Personal data
Name and Surname: Andrea Contin
Date and place of birth: 19/6/1954, Padova (PD), Italy
E-mail: andrea.contin@unibo.it
Website: http://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/andrea.contin
Education
1972 - 1977: Degree in Physics (25/2/1977), University of Padua
1967 - 1972: Liceo Scientifico Barbarigo, Padova, Italy
Actual position
Full Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna
Work experience
1/11/1994 - now: Full Professor, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Zamboni 33, 40126 Bologna Italy
1/11/1987 - 31/10/1994: Research Staff Member, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), CH 1211 Geneva Switzerland
1/7/1984 - 10/31/1987 Researcher, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Zamboni 33, 40126 Bologna Italy
1/7/1980 - 30/6/1984 Research Staff Member, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), CH 1211 Geneva Switzerland
1/7/1978 - 30/6/1980 Fellow, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), CH 1211 Geneva
1) Scientific Activity in Elementary Particles Physics and Astrophysics
Prof. Contin's professional research activity in the field of Elementary Particles Physics started in 1977 and concerned:
• the study of strong electromagnetic weak interactionsand at high energy, with participation in various experiments with proton, neutrino, electron and positron beams, using accelerators at CERN (Geneva, Switzerland) and DESY (Hamburg, Germany) (experiments R406, R422, WA48, ZEUS, L3);
• the study of neutrino physics and astrophysics, phenomenology of high-energy cosmic rays and proton decay in the Gran Sasso National Laboratories (LVD experiment);
• the study of cosmic rays in space, the search for antimatter in cosmic rays and the determination of the origin of dark matter in the Universe (experiments AMS-01 and AMS-02);
• the technological development of detectors dedicated to the measurement of particles produced in high energy hadron interactions (LAA and RD25 programs).
Among the most original and scientifically valuable results of his research are the measurement of the production characteristics of new particles containing heavy quarks ("charm" and "beauty"), the development of a new method of analysis for the comparison of multiadronic production in proton-proton interactions, in electron-positron annihilations and in the processes of "Deep Inelastic Scattering", the determination of new limits for the production of free quarks and other particles provided by extensions of the Standard Model of Elementary Particles, the measurement of the number of quarks and leptons families and the measurement of the properties of the intermediate boson Z0 and of the parameters of the Standard Model at the resonance energy of the Z0.
Since 1996, Prof. Contin has focused his research activities on the design and construction of the apparatus for measuring the time-of-flight in the AMS experiment (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer), in which about 300 US, Europeans, Chinese and Russian scientists participate. AMS is led by Nobel Prize winner Samuel CC Ting and is dedicated to the search for antimatter in cosmic rays and to the determination of the origin of the dark matter present in the Universe. The apparatus flew aboard the Shuttle Discovery from 2 to 12 June 1998 and an improved version has been installed in May 2011 on the International Space Station for a data taking which will last at least ten years. The main result achieved so far concerns the unforeseen abundance of positrons to energies of a few hundred GeV, an indication of an unknown source that could be constituted by dark matter.
Prof. Contin has been a member of the Italian Physical Society since 1977 and associated to the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Section of Bologna, since 1978.
Positions of responsibility in the field of research in physics and astrophysics:
a) Principal Investigator of CERN RD25 research and development program, with the aim of developing new detectors using scintillating fibers and quartz fibers immersed in lead matrices for the identification and measurement of particles produced in high energy hadron interactions. (about 10 people involved with economic resources for about 0.5 million in the period 1991-1993)
b) Member of the Technical-Scientific Committee of the LAA program, realized between 1987 and 1994 as a special project at CERN in Geneva, with responsibility for the definition of research and program management issues. (about 100 people involved involved with economic resources for about 15 million euros)
c) Responsible for the activities of the INFN Bologna Section for the AMS-02 experiment, concerning the construction and flight operations of the Time-Of-Flight System (TOF). (about 15 people involved involved with economic resources for about 4 million euros in the period 2005-2019)
d) Responsible for the ASI-INFN Implementation Agreement: "Scientific Activities of the AMS Experiment" n. 2013-002-R.0. (about 20 people involved with economic resources for about 2 million euros in the period 2013-2019)
e) Responsible for the AMS-02 experiment in the CERN Finance Review Committee. (management of the Common Fund of the experiment, for about € 750,000 a year)
2) Scientific Activity in Environmental Sciences
Prof. Contin's professional research activity in the field of Environmental Sciences, started in 2002, and concerned:
