The Rammal Award, created in memory of the great Lebanese physicist Rammal Rammal (1951-91) is awarded each year to an outstanding personality of strong scientific stature from one of the Mediterranean countries, who, through his life and activity (whether in fundamental or applied research, teaching, or the integration of knowledge), has given a new and modern form to the flow of scientific exchange in this part of the world.
Active scientists from any disciplinary background, including exact sciences, social sciences and humanities, are eligible as candidates. Organisations supporting similar objectives can also apply.

Euroscience's President Jean-Patrick Connerade announced today that, by unanimous decision of its expert panel, the Rammal Award for the year 2005 will be awarded to Professor El Hassan Saidi, professor at the University Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat.

El Hassan Saidi, 49, has published extensively in theoretical and mathematical physics in areas such as superstring theory, supersymmetry and gravitation, interacting strongly for more than twenty years with the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste. In 1988 he was awarded the Abdus Salam Prize for Scientific Creation in Morocco.

In Morocco Saidi created a High Energy and Mathematical Physics research group in 1990, which subsequently became the Laboratoire de Physique des Hautes Energies (LPHE) of the University of Rabat, of which he his presently Director. This group has made original internationally recognised contributions in the areas of critical phenomena, field theory, particle physics, strings and branes. A major aspect of LHPE’s mission is the training of young PhD students in modern science and through this has contributed to the building of a scientific capability in Morocco and the region.

Saidi has been extensively and actively engaged in both the promotion and dissemination of science in Africa, and in the promotion of scientific cooperation between many Mediterranean countries. He has co-organised regional scientific meetings and workshops that have brought together researchers from all Mediterranean shores, and has co-ordinated the organisation of Arab Scientists visiting ICTP. In 2000 Saidi created the African Centre for Basic Science and Technology (ACBT). One of the steps toward the concretisation of ACBT has been the creation of the African Journal of Mathematical Physics, of which Saidi is editor in chief. Saidi has also worked to disseminate science to the general public in Morocco through initiatives such as the review journal Courrier Scientifique Universitaire.

The award ceremony took place during the Euroscience Day of ESOF 2006, on July 17th, 2006, in Munich.