Mohamed Hassan, a native of Sudan, obtained his Ph.D. in plasma physics from Oxford University, U.K., in 1974. He taught at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, and was Dean of the School of Mathematical Sciences. His research areas include theoretical plasma physics, physics of wind erosion and sand transport. Hassan presides over the African Academy of Sciences and is Secretary General of the Third World Network of Scientific Organizations. As head of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) Hassan was able to introduce research on climate change and its impacts on the lives of the weakest and underserved populations. In collaboration with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, TWAS actively advances the scientific understanding of climate change vulnerability and adaptation options in developing countries.