Umberto Colombo (scientist)
| Umberto Colombo | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1927 |
| Died | 13 May 2006 (aged 78) Rome |
| Citizenship | Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Fields | Chemical Engineering Physical Chemistry |
| Institutions | University of Milan |
| Alma mater | University of Pavia |
| Notable awards | Honda award for ecotechnology (1984) |
Umberto Colombo (1927 – 13 May 2006) was an Jewish-Italian chemical engineer, academic and the minister of universities, science and technology of Italy.
Early life and education
Colombo was born in 1927.[1] He held a PhD in physical chemistry, which he received from the University of Pavia.[1][2] He was a Fulbright Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.[2]
Career
Colombo was a chemical engineer.[3] He was working as a professor at the University of Milan in the 1970s.[4] He served as the president of the Italian energy firm ENI for a short period from November 1982 to January 1983.[5] Then he was appointed as the head of the Italian nuclear energy unit.[6]
He served as the minister of universities, science and technology in the Ciampi cabinet from 1993 to 1994.[7][8] Then he became a member of the Italian national council of economy and labour.[3] He was also the chairman of LEAD-Europe.[9] He was one of the shareholders of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. Then he became a member of its board of directors in July 1995 and retired in November 2004.[10] Other posts he assumed included the chairman of ENEA (Italian national agency for new technology, energy and the environment; 1983-1993),[1] president of the European science foundation (1991-1993),[1] chairman of the Italian hydrocarbons trust, director general of Montedision's R&D and strategic planning, director of Montecatini's G. Donegani research centre, governor of the international development research centre (IDRC; 1985-1990) in Canada,[7] chairman of the United Nations's advisory committee on science and technology for development (1984-1986)[7] and president of the European institute research management association.[2][10] He was also a member of the Club of Rome's executive committee that had been founded by Aurelio Peccei.[11]
Works
Colombo and another Italian scientist Francesco Scaramuzzi carried out an experiment on nuclear fusion in April 1989.[12] They reported that their experiment was successful in creating nuclear fusion at room temperature with a novice technique.[12]
Awards
Colombo was the recipient of the Honda Foundation's award for ecotechnology in 1984.[1][13] He was also awarded China's state international scientific and technological cooperation award in 1999.[14]
Death
Colombo died in Rome on 13 May 2006.[10] He was 78.[10]
References
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