Last week, Astrocent had the privilege of hosting Prof. Fernando Ferroni, a renowned physicist and a former president of INFN (Italy’s National Institute for Nuclear Physics).
Prof. Ferroni, currently a senior professor at the Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) in L’Aquila, is well known for his leadership in cutting-edge research. In addition to his many accolades, he serves as one of the directors of the Einstein Telescope project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionising gravitational-wave astronomy.
During his visit, Prof. Ferroni met with our research team at Astrocent. He toured the office spaces and electronics laboratory, taking a closer look at the advancements we’ve achieved in the area of seismic sensors led by Dr Mariusz Suchenek. Casual discussions touched on various topics, including why mountain tunnels are safest during earthquakes, challenges in human space exploration, and rocket tracking. The scientists also shared insights on underground laboratories and the technology behind constructing the Einstein Telescope, the future gravitational wave observatory to be built in Europe. A key point of conversation was the link between science and industry, emphasising the importance of research with future industrial applications in mind.
This visit was particularly timely in light of our flagship Teaming for Excellence project starting in January 2025. One of its key components will be much larger topical involvement in the Einstein Telescope project. Prof. Ferroni has previously been to Astrocent in May 2019. This offered an excellent opportunity to reflect on the remarkable progress our Centre has made since his previous visit.
