Marcelo Knobel, a physicist and long-time leadership figure in Brazilian science, joined TWAS on 9 December as executive director. He succeeds ICTP Director Atish Dabholkar, who served as interim executive director from 1 December 2023 until 8 December 2024.

Knobel was the 12th rector of the University of Campinas (Unicamp), in Brazil. He is also dedicated to science communication, having founded Unicamp’s Science Exploratory Museum and conducted research on the public perception of science and higher education. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences of São Paulo State (ACIESP).

He has received the José Reis Prize for Science Popularization (CNPq); the CBMM Prize for Science and Technology; the Young Scientist Prize from TWAS Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Partner; and has been awarded the Brazilian Commander of the Order of Scientific Merit, among others. He was a TWAS Young Affiliate (2007-2011) and is now a TWAS Alumnus. In November 2024 he was named a TWAS Fellow, and his election will be effective starting on 1 January 2025.

As executive director, Knobel will be responsible for providing intellectual, strategic and operational leadership for the Academy, as well as the development, management, planning, and execution of TWAS programmes, which leverage international cooperation to grow scientific strength in the global South. The executive director serves under the authority of the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, and with the guidance of the TWAS Steering Committee and the TWAS Council.

He will also be responsible for coordination with the associated organizations hosted by the Academy—the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP).