USI Medal to Michele Parrinello

During the 29th Dies academicus, the USI Medal was presented to Professor Michele Parrinello. This honour was introduced in 2023 by the University Council as a mark of gratitude to people who have particularly distinguished themselves for 'their important contribution to the development of Università della Svizzera italiana'.

Laudatio for Michele Parrinello

Prof. Luisa Lambertini
Rector of Università della Svizzera italiana

"Today it is an immense honour for me, as well as a personal and institutional pleasure, to pay tribute to Professor Michele Parrinello, who is receiving the Medal of Università della Svizzera italiana.

This honour was introduced in 2023 by the University Council as a sign of gratitude to people who have particularly distinguished themselves for their important contribution to the development of Università della Svizzera italiana. After Giorgio Noseda, Franco Cavalli and Mario Botta, today we have the great honour of awarding it to Michele Parrinello.

Summarising the impact of Michele Parrinello's career in just a few words is a challenge. He has served as a professor at some of the most prestigious universities in the world and has been a member of leading scientific academies. Alongside Roberto Car, he developed a groundbreaking method that revolutionised molecular simulation by combining molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics into a single innovative approach. This remarkable idea, presented succinctly in just four pages, has had and continues to have an extraordinary influence across many scientific fields. Michele Parrinello is truly a giant in his discipline, and I say this without exaggeration.

We are not only honouring a distinguished scientist who has already received international recognition at the highest level. This Medal also expresses our deep gratitude for Professor Parrinello's contributions to the development of USI.

Michele Parrinello's presence has been an invaluable asset to USI, significantly enhancing the field of Computational Science, thanks in part to the foresight of then-President Piero Martinoli. Michele Parrinello was then in our ranks as a full professor for almost two decades. His contributions have established USI as a scientific leader, reaching well beyond the borders of Switzerland and Europe. Equally significant, his presence has acted as a genuine magnet, attracting talented researchers to Lugano. Thanks to Michele Parrinello's foundational influence, Computational Science at USI remains at the forefront of both education and research.

We cannot overlook that he was close to being awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry just a few months ago. Dear Professor Parrinello, there is no doubt for us at USI: you truly deserve the Medal, and you have deserved it for a long time. Therefore, with great pleasure, we present you with the USI Medal as a token of our profound gratitude for your generosity in sharing your knowledge, time, and vision with us and all the researchers who have worked alongside you. Your contributions have made a profound and lasting impact on our academic community.

It is with great gratitude that I present the USI Medal to Professor Michele Parrinello for his essential contribution to the development of Università della Svizzera italiana".