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Biography
AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjectsRelationships
PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorRiccardo Giacconi
Dates
October 6, 1931 – present
Authorized Form of Name
Giacconi, Riccardo
Additional Forms of Names
Giacconi, R. (Riccardo)
Giacconi, Riccardo, 1931-
Biography
Abstract
Riccardo Giacconi is President at Associated Universities, Inc. (1999-2004). Other institutional affiliations include Johns Hopkins University and the European Southern Observatory. His research interests include x-ray astronomy and cosmic rays.
Important Dates
October 6, 1931Birth, Genoa (Italy).
1954Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Milan, Milan (Italy).
1954 – 1956Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Milan, Milan (Italy).
1956 – 1958Fulbright Fellow, Indiana University.
1958 – 1959Research Associate, Cosmic Ray Laboratory, Princeton University.
1959 – 1973Senior Scientist and Vice President, Space Research and System Division (1959-1969) and Executive Vice-President (1969-1973), American Science and Engineering Corporation, Billerica (Mass.).
1960 – 1981Principle Investigator, SAS-A (UHURU), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
1966 – 1973Member, Board of Directors, American Science and Engineering, Inc.
1971Member, National Academy of Sciences.
1973 – 1981Professor of Astronomy and Associate Director, High Energy Astrophysics Division, Center for Astrophysics, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).
1979 – 1982Member, Council, American Astronomical Society.
1981 – 1992Director, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore (Md.).
1982 – 1986President, Committee 48, International Astronomical Union.
1982 – presentProfessor of Physics (1982-1997) and Research Professor (1998-present), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (Md.).
1987Awarded Wolf Foundation Prize in Physics.
1989 – 1993Member, Executive Committee, Space Studies Board, National Academy of Sciences.
1991 – presentProfessor of Physics, University of Milan, Milan (Italy).
1992 – 1998Director General, European Southern Observatory, Garching bei Munchen (Germany).
1999 – 2004President, Associated Universities, Inc, Washington (D.C.).
2002Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics "for pioneering contributions to astrophysics, which have led to the discovery of cosmic X-ray sources".
2003Awarded National Medal of Science.
Occupation
Astrophysicist.
Places
Birth
Graduate Education
Employment
Garching bei Munchen (Germany)
Subjects
Relationships
People
Family
Giacconi, Anna
Daughter.
Giacconi, Guia
Daughter.
Giacconi, Mirella
Wife.
Colleagues
Bennett, Charles L. (Charles Leonard), 1956-
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Conant, James Bryant, 1893-1978
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Both employed at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
Both employed at Harvard University.
Menzel, Donald H. (Donald Howard), 1901-1976
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at Princeton University.
Additional
Bowyer, C. Stuart, 1934-
Clark, George W.
Field, George B., 1929-
Johnson, Hugh M.
Both awarded Nobel Prizes in Physics in 2002 for separate projects.
O'Dell, C. Robert (Charles Robert), 1937-
Roman, Nancy Grace, 1925-
Tananbaum, Harvey D.
Institutions
Major Positions
American Science and Engineering, Inc.
Senior Scientist and Vice President, Space Research and System Division; Executive Vice-President; and Member, Board of Directors.
Associated Universities, Inc.
President.
European Southern Observatory
Director General.
Harvard University. Department of Astronomy
Professor of Astronomy.
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Associate Director, High Energy Astrophysics Division.
Johns Hopkins University. Department of Physics
Professor of Physics and Research Professor.
Princeton University. Department of Astrophysical Sciences
Research Associate, Cosmic Ray Laboratory.
Space Telescope Science Institute (U.S.)
Director.
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Principal Investigator, SAS-A (UHURU).
Università di Milano
Obtained PhD in Physics (1954). Assistant Professor of Physics and Professor of Physics.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
Member, Council.
Indiana University, Bloomington. Department of Physics
Fulbright Fellow.
International Astronomical Union
President, Committee 48.
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Member, Executive Committee, Space Studies Board and Member.
Wolf Foundation Prizes
Received 1987 Wolf Foundation Prize in Physics.
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
AIP Physics Today Division unpublished letters to the editors, 1972-1983.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
History of physics II [sound recording], 2011 May 2.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
National Air and Space Museum Space Telescope History Project records, 1983-1990.
Archives Division
Smithsonian Institution
MRC 322, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
Oral history interview with Riccardo Giacconi, 1976 July 12.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interviews. Space Science: Einstein Observatory (HEAO-2), 1992-1994.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Riccardo Giacconi papers, 1980-1981.
Archives. Pusey Library
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Riccardo Giacconi videohistory interviews, 2004.
Smithsonian Institution
Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024-2520, USA
Subject
Herbert Friedman papers, circa 1940-2000.
Library
American Philosophical Society
105 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
Hugh M. Johnson papers, 1946-1999
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Kip Thorne interviews conducted for his book "Black Holes and Time Warps," 1980-1989.
Institute Archives
California Institute of Technology
1201 East California Blvd. (Mail Code 015A-74), Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
Oral history interview with C. Stuart Bowyer, 1976 July 28 and 10 March 1978.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Charles Robert O'Dell, 1985 May 21 to 23.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with George Brooks Field, 1980 July 14 and 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with George Field, 2007 December 5.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with George Whipple Clark, 1976 July 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Harvey Tananbaum, 2002 June 24, 26.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Herbert Friedman, 1980 August 21.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Nancy Grace Roman, 1980 August 19.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Riccardo Giacconi papers, circa 1955-2008.
Smithsonian Institution
Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024-2520, USA
Selected talks from Corporate Associates Meetings [videorecording] : 1983-1987.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Video Interviews with Nobel Prize Winners in Physics, 2004-2006.
Sussex Innovation Centre. Science Park Square
Vega Science Trust
Brighton BN1 9SB, England UK
Published Resources
Author
Secrets of the hoary deep : a personal history of modern astronomy / Riccardo Giacconi.
The x-ray universe / Wallace Tucker, Riccardo Giacconi.
X-ray astronomy / edited by Riccardo Giacconi and Herbert Gursky.