1923-1927 Vito Volterra

Vito Volterra (1860-1940), CNR Chairman from 1923 to 1927, graduated "magna cum laude" in physics in 1882 at the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa. He was already a well-known scientist when in 1892, he became professor of rational mechanics at the University of Turin. In 1900, he moved to Rome where he held the chair of physics mathematics until 1931, when he was forced to leave university because he refused to take an oath to the fascist regime.
Volterra is one of the founders of the Italian Society of Physics (1897) and of the Researche and Invention bureau of Rome (1917). He was appointed senator of the kingdom for scientific merits. From 1923 to 1927, he was chairman of the Academy of the Lincei; always because of fascism, he was dismissed in 1935. Since then and until his death, Volterra was excluded from the national scientific life, although he held the position of Chairman of the Bureau International des Poids et des Mesures, with offices in Paris. His innovative and fundamental scientific contribution to the fields of mathematics and his intuitions on the theory of the functionals opened up new horizons to the mathematical analysis.

1927-1937 Guglielmo Marconi

Between 1894 and 1895, Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) introduced a primitive system of communications such as that of the receiving and transmitting aerial. In 1896, he moved to England to develop his invention and he obtained the patent 12.039. In 1900 he founded the "Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company". By going through the world with his floating laboratory "Elettra", Marconi contributed further to the refinement of the radio. He won the Nobel prize for physics in 1909 (in addition to several degrees "honoris causa" in physics); in 1914 Marconi was appointed senator of the kingdom and in 1930 chairman of the Academy of Italy. The day before his death - 20 July 1937 - he reported the results of his studies on some properties of the ultra short waves to CNR.

1937-1941 Pietro Badoglio

In 1926, Pietro Badoglio (1871-1956) became Marshall of Italy. From 1929 to 1936, he was governor of Libya where he completed the battle against Ethiopia. CNR Chairman from 1937 to 1941, he was back on the political scene on July 25, 1943 to hold the position of Prime Minister until the liberation of Rome by the allied forces.

1941-1943 Giancarlo Vallauri

Giancarlo Vallauri (1882-1957), naval Staff officer, graduated in industrial engineering with post graduate studies in electrotechnics at the University of Naples in 1908. Professor of electrotechnics at the School of Engineering of Turin and Chairman of the National Electrotechnics Institute "G. Ferraris", Vallauri was member of the Academy of the Lincei, of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and of the Academy of Italy.

1943-1944 Francesco Giordani

Francesco Giordani (1896-1961) graduated in organic and inorganic chemistry at Naples where he became professor of organic chemistry and manager of the laboratory of electrochemistry of the same university. Giordani was Chairman of IRI, CNR and CNEN. He was member of the Academy of Italy, of the Academy of the Lincei (of which he was Chairman from 1956 to 1961), and of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Author of researches in electrochemistry, Giordani invented with Pomicio a method which could be used in several country of the world for the extraction of the cellulose from the straw of cereals.

1944-1956 Gustavo Colonnetti

Gustavo Colonnetti (1944-1956) was member of the constituent assembly in 1946. He studied at the School of Engineering of Turin where he graduated in Engineering and sciences. In 1915, he got the chair of structural engineering at the School of Engineering of Pisa of which he became Chairman three years later. In 1928, he held the chair of structural engineering at the School of Engineering of Turin of which he then became rector. Colonnetti's contribution to the theory of elasticity in the structural engineering is fundamental. He was member of the Pontifical Academy after the Second World War and since 1948 member of the Academy of the Lincei.

1956-1960 Francesco Giordani

Francesco Giordani (1896-1961), CNR Chairman from 1943 to 1944, graduated in organic and inorganic chemistry at Naples where he became professor of organic chemistry and manager of the laboratory of electrochemistry of the same university. Giordani was Chairman of IRI, CNR and CNEN. He was member of the Academy of Italy, of the Academy of the Lincei (of which he was Chairman from 1956 to 1961), and of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Author of researches in electrochemistry, Giordani invented with Pomicio a method which could be used in several country of the world for the extraction of the cellulose from the straw of cereals.

1960-1965 Giovanni Polvani

Giovanni Polvani (1892-1970) studied at the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa and in 1926 he won the chair of experimental physics at the University of Bari, where he taught for one year. In 1927, he went back to Pisa as professor of technical physics. Two years later, he moved to Milan where he held the chair of Experimental Physics at the public University, of which he then became rector.
His research activity covered the great themes of classical physics such as electro-dynamics, statistical mechanics, etc. Just before the Second World War, Piovani felt the need to refine new instruments to give a positive course to the research on cosmic rays; just at the beginning of and after the war, he did everything to reorganize the research in physics and to fill the gap between researchers brought about by the destructions of the war.
In 1947, he became Chairman of the Italian Society of Physics and he took up the management of the journal "Il Nuovo Cimento". Inspirer of the CNR law reform of 1963, he closed the gap between scientific culture and humanistic culture, by introducing in CNR also the behavioural sciences.

