Margherita Hack
Born in Florence June 12, 1922, Margherita Hack is one of the brightest minds of the Italian scientific community has lived and worked in a big way to science astrophysics. The first woman to direct an astronomical observatory in Italy, conducted a major outreach activities and has made a valuable contribution to research for the study and the spectral classification of stars of many categories.
Born into a family where the father, a Protestant, he worked as an accountant and mother, a Catholic, graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts, is a miniaturist at the prestigious Uffizi Gallery. Her parents, both critical and unmet each of their religious affiliation, adhere to the doctrines of Theosophy by building relationships with future in an environment that will support them during difficult times.
Not sympathetic to the Fascist regime of Mussolini, are victims of discrimination. Vegetarians are also convinced and will transmit this philosophy to his daughter Margaret.
He attended high school and started practicing basketball and track and field, obtaining good results at national level in the high jump. In 1943 the University of Florence, where he attended the School of Physics, after ten years found the childhood friend Aldo, who married the following year.
In 1945, after the war, Margherita Hack graduated with a thesis on astrophysics research on Cepheid, a class of variable stars. The work is conducted at the Astronomical Observatory of Arcetri, a place from which he has handled the stellar spectroscopy, which became his main field of research.
A period of temporary employment as an assistant at the Observatory, and as a teacher at the Institute of Optics, University of Florence. In 1947 the Ducati, Milanese industry that begins to deal with optics, provides a first job. Margaret agrees, he moved with his family mo after a single year feels the need to return to "his" university environment, in Florence.
And 'in 1964 when he became professor, obtaining the chair of astronomy at the Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Trieste.As a professor took charge of the direction of the Astronomical Observatory. His administration lasted for more than twenty years, until 1987, and will give new life to an institution that was last in Italy in both number of employees and researchers, and quality of scientific instruments, coming to her in the field risononza International.
The enormous development of teaching and research in universities has promoted Margherita Hack, gave birth in 1980 an "Institute of Astronomy," which was then replaced in 1985 by a "Department of Astronomy," which he directed until the scientist to 1990.
Since 1982, Margherita Hack has also edited a close collaboration with the astrophysics section of the 'International School for Advanced Studies' (SISSA).
He alternated the writing of scientific university, writing about music popular nature. The treaty "Stellar Spectroscopy", written at Berkeley in 1959 with Otto Struve (1897-1963) is still considered a seminal text.
Over time he worked for several newspapers and periodicals, founded in 1978 the magazine "Astronomy" which is till today the director. In 1980 he received the "Accademia dei Lincei" and in 1987 the prize "Culture of the Presidency of the Council."
Margherita Hack is a member of the Accademia dei Lincei, the International Astronomers Union and of the Royal Astronomical Society.
In 1992 he finished his career as a university professor on grounds of seniority, while continuing the research. In 1993 he was elected alderman in Trieste. And 'retired since 1997 but still directs "Regional Inter-University Centre for Astrophysics and Cosmology" (CIRAC) in Trieste, and is dedicated to meetings and conferences in order to "spread the knowledge of astronomy and scientific minds and rational. "
.
Born into a family where the father, a Protestant, he worked as an accountant and mother, a Catholic, graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts, is a miniaturist at the prestigious Uffizi Gallery. Her parents, both critical and unmet each of their religious affiliation, adhere to the doctrines of Theosophy by building relationships with future in an environment that will support them during difficult times.
Not sympathetic to the Fascist regime of Mussolini, are victims of discrimination. Vegetarians are also convinced and will transmit this philosophy to his daughter Margaret.
He attended high school and started practicing basketball and track and field, obtaining good results at national level in the high jump. In 1943 the University of Florence, where he attended the School of Physics, after ten years found the childhood friend Aldo, who married the following year.
In 1945, after the war, Margherita Hack graduated with a thesis on astrophysics research on Cepheid, a class of variable stars. The work is conducted at the Astronomical Observatory of Arcetri, a place from which he has handled the stellar spectroscopy, which became his main field of research.
A period of temporary employment as an assistant at the Observatory, and as a teacher at the Institute of Optics, University of Florence. In 1947 the Ducati, Milanese industry that begins to deal with optics, provides a first job. Margaret agrees, he moved with his family mo after a single year feels the need to return to "his" university environment, in Florence.
And 'in 1964 when he became professor, obtaining the chair of astronomy at the Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Trieste.As a professor took charge of the direction of the Astronomical Observatory. His administration lasted for more than twenty years, until 1987, and will give new life to an institution that was last in Italy in both number of employees and researchers, and quality of scientific instruments, coming to her in the field risononza International.
The enormous development of teaching and research in universities has promoted Margherita Hack, gave birth in 1980 an "Institute of Astronomy," which was then replaced in 1985 by a "Department of Astronomy," which he directed until the scientist to 1990.
Since 1982, Margherita Hack has also edited a close collaboration with the astrophysics section of the 'International School for Advanced Studies' (SISSA).
He alternated the writing of scientific university, writing about music popular nature. The treaty "Stellar Spectroscopy", written at Berkeley in 1959 with Otto Struve (1897-1963) is still considered a seminal text.
Over time he worked for several newspapers and periodicals, founded in 1978 the magazine "Astronomy" which is till today the director. In 1980 he received the "Accademia dei Lincei" and in 1987 the prize "Culture of the Presidency of the Council."
Margherita Hack is a member of the Accademia dei Lincei, the International Astronomers Union and of the Royal Astronomical Society.
In 1992 he finished his career as a university professor on grounds of seniority, while continuing the research. In 1993 he was elected alderman in Trieste. And 'retired since 1997 but still directs "Regional Inter-University Centre for Astrophysics and Cosmology" (CIRAC) in Trieste, and is dedicated to meetings and conferences in order to "spread the knowledge of astronomy and scientific minds and rational. "
.