THE FORMATION OF NITHECS

In 2004, an international panel, commissioned by the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the National Research Foundation (NRF), presented a report titled “Shaping the Future of Physics in South Africa.” Among its recommendations was the establishment of a national institute for theoretical physics, envisioned as a user facility for South African and African theoretical physicists.

A wide-ranging consultation within the South African physics community followed, leading to the submission of a proposal to the DST and NRF in November 2004. The proposal garnered strong international support, including endorsement letters from several Nobel Prize-winning physicists and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy.

After two years of further negotiations, the South African government announced the creation of the National Institute for Theoretical Physics (NITheP) in May 2006, committing to fund the institute for an initial five-year period. NITheP’s vision was “to be Africa’s leading and internationally competitive research and training institute in theoretical physics, a discipline that provides the conceptual framework for the natural sciences.”

By 2007, the necessary infrastructure was in place, and by the end of the year, the first positions for director, five researchers, and five postdoctoral fellows were advertised. In May 2008, NITheP was officially launched, with distinguished guests including world-renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking, Nobel Laureate Professor David Gross, and South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology.

NITheP’s achievements

Over the years, NITheP fostered significant interest in theoretical physics at both national and international levels. This success was driven by several initiatives, including networking opportunities, mobility grants, visiting programs for local and international physicists and students, bursaries, research opportunities, internships, summer schools, and outreach activities.

Between 2008 and 2020, NITheP achieved the following milestones:

• 773 publications
• 216 MSc and PhD graduations
• 76 Associates
• ranked 3rd among institutions in Africa in the physical sciences
• 3 research nodes