This year, the prestigious award of the GAL Hassin Foundationhas been awarded to two major names of Italian astronomy: Prof. Roberto Battiston, President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), “for his achievements in fundamental and astroparticle physics” and to Prof. Nicolò D’Amico, President of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), “for his achievements in radioastronomy and in particular in the study of pulsars”.

Set up in 2009, this award is assigned every year to scientists who have distinguished themselves in research or astronomic science dissemination. Among the scientists who have received this award, there are important names including Margherita Huck, astrophysicist and brilliant disseminator, Marcello Coradini of the European Space Agency, Mario Di Martino of the Astrophysical Observatory of Turin, Roberto Ragazzoni of the Astronomic Observatory of Padua, Giovanni Bignami, President of INAF who has recently passed away, George Fitzgerald Smooth, Nobel Laureate for Physics in 2006.

Roberto Battiston is the President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Trento, he is an expert in space astroparticle technology; during more than 30 years of activity, he has conducted scientific research at the international level, published approximately 500 studies and coordinated important R&D projects on new technologies.

Nicolò D’Amico is the President of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF). He is Full Professor of astrophysics at the University of Cagliari, he has published over 300 studies for a total of over 10,000 citations; his research areas are radioastronomy, radio pulsars, high-energy astrophysics. With Andrew Lyne and Dick Manchester, he has founded the Pulsar Group, one of the most prestigious international research teams.

Source: ResearchItaly