My Story...

Born in Ferrara in 1958, and currently Senior Associate Astronomer of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Italy. Studied astronomy at the Bologna University and worked longtime in Milan (Brera Astronomical Observatory), Mexico (INAOE, National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics, Puebla), and Spain (Roque de los Muchachos International Observatory, La Palma). Now at the Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory in Bologna.
Since 1986, I've been teaching several experimental and theoretical courses of Astrophysics at the Universities of Milan and Bologna, and at INAOE, also mentoring some 40 MSc and PhD thesis in Physics, Astrophysics and Philosophy of Science in Milan, Bologna, Naples, Mexico.
In my earlier career I extensively worked on the study of galaxy and globular cluster spectrophotometric evolution across the cosmic time. This original field of research has been accompanied, in more recent years, by a prevailing activity on Space Situational Awareness (SSA) issues related to the physical and dynamical characterization of natural (meteors & NEO) and artificial space debris (the so-called "Kessler Syndrome"). Both these fields of study rely on numerical models and observing programmes at the major telescopes, from ground and space.
I currently serve in the Steering Committee of OCIS, in the framework of the European SST Consortium for Space Surveillance and Defense, as INAF National Representative, together with members of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Air Force (AM). I've also been contributing to the Working Team of the Italian Prime Minister's Office on the same themes of Space Policy.
This experience on project coordination and management also urged me to delve into related technological problems dealing with the realization of cutting-edge astronomical instrumentation for the SSA/SST institutional activities and services.
My research has been supported by various financial grants provided by Italian (MIUR, GNA/CNR, ASI, INAF), Mexican (CONACyT) and European (EEC) institutions. My scientific production comprises about 200 publications, in all the major professional journals worldwide. This led to about 4500 citations with a total Hirtsch Index of 33 (as from the Google Scholar database). My ORCID number is 0000-0002-6514-1870.
I presented original contributions in some 80 international conferences, and offered invited seminars at major international universities and research centers. I've been SOC co-chairman in various international conferences, and Scientific Editor for the Kluwer Academic Publishers, the Astronomical Society of Pacific (USA), and the Italian Astronomical Society. Currently Associate Editor of the Frontiers' journal Frontiers of Space Technology, international referee of astrophysics and space research journals, and scientific/academic evaluator for INAF (Italy), NCN (Poland), CONACyT (Mexico) and CONICET (Argentina).