BERLIN - SIGN Network is born, the new association of Italian scientists active in Germany. It was promoted by the Ambassador of Italy in Berlin Armando Varricchio and it will be officially presented on October 12, at 18.00, at the Embassy itself. The signing ceremony of the constitutive statute will take place within the framework of an event that also includes a panel discussion on science and innovation, coordinated by Isabella Bufacchi of Sole24ore, and attended by the president of the CNR Maria Chiara Carrozza, by the director of DZHW Monika Jungbauer, by the head of internationalization FU Berlin Herbert Grieshop and by the executive director of SIGN Gianaurelio Cuniberti.
The association, named SIGN Network (Italian Scientists in Germany), aims to be a bilateral think tank on science and technology, which promotes good scientific practices in Italy, Germany and Europe, as well as carrying out and promoting scientific activities such as schools, seminars, awards and scholarships.
Registrations to SIGN are open, with no restrictions on nationality or scientific discipline, and will include the contribution of social sciences and humanities as well as natural, engineering, and technological sciences. As per the Statute, "ordinary members may be natural persons who work or have recently worked in Germany in the academic or industrial scientific or technological field, provided that they have received scientific training in Italy or have carried out scientific activity there.
German or Italian academic or industrial research institutes can also join the association as institutional members. Any admission to the association is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, which may provide for derogations if necessary".
The founding members of SIGN are about 45 scientists with significant roles within the German landscape. The "constituent" Board of Directors is composed of the Executive Director Gianaurelio Cuniberti (TU Dresden), the Deputy Director Sakura Pascarelli (XFEL Hamburg) and the ordinary members Chiara Franceschini (LMU Munich), Cristina Polidori (Uni Colonia), Emanuele Gatti (Hochschule Anhalt, Dessau) and Vincenzo Fiorentini (Scientific Attaché, Embassy Berlin).
The SIGN website will soon be available on sign-network.eu, as well as on twitter with handle @SIGNnw. To register or inquire, you can contact the email addresses council@sign-network.eu, berlino.scienza@esteri.it and vincenzo.fiorentini@esteri.it.
(aise)
