Bernini: «The Einstein Telescope is an unrepeatable bet»
The minister will be in Sardinia on Monday, visiting Lula in the afternoon
"An unmissable opportunity", defines it the minister of the University Anna Maria Bernini. «A sort of small Italian Cern could arise in Sardinia, a center that would become a point of reference for international scientific research. The Government believes in our country's candidacy: we have the excellence, we have the area of the former Sos Enattos mine which is perfect for hosting the largest gravitational wave telescope in the world. We have all the cards, now it's up to us to play this game well against the Netherlands, our competitors".
Bolognese, born in 1965, lawyer, very elegant iron lady of Forza Italia, former minister for European Policies in the Berlusconi IV government, Anna Maria Bernini boasts a great deal of experience – as a lawyer and university professor – in the field of arbitration, conciliation, extrajudicial methods of conflict resolution. There is no conflict with Holland; however, there is competition, so it is better to have a minister capable of, as she says, "play this game well". And of Lula's Einstein Telescope, you have repeatedly underlined "the great scientific and strategic value for our country".
Minister Bernini, employment repercussions are also expected. Has a projection been made, an estimate of the jobs that would be created?
«Of course, an initial feasibility study was carried out. We expect about 36,000 jobs just for the construction of the infrastructure. Then we will have, in addition to researchers, not only technical personnel, but also services, infrastructures and a whole series of related activities. An important opportunity for Sardinia and for the whole of Italy».
What is the expected investment?
«The volume of business estimated by the studies is around 6 billion euros in nine years, which is the period of time necessary to build the telescope. In the coming months we will refine this research, with the technical development of the project».
The president of the Region Christian Solinas returned to the importance of the project asking the Government to continue to play an active part in the confrontation with the protagonists and with Europe. What steps still need to be taken to overcome Holland?
«We started the journey well. We can boast an exceptional testimonial such as the Nobel laureate Giorgio Parisi, in the meantime we have activated the diplomatic network to gather the support of the countries interested or potentially interested in the project. The entrance of Ambassador Ettore Sequi as head of delegation in the Board of Government Representatives of Einstein Telescope is also a very important step in this phase. I myself spoke about this candidacy with the European Commissioner for Research, Mariya Gabriel, during a bilateral meeting at Palazzo Chigi. And at the Ministry we are preparing a solid candidacy dossier on the economic impacts, the involvement of businesses, technology transfer and the necessary infrastructures. The end result will be the fruit of real teamwork».
What is the strong point of our country's candidacy, the quality that Holland cannot boast?
«Excellence. I am thinking of all the Italian researchers who bring our country's name to the top in the scientific field, of their expertise and experience. We can boast a long tradition that has already led to the construction of infrastructures such as the underground laboratories of the Gran Sasso or the installation in Tuscany of the Virgo detector, so far the only laboratory in Europe dedicated to the study of gravitational waves".
Why was Lula's site identified?
«Barbagia is an exceptional place, the site of Sos Enattos has unique characteristics. It is one of the quietest places on earth, an indispensable condition for being able to detect the vibrations associated with the passage of the waves. It is a stable area from a seismic point of view, there is a low level of anthropic noise, which is why the former mine can be reused as an underground base for the project».
In Sardinia there is fear that the Gomoretta wind farm project will end up putting the island (and Italy) out of the game. In January, the then undersecretary Augusta Montaruli, responding to a question, spoke of the Ministry's study to verify the impact of existing wind farms and define a minimum distance. Where are we?
"We must give utmost importance to the scientific studies produced by the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, to guarantee the construction of the infrastructure, and we will communicate the decisions of the Government as soon as possible, which is making the Einstein Telescope a real priority".
Changing topic. He announced that from next year in Medicine the closed number will be exceeded, with 30% more places. He added that it will be necessary to define the real need for new members by consulting the Regions. Does that mean that percentage will be retouched?
«There is a group set up in the Ministry which is working on a scrupulous analysis of actual needs. Based on very first estimates, we assume an increase in seats of between 20% and 30% compared to the past. But for the consolidated number we await the conclusions of the technical table, which includes the needs of all interested parties. We want to increase the places available in Medicine but in a planned and sustainable way".
There's the graduate school funnel...
«Today we register excessive demand for some specializations, while others are almost deserted. Thus we risk having some completely inflated qualifications and, for example, not having personnel for emergency medicine. With the Ministry of Health we want to intervene on this. These are reforms that require time and resources, but which we must support".
He spoke of the Mattei Plan of research. Wouldn't it be enough to pay young (and no longer young) researchers better, with decent salaries?
“The bleeding of our brains going abroad must be stopped. We spend money to train these young talents who shine elsewhere, leaving behind skills and successes. This is why I spoke of the need for a Mattei Research Plan. We must ensure that these researchers return to our country strengthened by an international experience. But at the same time we must become attractive to foreign researchers. I believe in scientific cooperation, research grows with sharing».
In a few days he will be in Lula...
«I will be in Sardinia at the beginning of next week for the inauguration of the academic year of the Universities of Cagliari and Sassari. And on Monday afternoon I will have the pleasure of visiting the Sos Enattos website».
Piera Serusi
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