• the development of Environmental Management Systems, Environmental Information Systems, Environmental Analysis and Reports and methods for Environmental Communication, in order to analyze risks and environmental opportunities of public organizations and private companies, improve their internal processes and use of resources, and communicate effectively with the public and the organizations responsible for environmental control (preparation and maintenance of the Environmental Management Systems of the Municipalities of Riolo Terme, Casola Valsenio, Brisighella, Faenza, GESAP SpA - management company of Palermo Airport, Tor Paterno Marine Protected Area; Energy Plan and Energy Management of the Province of Ravenna, Sustainability Report of Unigrà Srl, Airport Carbon Accreditation of the Bologna Airport, territorial management in the INTERREG III PASLAMONE project);
• the study of the effects of high frequency electromagnetic fields (1.8 GHz) on the expression of genes and proteins sensitive to stress factors in human cells;
• technological developments within the Emilia-Romagna Region's High Technology Network, 2014-2020 POR-FESR program, concerning the use of residual biomass for energy purposes (TERMOREF and GOBIOM projects), the extraction of biomass chemical compounds from wastes (VALSOVIT project) and the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the Ravenna Port area (CLEANPORT project);
• technological developments within the European Union's H2020 program for the construction of demonstrators, in the period 2017-2022, for the production of biofuels for cars and airplanes (TO-SYN-FUEL and FlexJET projects);
• technological developments within the European Climate-KIC program concerning the use of residual biomass for energy purposes (MUBIGEN project);
• development of indicators for the control of the sustainable production of bioproducts (bioplastics and others) within the European Union's H2020 program (STAR-ProBio project);
• technological developments dedicated to the production of bioproducts in collaboration with the Fraunhofer UMSICHT Institute, Sulzbach-Rosenberg Branch (Germany), as part of the mentioned H2020 projects.
Positions of responsibility in the field of environmental research:
a) Head of the Environmental Management Research Group of the University of Bologna from 2002 to now (24 people involved with economic resources for 1.5 million euros in the period 2002-2018).
b) Responsible for the mapping of the regional availability of residual biomasses for the regional projects TERMOREF, GOBIOM, VALSOVIT and CLEANPORT) (about 40 people involved with economic resources for about 4 million euros in the 2016-2018 period);
c) Responsible for the University of Bologna of the H2020 projects:
• TO-SYN-FUEL (Grant 745749) - Innovation Action, 12 international partners including 7 companies, with a total budget of 14.5 million euros in the period 2017-2021;
• FlexJET (Grant 792216) - Innovation Action, 13 international partners including 8 companies, with a total budget of 11.1 million euros in the period 2018-2022;
• STAR-ProBio (Grant 7277490) - Research and Innovation Action, 15 international partners including 5 companies, with a total budget of 5.3 million euro in the period 2018-2022.
d) Responsible for the University of Bologna of the Climate-KIC MUBIGEN project - Pathfinder, 3 international partners with a total budget of 0.9 million euro in the period 2013-2014.
3) Scientific Management and Evaluation of Research Results Activities
Prof. Contin has carried out the following scientific management of complex structures at an international level:
• member, since 1986, of the President's Office of the International Center for Scientific Culture - World Laboratory (https://search.archives.un.org/international-centre-for-scientific-culture-world-laboratory, http: //www.federationofscientists.org/WfsWorldLab.php), an international NGO based in Lausanne (Switzerland) and with advisory status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which carries out projects in the scientific, technical, environmental and medical fields, in particular for the benefit of developing countries; Prof. Contin participated in the definition and follow-up of the Organization's program, with regard to the execution of more than 40 scientific and technical collaboration projects, the creation of about thirty research centers in several countries in Asia, Africa, South America and the Community of Independent States (former Soviet Union) and the negotiation of governmental cooperation agreements with twenty countries.
At the national level, Prof. Contin has held the following roles:
• From 1998 to 2004, Chairman of the Degree Course in Environmental Sciences at the Ravenna Campus of the University of Bologna, with responsibility for the coordination of the overall teaching activities.
• From 2001 to 2007, President of the Ravenna Campus, with responsibility for fundraising, for relations with local and national authorities and for the overall management of the Campus.
• Since 2009, Director of the Interdepartmental Research Center in Environmental Sciences of the University of Bologna with responsibility for the overall management of the Center's research activities.
In 2013 (MIUR Directorial Decree n. 13 of 4 January 2013), Prof. Contin has been nominated member of the Commission for National Scientific Abilitation in Experimental Physics of Fundamental Interactions, in which he acted as President.
In 2013, Prof. Contin started a scientific collaboration with the Fraunhofer UMSICHT Institute, Sulzbach-Rosenberg Branch (Germany). The result of this collaboration is the first Collaboration Agreement, in force since 2014, between the German Fraunhofer Gesellshaft, which is the largest industrial research institution in the World, and an Italian university.
Since 2017, Prof. Contin, in close collaboration with the International Affairs Directorate of Fraunhofer Gesellshaf (Dr. Thomas Dickert), has been promoting the opening of the first Fraunhofer Project Center in Italy in collaboration with the Emilia-Romagna Region and the University of Bologna.
