "Physicists are the people likely to solve problems such as climate change, the energy crunch and how to burn coal more cleanly," he said.

The minister also explained that the central hub of the NITheP will be situated at Stias, with its "spokes" situated at the Universities of KwaZulu-Natal and the Witwatersrand. Fields of re?search will include condensed matter physics, quantum technologies including quantum cryptography, cosmology and astro-physics.

The Institute will also work with other institutions and industries in South Africa such as iThem?ba? Laboratories, the SA Large telescope and SA Laser Centre. The NITheP has already accepted 48 postgraduate students, appointed one director and five researchers, as well as five research fellows. Altogether R1,8 million had been allocated for postgraduate bursaries this year.

"I hope this centre will provide physicists with the opportunities, facilities and environment to make a difference to humanity," the minister concluded.

Prof David Goss of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics in Santa Barbara, told the audience that Stellenbosch, like Santa Barbara, would benefit from this institute.

In his lecture, Prof Goss, an expert on the "String Theory", described it as being able to lead the quest for a unifying theory to explain the origin of the universe. He also said that the most important discovery of knowledge was ignorance, because new know?ledge creates informed ignorance that opens up new questions.

Eikestadnuus asked Prof Hendrik Geyer for his impressions of this auspicious occasion.

"The inauguration ceremony of the NITheP at Stias has created the best possible foundation for the Institute's future growth.

"The fact that Stephen Hawking was present and added his voice of support to the many personal messages that evening ? including those of Minister Mangena and Noble Prize winners David Gross and George Smoot ? leaves no doubt that the government and the international community regard the NITheP??s? inclusion in the family of similar institutes across the world with the utmost importance.

"This has made years of dream?ing and hard work and one day?s sweat truly worthwhile," Prof Geyer? said.