Theatre Comes to ICTP

[ICTP Public Information Office]

Theatre Comes to ICTP

Who was the female mathematician and philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria, 
and what were her contributions to science?

Find out about this important personality through a re-enactment of her 
life by students from the Trieste secondary school Guido Corsi.  The 
one-hour performance takes place Thursday, 19 March 2015, in ICTP's 
Budinich Lecture Hall, and is open to ICTP visitors, scientists and 
staff. There will be two shows--one at 12:30 and another at 17:30--but 
note that the earlier one is intended for a number of classes from the 
Guido Corsi school.

Several ICTP staff members and scientists will be joining the student 
performers, including:
--Valerio Cappellini (Marie Curie Library)
--Alaa Aly Elsayed Aly Elshorbagy (Postgraduate Diploma Programme student)
--Elisa Fratini (Post-doctoral fellow)
--Ali Hassanali (Long-term visiting scientist)
--Gordana Omanovic (Marie Curie Library)
--Lina Sitz (Post-doctoral fellow)
--Fernando Villegas (Head, Mathematics Section)

Live music by a baroque ensemble will accompany the performance.

The show's original text is inspired by various historical events, and 
will be enriched by personal considerations of scientists on topics such 
as science and freedom of thought, religion and science, science 
communication, and science and gender.

The emblematic story of Hypatia provides an opportunity to reflect on a 
topic of great relevance that is deeply felt by scientists: the 
importance of respect for freedom of thought and tolerance, essential 
elements for the advancement of scientific thought that, in the words of 
Abdus Salam, "is the common heritage of mankind."