Positions of responsibility in the field of scientific management and evaluation:
a) 1998 - 2004: President of the Degree Course in Environmental Sciences at the Ravenna office of the University of Bologna.
b) 2001 - 2007: President of the Campus of Ravenna of the Univerasity of Bologna.
c) 2009 - now: Director of the Interdepartmental Research Center in Environmental Sciences of the University of Bologna.
d) 2012 - 2015: President of the Commission for National Scientific Abilitation in Experimental Physics of Fundamental Interactions.
e) 2022 - now: Managing Director FIP-WE@UNIBO.
Publications
The scientific activity of Prof. Contin is documented by more than 400 publications in international scientific journals.
Bibliometric indicators:
H-Index: 68
More than 22,000 citations
A selection of the twenty most significant publications is given below (citations as of 31/1/2019).
AMS-02 e AMS-01 experiments:
1. M. Aguilar, et al., First Result from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station: Precision Measurement of the Positron Fraction in Primary Cosmic Rays of 0.5-350 GeV, PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 110 (14) (2013) – 872 citations
2. L. Accardo, et al., High Statistics Measurement of the Positron Fraction in Primary Cosmic Rays of 0.5-500 GeV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station, PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 113 (12) (2014). – 417 citations
3. M. Aguilar, et al., Electron and Positron Fluxes in Primary Cosmic Rays Measured with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station, PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 113 (12) (2014). – 376 citations
4. M. Aguilar, et al., Precision Measurement of the Proton Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays from Rigidity 1 GV to 1.8 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station, PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 114 (17) (2015). – 372 citations
5. M. Aguilar, et al., Precision Measurement of the (e(+) + e(-)) Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays from 0.5 GeV to 1 TeV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station, PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 113 (22) (2014) – 187 citations
6. M. Aguilar, et al., Cosmic-ray positron fraction measurement from 1 to 30 GeV with AMS-01, PHYSICS LETTERS B 646 (4) (2007) 145–154. – 279 citations
7. J. Alcaraz, et al., Leptons in near earth orbit, PHYSICS LETTERS B 484 (1-2) (2000) 10–22. – 239 citations
8. J. Alcaraz, et al., Protons in near earth orbit, PHYSICS LETTERS B 472 (1-2) (2000) 215–226. – 148 citations
L3 experiment:
9. B. Adeva, et al., A determination of the properties of the neutral intermediate vector boson Z0, PHYSICS LETTERS B 231 (4) (1989) 509–518. – 336 citations
ZEUS experiment:
10. S. Chekanov, et al., Measurement of the neutral current cross section and F2 structure function for deep inelastic e(+)p scattering at HERA, EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL C 21 (3) (2001) 443–471 – 382 citations
11. M. Derrick, et al., Observation of events with a large rapidity gap in deep-inelastic scattering at HERA, PHYSICS LETTERS B 315 (3-4) (1993) 481–493 – 312 citations
12. F. D. Aaron, et al., Combined measurement and QCD analysis of the inclusive e(+/-)p scattering cross sections at HERA, JOURNAL OF HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS (2010) 2010: 109 – 299 citations
13. J. Breitweg, et al., ZEUS results on the measurement and phenomenology of F2 at low x and low Q(2), EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL C 7 (4) (1999) 609–630. – 283 citazioni
14. J. Alcaraz, et al., Cosmic protons, PHYSICS LETTERS B 490 (1-2) (2000) 27–35. – 266 citations
15. M. Derrick, et al., Measurement of the proton structure-function F2 in ep scattering at HERA, PHYSICS LETTERS B 316 (2-3) (1993) 412–426. – 257 citations
16. M. DERRICK, et al., Measurement of total and partial photon proton cross-sections at 180 GeV center-of- mass energy, ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PHYSIK C-PARTICLES AND FIELDS 63 (3) (1994) 391–408. – 251 citations
17. M. Derrick, et al., Measurement of the F-2 structure function in deep inelastic e(+)p scattering using 1994 data from the ZEUS detector at HERA, ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PHYSIK C-PARTICLES AND FIELDS 72 (3) (1996) 399–424. – 246 citations
18. S. Chekanov, et al., Evidence for a narrow baryonic state decaying to K(S)(0)p and K-S(0)(p)over-bar in deep inelastic scattering at HERA, PHYSICS LETTERS B 591 (1-2) (2004) 7–22. – 232 citations
19. J. Breitweg, et al., Comparison of ZEUS data with standard model predictions for e(+)p- into e(+)X scattering at high x and Q(2), ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PHYSIK C-PARTICLES AND FIELDS 74 (2) (1997) 207–220. – 231 citations
20. M. Derrick, et al., A measurement of σtot(γp) at root-s=210 GeV, PHYSICS LETTERS B 293 (3-4) (1992) 465–477. – 223 citations
