International contemporary art platform06.10.1931–09.12.2018
Riccardo Giacconi
Riccardo Giacconi (1931–2018) was an Italian-American astronomer and astrophysicist. He became a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 1971 and won the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics for pioneering research discovering cosmic X-ray sources.
Biography
Riccardo Giacconi was born on October 6, 1931, in Genoa, Italy. An astronomer and astrophysicist of Italian origin, he later acquired American citizenship. In 1971, Giacconi became a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, reflecting his recognition within the scientific community. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his research in astrophysics that led to the discovery of cosmic X-ray sources. He received half of the prize personally, while the other half was shared by Raymond Davis and Masatoshi Koshiba for contributions to neutrino astronomy. Riccardo Giacconi passed away on December 9, 2018, in San Diego, USA. In addition to his scientific work, he was involved in university teaching. His national and cultural affiliations include the Kingdom of Italy, Italy, and the United States.
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