He lived to
as a boy in an international environment. What have the years at the Collegio del
United World of Duino? «I was born in Rome, but in the first years of my life I lived
even in the United States. And I grew up bilingual, which was a great gift to me
my parents. When I was 10 we arrived in Trieste because my father, with
professor Fonda, had had the idea of ​​building a synchrotron here: it was the period in
where Electra was born. I first attended the international school, then the Dante high school.
But I still wanted international experiences: I won the tender to enter the
United World College and I spent two years there, which influenced me profoundly.
Growing up with 200 peers from 80 different countries allowed me to meet kids
who didn't even have water at home: their memory always accompanies me». There
his career was entirely played out outside Italy. Why did you choose Canada?
«Halfway through my university career in Rome, I decided that I would leave: mi
it had influenced the film "Mediterranean", a hymn to escape. I completed my studies
doctorate, then I left for a post doc in Denmark. I had sent questions to
right and left. I also tried Montreal, I had met a girl who lived there
there. I got that job and I moved: for a long time I felt at home there. The climate,
true, it is what it is, but the nature is amazing and it's a pretty safe country, which
it has so much to offer." Why the return to Italy? "To be close to my parents,
that they are getting old: I am an only child and they didn't want to move to Canada.
You know that proverb about Mohammed and the mountain? So I returned to
Trieste: thanks to a direct call I got a chair in the Science department
chemicals. Now we will see how it goes: it is not trivial to get used to the Italian system and in
Canada I left my laboratory and my research group, which I hope to
reconstitute here, perhaps thanks to the opportunities of the Pnrr».

Materials science and
nanotechnologies, what are the most promising research lines? «Since I have
realized that among the biggest challenges for the survival of humanity there is that
energy and climate change, I decided to continue with the research
fundamental in this area. I have always been concerned with understanding how the
structure of a material influences its properties: my primary task, however, is
to develop human products. I work on innovative materials for technologies
solar, energy storage, sustainability, also orienting activities in
application directions to train new generations of scientists». He won the prize
"Spirit of Salam" 2023. Can science really cross borders? "I have
traveled a lot in these years because I wanted to interact with scientists and students of
all over the world: I have lectured in 50 different countries. Science is without borders if
there is already basic knowledge that allows it to be transmitted. And when it happens, in
my scientific trips to countries such as Central or South America, Africa, Asia, I find
a unique enthusiasm and gratitude». Wrote the essay "Survival Skills For
Scientists", what do you think are the essential skills for a scientist?
«There are skills that are often not taught at university, yet they are
fundamentals: it is important to know how to present your work, how to write
a research project, like doing an interview. The book is the result of a course from
same title that in Montreal, and beyond, received a great response».