Project description
A new history of the ‘Via Panisperna Boys’
The ‘Via Panisperna Boys’, a group of young Italian scientists led by Enrico Fermi, discovered slow neutrons in 1934. This discovery paved the way for nuclear reactors and the first atomic bomb, leading to their legendary status in Italy. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PANISPERNA project will create a new, inclusive history of the group from the late 1920s to the publication of L. Sciascia’s novel on E. Majorana’s disappearance in 1975. By using a broad range of sources and an interdisciplinary approach, the project will explore the connections between science and power under various political regimes, and investigate the role of women in the group.
Objective
PANISPERNA focuses on the so-called “via Panisperna boys”, a group of young Italian scientists led by E. Fermi who, in 1934, discovered the slow neutrons, paving the way for the construction of the nuclear reactor and, eventually, the first atomic bomb. Over time, they reached legendary status in their country, to the point where their myth became an obstacle for historians. The goal of this project is to write a new, inclusive, and accurate history of the group from its birth in the late 1920s to the publication of L. Sciascia’s bestselling novel on the disappearance of the “boy” E. Majorana (1975) – the most influential book in shaping Italian collective memory of Fermi’s team. For this purpose, the ER will take into account a new set of sources, paying attention to transnational circulations and using an interdisciplinary approach to shed light on three major issues. 1) The relationship between science and power in different (and seemingly incompatible) political regimes such as American democracy and Italian fascism. 2) The transnational networks that allowed the “boys” not only to correspond with the top physicists of their time but also to find refuge abroad when political persecution, racism and war forced them to flee their country. 3) The presence of women in the group, the gender dynamics within it, and the gendered dimension of scientific work, communication and memory. Because of the topic and the innovative methodology, the project has the potential to have a considerable impact at both a scientific and a societal level, during the fellowship and beyond. On the one hand, it will produce new, high-quality knowledge on a relevant case study, making it available through open-access, free-of-charge publications as well as communication activities. On the other hand, it will raise awareness of the importance of both gender equality in science and innovative scientific practices under political and societal constraints.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
41121 Modena
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.