CERN is in the hands of a woman: The European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva, Switzerland, has elected Fabiola Gianotti as its new director general ..
The Italian physicist – the first female scientist to hold this distinguished scientific position – will succeed outgoing director Rolf Dieter Heuer.
The 52-year-old researcher led the research team that confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson at CERN and has an impressive resume and numerous scientific publications.
Gianotti beat out two other distinguished colleagues: Dutchman Frank Linde, director of the Nikhef National Institute for Nuclear Physics in Amsterdam, and Britishman Terry Wyatt, professor at the University of Manchester. Both Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Education Minister Stefania Giannini congratulated the Italian physicist.
"The election of Gianotti as director of CERN is a huge honor for Italian science. I am sure that Gianotti will do the best job possible in her new position, adding further personal successes to her already great scientific career to date," Giannini said.
Two years ago, the Italian physicist "clashed" with US President Barack Obama over who would be TIME magazine's Person of the Year for 2012. The magazine's cover was ultimately graced by the US president.
Source: in.gr
