The Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITP), founded in Jun. 1978, is a professional institute focusing its research emphasis on the main fundamental research of theoretical physics. It is among the first group institutes that were opened to the inside and outside of China. As one of the first twelve institutions selected to implement the Pilot Project of the Knowledge Innovation Program (PPKIP), the Institute of Theoretical Physics of CAS (ITP-CAS) has taken up an accelerated development. ITP now has 57 staff with 30 research fellows, 6 Members of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)（4 of them are Members of the Third World Academy of Sciences）.The ITP also includes many distinguished young scientists. Among them, 13 were selected as The Program of One Hundred Talents of CAS, 11 were awarded National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. Besides, there are more than 100 person-month of visiting scholars working at ITP-CAS each year.
There are two Divisions in ITP. Division I conducts research in the areas of elementary particle physics, quantum field theory, gravitation and string theory, astrophysics and cosmology, unification theory, mathematic physics and simulation physics. Research emphasis of Division II include non-equilibrium statistic physics, condensed matter physics, nonlinear theory, computational physics, theoretical biological physics, atom-molecule and quantum interference theory, nuclear physics. After joining PPKIP, ITP has evaluated and readjusted its research orientations and now 6 research directions have been formed, which is concentrating on the following subjects: (1)Quantum Field Theory and Microscopic Structure of Matter; (2)String Theory and Cosmological Structures; (3) Gravitational Theory and Early Cosmos Research; (4)Condensed Matter Physics; (5)Nonlinear Science, Theoretical Biophysics and Bioinformatics; (6)Quantum Physics, Quantum Information and Interaction between Light and Matter.
Until now we have won seven second national natural science awards, fourteen academy and ministry awards. Four people have been awarded Ho Leung Ho Lee science and technology award, and some other personal prize like ISI Citation Classic Award. Since foundation, the ITP has published more than 3000 scientific research papers, 30 Chinese and English monographs and more than 20 edition anthologies. At present, there are 130 high quality papers published in one year and publication per person in ITP is at the top in China.
On June 18, 2006，the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics China (KITPC) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences was founded and is led by Dr. Yue-Liang Wu, chairing its international advisory board in Dr. David Gross, head of the KITP at UC Santa Barbara and a Nobel laureate in physics. KITPC carries out fundamental research on theoretical physics and interdisciplinary research. As the international cooperation platform of ITP, KITPC carries out fundamental research on theoretical physics and interdisciplinary research and has important national and international roles. Nationally, it will coordinate basic research on theoretical physics in China and facilitate interaction between theory and experiment, as well as promote research in interdisciplinary areas among physics and other branches of science. Internationally, it will host full scale programs, international conferences, workshops, summer schools, guest scientist and visitor programs, which will promote the interaction of Chinese scientists with their counterparts in other countries.
On December 16, 2008, the CAS approved the establishment of the Key Laboratory of Frontiers in Theoretical Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is an important step which our institute struggles towards the strategic goal of "National Center for Theoretical Physics".
The key ingredients for the future development of ITP is to attract the talented young scientists to join the research team; to nurture healthy and stimulating scientific environment; to encourage friendly competition, fruitful collaborations and free discussions; to take full advantage of scientific exchange & Cooperation with both homeland and overseas scientists, especially in the emergent interdisciplinary areas. The main goal is to become a center of excellence in research, to act as a platform for productive scientific exchange at the most advanced international level, to build up a basis for fostering and bringing up young talents, then to play a crucial role in promoting fundamental research in related areas in China and bring in important contributions to science in the world scale.
Director: Prof. Bing-Song Zou
Address: Zhong Guan Cun East Street 55 #, P. O. Box 2735, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
Phone: 86-10-62555058
Fax: 86-10-62562587
Website: http://www.itp.cas.cn
http://www.kitpc.ac.cn
Scientific Office,
Contact person: Dr. Ling-Mei Cheng
Phone: 86-10-62555058
Fax: 86-10-62562587
Email: clm@itp.ac.cn