1965-1972 Vincenzo Caglioti

Vincenzo Caglioti (1902-1998) graduated in chemistry at the University of Naples and in 1936, he became professor at the University of Florence. He was called back to Rome in 1938, where he taught until 1977 and was also at the head of the Institute of General Chemistry for many years. Member of the National Academy of the Lincei, in 1957, he won the National Prize for Chemistry of the Academy itself.

1972-1976 Alessandro Faedo

Alessandro Faedo (1913-2002) graduated in mathematics at Pisa where he held the chair of mathematical analysis. He was manager of the National University Centre of Electronic Calculus and dean of the Faculty of Mathematics of the University of Pisa. His contribution to the use of computers in the scientific calculus and in the realization of several laboratories such as CNUCE (National University Centre of Electronic Calculus) is remarkable.
AS CNR chairman, he led the body towards the implementation of targeted research programs. He was senator of the Republic and president of the Board of public education, fine arts, performing arts and sport.

1976-1984 Ernesto Quagliariello

Ernesto Quagliariello (1924) graduated in medicine at the University of Naples where, in 1954, he got his university teaching qualification in biological chemistry. In 1964, he got the chair of biological chemistry at the University of Bari, and he was rector from 1970 to 1977. In 1963, in Bari, he founded the Institute of Biological Chemistry, which became an international scientific body. As researcher in the field of biology of mitochondrions, he received some important international awards.

1984-1993 Luigi Rossi Bernardi

Rossi Bernardi was born in Piacenza in 1932. He was professor of Biological Chemistry at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Milan. In 1958, he graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Milan and in 1964, he got his PhD in Physics Biochemistry. In the 1970s, he distinguished himself in the field of respiratory physiology by cooperating with Italian, European and American research institutes.
From 1974 to 1984, Rossi Bernardi was the scientific manager of the S. Raffaele Institute of Milan. In 1982, he was appointed member of the Commission for the biomedical research of the Lombardy region. Rossi Bernardi was also Scientific Manager of the General Hospital of Milan, one of the greatest Italian scientific bodies specialized in the biomedical research. Before becoming CNR Chairman, he carried out activities of scientific Management for the body itself.

1993-1997 Enrico Garaci

Garaci was professor of Microbiology and rector of the "Tor Vergata" University of Rome. He became CNR chairman in 1993. He was born in Italy in 1942, he graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the "La Sapienza" University of Rome in 1966. In 1982, he was elected Rector of the "Tor Vergata" University; he maintained this position until 1994. He was author of about 150 publications and member of many national and international scientific societies. Garaci boosted the development of the Italian biomedical research. For his researches, he got the prestigious prize of the Institute for Advanced Studies on Immunology of Washington.
Before becoming CNR Chairman, Garaci incessantly carried out for twenty years activities of scientific Management.

1997-2003 Lucio Bianco

Lucio Bianco was born in Guardia dei Lombardi (Avellino) in 1941. He was professor of Operative Research at the Faculty of Engineering of the "Tor Vergata" University of Rome. In 1966, he graduated in Electronics Engineering at the University of Rome and in 1970 he got also his degree in Space Engineering. Lucio Bianco carried out for 26 years management activities in the National Research Council. From 1972 to 1981, he was member of the National Committee for Engineering Sciences and Architecture as well as of the National committee for Technological Researches. From December 1980 to April 1997, he was Manager of the Institute of Systems Analysis and of Computer Science of CNR. From July 1981 until his appointment as Chairman, he was manager of the Transports Targeted Project. He's currently member of the Editorial Board of national and international scientific journals and he has carried out management and professional consultancy activity for many organizations.

June 2003-June 2004 Adriano De Maio (CNR Commissioner)

From June 2003 to June 2004 Adriano De Maio was Commissioner of CNR, entrusted with the task of reforming the national research body.
After a long-lasting academic and scientific career and a nine-year rectorship at the Politecnico di MIlano, De Maio moved to Rome in October 2002, having come into the office of Rector of Luiss Guido Carli, where he is also Full Professor of Innovation Management, Faculty of Economics. Beyond his membership in many Scientific Committees and Board of Directors of major companies and associations, all through his career Adriano De Maio has published more than 40 among books and articles.

2004-2007   Fabio Pistella

Fabio Pistella was born in Brescia in 1944. He has been CNR Chairman since July 2004.
Graduated in Physics, he was Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the"Roma Tre" University; Director General of ENEA (Italian National Agency of New Technologies, Energy and the Environment); President of the public holding company REL; Member of the Board of Directors of AIRI (Italian Association for Industrial Research) and of IEFE (Centre for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics). He was Chairman of APRE (Agency for the Promotion of European Research) and of CERSE (Committee for the Research on the Electrical Sector); Administration Director of GRTN and CIRA (Italian Aerospace Research Centre); CNR Sub-Commissioner; Advisor of the Ministry of Education. He represented Italy in the European cooperation initiative Eureka, took part in several collective bodies of the EU, such as CREST (Committee for Scientific and Technological Research) and international bodies aimed at the cooperation in the research sector.
From December 2003 to July 2004 he was member of the Authority for Electricity and Gas. He is the author of over 150 scientific publications.