Why did you decide on UD? Two reasons: (1) Willett Kempton — he and I collaborated on a paper in 2007 and have been in touch since then. He’s inspired, advised and supported me and strongly advocated for UD in the past. (2) The research opportunities in offshore wind energy.
Hometown: Como, Italy
Major areas of research/scholarship: Meteorology, wind power, renewable energy, climate science, air pollution, pretty much anything that has to do with the atmosphere!
One of your biggest (academic) accomplishments: I was instrumental in making Airborne Wind Energy more accepted in the scientific community and in the public arena in general. Before my paper was published in 2009, AWE, which captures wind power high in the air using kites, gliders and other mechanisms, was almost science fiction to most people, and even AWE startups did not know about one another. I organized the first conference on AWE in 2009 in Chico, Calif., and within a few months the first consortium of AWE companies was born, and they are now at their fourth worldwide conference.
Current projects: I’m exploring the effects of kinetic energy extraction via wind turbines at the large scale on the global climate.
Greatest inspiration: Believe it or not, I never thought about this question before and find it very hard ... I am such a nerd! I thought about it for a day, and I think that this is what inspires me in a general sense: beauty, intelligence and math.
What else should we know about you? Another classic question that has left me and still leaves me speechless ... I love: my family of course, food made with love and reading fiction. Friends make me happy, and challenges make me feel alive. Beauty makes me feel good, and therefore I tend to like modern, essential, pure designs in all objects that I need, from wall clocks to forks. My favorite noise is that of wine when it's first poured in the glass, and I hate air conditioning. I have a hard time not saying what I think, and I think you have probably had enough of this!!