Rubbia

Carlo Rubbia is an Italian experimental physicist and Nobel laureate born in 1934. He studied physics at the Sapienza University of Rome and obtained his doctorate later. He rose to prominence for leading the UA1 experiment at CERN's collider program, which investigated proton-antiproton collisions and led to the discovery of the W and Z bosons in 1983, providing crucial experimental confirmation of the electroweak theory. For his decisive contributions to this discovery, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984 with Simon van der Meer.

He later served as director-general of CERN from 1989 to 1994, during which time he promoted major upgrades and long-range planning for high-energy physics, including the vision for the Large Hadron Collider.

In later years, Rubbia has been involved in energy research and advocacy for accelerator-driven systems, such as the Energy Amplifier concept proposed as a potential route to safe nuclear energy and waste transmutation. He has continued to publish and engage in scientific policy, serving in advisory roles and representing Italian science on international projects. His work has had a lasting impact on experimental particle physics and the strategic direction of large research facilities.