Page 6 June 24, 2012 Periscope Tandem / Corriere Canadese Research group looks at the miniaturization of laser optic devices Professor Roberto Morandotti speaks about his educational and work experience in and

Roberto Morandotti

By Caterina Rotunno research, to bring back to Italy the scien- tists who currently operate successfully is arrival to Canada was pre- abroad. As a consequence, it’s perfectly ceded by a period of about 10 Morandotti with research group understandable that it’s considered im- Hyears during which he managed portant and there’s an active interest to put the finishing touches on a success- in wanting to create an active network ful training and professional path. And ing OSA (Optical Society of America), years before being able to arrive at the currently active abroad in their field. among us researchers, for the exchange since 2008, Roberto Morandotti has IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Elec- creation of an ‘optical computer’. In How would you assess this event? of information and knowhow.” been a full-time professor at Montreal’s tronics Engineers), CIPI (Canada Insti- fact, the end goal of this research is ex- “The reunion, presided over by for- In Canada, associations and local Centre Energie Materiaux et Télécomu- tute of Photonics Innovation), and has actly that of substituting a large part of eign affairs minister Giulio Terzi, was networks of Italian researchers al- nication at the Institut National de la also received the prestigious Steacie today’s electronic technology with op- very interesting and the level of debate ready exist. Recherche Scientifique (INRS), where award for excellence in research. tics technology. As of today, this type just as advanced. Just the fact that such “Yes, certainly. Here in Montreal, he carries out research activity, coordi- What is the specific area of re- of technology is utilized for fibre a conference was organized after so there’s the CSIC association (Comunità nating a group of about 20, including search you do at INRS? which has various applications in tele- many years is clear evidence of the in- scientifica Italiana in Canada), connected scientists, doctoral candidates, and post- “The last research involves the min- communications, allowing improved terest and enthusiasm that the current with other groups in Ontario and British doctoral students from various countries iaturization of laser optics devices that and higher throughput data transmis- head of Italian foreign politics – along Columbia. My personal problem is that in the world, including Italy. can be inserted like a chip inside a com- sion. Nevertheless, the signal carried with science research minister of the I have little time to dedicate to associa- Graduating in Genoa in 1993 in ex- puter or in telecommunications systems by fibre optics, once arriving at the com- university, Francesco Profumo – dem- tion activities and to the active participa- perimental nuclear , professor with two immediate effects: rendering puter, needs to be converted into elec- onstrates in our regard. For sure, I’m tion to group initiatives in Canada and Morandotti, aware of the slim job oppor- such systems far and away faster and tronic form, creating therefore, a delay personally quite disillusioned over the Italy. My days are completely absorbed tunities in Italy in his area of specializa- better performing and allowing, at the in data transmission that goes, in part, to future, on what and how much can be by the work that often takes me abroad tion during that time, decides to attend same time, a much more sizable mass penalizing the transmission speed of the done, because moving from words to to participate as speaker at conventions a managerial skills development course, of data and information storage. Cer- overall process.” deeds is always very complex. There’s and conferences. To participate at the and soon after departs for the Italian tainly, although research in this field You were recently invited to the certainly increased awareness on the part Farnesina meeting, I had to reschedule marines as a reserve officer. Upon his is proceeding at a quick tempo, we’re conference held at the external affairs of today’s politicians that it’ll be quite one of my speeches at a Brussels con- return, he begins seeking work, but the still in a phase of experimentation and, ministry in Rome, attended by Ital- difficult in the future, given the current vention. I willingly did so because I still only internship offer he receives is from in my opinion, it’ll still take dozens of ian scientists and researchers who are situation of our country in the field of feel deeply proud of being Italian and I a firm in Scotland. He decides to accept, have an excellent collaborative relation- and after six months is hired. Unfortu- ship with the science attaché of the Ital- nately, the firm was taken over by a mul- ian Embassy in Ottawa and with Ambas- tinational, and all staff was laid off. sador Andrea Meloni.” “At that point, I was no longer inter- Does your university or research ested in returning to Italy,” Morandotti group entertain collaborative relation- tells us, who we reached by phone at his ships with Italian universities? INSR studio in Montreal, “and through “In Italy we entertain collaborations the University of Glasgow, I managed to with various academic institutions: the get a doctorate position in the photonics universities in Palermo and Brescia, with field.” which many common activities are held, The project was in collaboration with and there’s a student exchange with an the Weizmann Institute of Science in Is- increased flux from Italy rather than from rael so Morandotti did his doctorate and Canada. In the research group I coordi- successive three years of post-doctorate nate, there are four Italian post-doctorate work in the country. It is towards the researchers in addition to three ‘visiting- end of this period that he accepts an of- students’ who remain for shorter periods fer for a further postdoctoral period in of time. In this regard, I have to say that Toronto on reference by his Glasgow the network I manage is for Italian uni- doctorate supervisor who in the mean- versities, to seek talented youth wanting time had moved to Canada. This coun- to acquire experience abroad.” try is of great interest to Morandotti, What advice would you give to an especially for its research activity in the Italian student intending to specialize telecommunications and high-energy la- in science studies? ser sectors. “First of all, I’d like to make an ob- “After a year in Toronto, I decided servation on the Italian university sys- to move to Montreal, a city I had vis- tem that, at least from my experience, it ited and had liked very much. The offered and I think and hope today is still opportunity was the availability of an able to offer, very high-level training, associate professorship position that which had nothing to envy of the best had become vacant at the beginning of universities in the world, beginning with 2003 at INRS,” – a university institute Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and includ- reserved to masters and PhD students. ing Zurich’s Polytechnic. An excellent “This academic institution,” Morandotti level of training at a relatively low cost, continues, “is dedicated primarily to re- which is comparable to these foreign search, while the didactics and the hours universities. After (obtaining) a degree of teaching come to represent a minor in Italy, I would advise a student to se- part with respect to time dedicated in the lect an academic and research structure laboratory. INRS finds similar models abroad, where infrastructure exists, that in Israel, with the Weizmann Institute allows them to put into practice what of Science or the CREOL (Center for they learned in theory during the course Research and Education in Optics and of their studies, while putting themselves Laser) in Florida. Each year, we receive to the test in a high-level research envi- many applications for masters and PhDs ronment. Certainly, it’s a paradox that from all over the world. From Italy over a country spends so much to educate its the past few years, we’ve had six PhDs youth, then the world’s more important and numerous students visiting our uni- research centres draw benefits from the versity.” work done by these high-level and high- Professor Morandotti is a member ly-educated researchers, due to a short- and fellow (honorary elected member) age of funding in Italy for the research of numerous academic societies includ- sector!” u