L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 3 W h a t c a n m a k e a n I t a l i a n scientist happier than an award honoring the memory of Nobel Laureate Enrico Fermi, a pio- neer in the field of nuclear and particle physics? Indeed, since f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e P r e s i d e n t E i s e n h o w e r a n d t h e A t o m i c Energy Commission honored E n r i c o F e r m i w i t h a s p e c i a l award for his lifetime of accom- plishments in physics and, in particular, for his role in the development of atomic energy, many other scientists from dif- ferent countries have got the same recognition. Among them, last in time, Claudio Pellegrini, a D i s t i n g u i s h e d P r o f e s s o r E m e r i t u s o f P h y s i c s a n d D i s t i n g u i s h e d R e s e a r c h Professor at UCLA, as well as a visiting scientist and consulting professor in photon science at the SLAC National Accelerator L a b o r a t o r y , w h o s h a r e d t h i s y e a r ' s a w a r d w i t h C h a r l e s S h a n k , l a b o r a t o r y d i r e c t o r e m e r i t u s a t t h e L a w r e n c e Berkeley National Laboratory. " C l a u d i o P e l l e g r i n i a n d Chuck Shank have advanced s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h a t t h e Department of Energy and the national laboratories through- out their distinguished careers, which has significantly con- tributed to sustained leadership in research and development in the United States". In particu- l a r , P r o f e s s o r P e l l e g r i n i received the award "for pio- n e e r i n g r e s e a r c h a d v a n c i n g understanding of relativistic electron beams and free-elec- tron lasers, and for transforma- t i v e d i s c o v e r i e s p r o f o u n d l y impacting the successful devel- opment of the first hard x-ray free-electron laser, heralding a new era for science." The role of the Italian scientist has been relevant especially in establish- ing the world's first hard X-ray free electron laser, which has indeed enabled new areas of ultrafast x-ray physics, atomic physics, plasma physics, chem- istry, biology and materials sci- ence, and has transformed the nature of X-ray facilities avail- able all over the world. Professor Pellegrini studied a t L a S a p i e n z a U n i v e r s i t y , w h e r e h e g o t h i s L a u r e a i n Physics Summa Cum Laude in 1958 and has been honored in the United States many times: the American Physical Society Fellow, the Fulbright Fellow, the FEL Prize, and the R. R. W i l s o n P r i z e , A m . P h y s i c a l Society. A career full of discoveries and success which have now granted him the very special p r i z e b y P r e s i d e n t O b a m a , whom he will be meeting later t h i s y e a r . W e t a l k e d t o Professor Pellegrini not only about his work but also about his life and the future of Italian scientists leaving their country t o f i n d b e t t e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s Professor Pellegrini: "I am excited to receive the Enrico Fermi Award from President Obama" SERENA PERFETTO abroad. W h a t m o s t e x c i t e s y o u about your work? T h e c h a l l e n g e o f u n d e r - standing how nature works, to have a glimpse at phenomena previously unexplained. But I also think it is the pleasure of being part of an international community of scientists sharing the same interest and curiosity. A n d t h e i d e a t h a t , w h e n w e know some new properties of m a t t e r a n d l i f e , w e c a n u s e them to improve and have a life more comfortable and with less pain. W h i c h m e m o r y d o y o u h a v e o f t h e d a y w h e n y o u made your discovery? When after years of work, starting in some cases with a crazy intuition, you make an experiment and see that what you expected is real and true, or you find something new and unexpected, there is a sense of a c c o m p l i s h m e n t . A d r e a m becomes reality and you feel good. Why is your area of scien- tific discovery important (or relevant) for ordinary people? What I have done is helping many scientists, all over the world, to have a better knowl- edge of important constituents of matter, like proteins, or of the photosynthesis process that transforms sunlight into energy and on which all life on earth depends. When we understand photosynthesis better, we can apply our know ledge to, for instance, improve renewable energy sources. Determination of proteins structures is critical to cure many diseases. What did you think when you found out you will meet President Obama? Of course I felt that this is a great honor. I am looking for- ward to meeting the President in the White House. My wife, m y c h i l d r e n , a n d m y g r a n d - children were very excited. And I did not forget to share my pleasure and happiness with my colleagues and my friends. W h i c h a d d e d v a l u e d o Italian scientists bring to for- eign universities? A good general education. In my case, and this goes back many years, an education in the c l a s s i c s , t h e s t u d y o f L a t i n , Greek, and Italian. W o u l d y o u a d v i c e f o r a career abroad or would you suggest students enrolled in a scientific program to stay in Italy? Scientists should go where there are the best opportunities to pursue their research and their dreams. The instruments available, the administrative a n d f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t a r e important. And so are the col- leagues that one has in the uni- versity or Institute and the gen- e r a l c u l t u r e o f t r y i n g n e w things and sharing discussions and excitement. Claudio Pellegrini, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Research Professor at UCLA, as well as visiting scientist and consulting professor in photon science at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, shared this year the Enrico Fermi award with Charles Shank, laboratory director emeritus at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

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