中心的发展吸引着众多优秀人才，2007年，中心引进了来自美国洛斯阿拉模斯实验室的研究员Reidys 教授，在今天这个特殊的日子里，他禁不住讲到：“Ten years is a long time. It's about the time that I spent in Los Alamos. I want to take you back ten years, and I want to make two points.

The first being that we have to pay a lot of tribute to the people who make that success happen -- people being in this very room. I want to help you understand why this is a serious point, very easy to be overlooked. I don't even think that I can reach everybody, but each a single one I can reach I would be proud of. Let me take you back: Los Alamos was back then a very fascinating place. Discrete mathematics was doing very well. We had a great time of stimulating interactions and organizational support. We also had very comfortable life. It was gratifying to work there. It was Gian-Carlo Rota who was the man behind the scenes who made this possible. We easily took things for granted. Rota passed away in 1999, and the Institution shifted its role from scientific to programmatic work. As a result I am right here now: this particular center is a special place created by Bill. Scientific quality and international excellence are valued. There is a lot of tribute that we have to pay to him. If you think that is trivial, you are totally mistaken. We all actually benefit from him. I benefit in my way and you in your way.

My second point is somewhat related to my first: what I really want to encourage you to actually think and seriously consider is how we can contribute to make the center an even better place. I'm here because it is a very very good place -- maybe unique. It's a place where you can figure out serious problems and it's a place where you make progress fast. I want each single one of you to ask yourself the following question: Why do I get up early each day? Your answer should be to enjoy creative thinking in an stimulating enviroment of friends and to figure stuff out. Doing this you make this place better -- for you and for the students who come after you. Science is based on interaction, teamwork and fun. "You" come second. Adopting this perspective you will publish better papers, promote yourself and have/make friends for life. This is the way to pay respect to people like Bill who makes this special place a reality for us and the staff who work so hard for us. Every move in this direction will make the center a truly unique and internationally recognized place in the scientific landscape.