Riccardo Giacconi

Infobox_Scientist
name = Riccardo Giacconi

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imagesize=180px
caption = National Medal of Science award ceremony, 2003
birth_date = birth date and age|1931|10|6
birth_place = Genoa, Italy
death_date =
death_place =
residence = United States
nationality = Italy
United States
field = Physics
work_institution = Johns Hopkins University
Chandra X-ray Observatory
alma_mater = University of Milan
doctoral_advisor =
doctoral_students =
known_for = Astrophysics
prizes = Nobel Prize in Physics (2002)
religion =
footnotes =

Riccardo Giacconi (born October 6, 1931) is an Italian-born American Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist.

Biography

Born in Genoa, Italy, he received a degree from the University of Milan before moving to the US to pursue a career in astrophysics research. He became an American citizen.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2002 for pioneering contributions to astrophysics, which have led to the discovery of cosmic X-ray sources. He has simultaneously held the position of professor of physics and astronomy (1982–1997) and research professor (since 1998) at Johns Hopkins University, and is now University Professor. During this time, he was also Director General of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) (1993–1999). He is currently principal investigator for the Chandra Deep Field-South project with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Honour and awards

* Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy (1966)
* Bruce Medal (1981)
* Henry Norris Russell Lectureship (1981)
* Heineman Prize (1981)
* Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1982)
* Nobel Prize in Physics (2002)
* National Medal of Science (2003)
* Asteroid 3371 Giacconi

References

* [http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/brucemedalists/Giacconi/index.html Bruce Medal page]

Persondata
NAME= Giacconi, Riccardo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Physicist
DATE OF BIRTH= October 6, 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH= Genoa, Italy
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=