ORGANISATION

The INFN comprises four National Laboratories, one National Centre and 19 Sections at major Italian universities. A special feature of INFN is the close bond between the worlds of research and management, including the president, the board of directors (Consiglio Direttivo) and the executive council. There are also national science committees which play an important part with regards to the Institute's scientific policies.

They are, in fact, the main bodies consulted when drawing up, planning, verifying and checking scientific activities. Each committees is made of representatives elected by the researchers at the Sections and Laboratories. There are five Committees, each of which deals with a specific branch of research. Decision power in scientific and financial matters, on the other hand, is given to the Board of Directors, which is also responsible for nominating the President, who is chosen from the leading scientist in the field. Along with the Directors of the Laboratories and of the Sections, the Board of Directors has in addition a representative from CNR and ENEA and a representative from the Ministry for Universities and Scientific and Technological Research (MURST) and the Ministry for Industry, Trade and Craft.

Another special feature of INFN is its decentralised administration, which leaves a wide margin of autonomy for local scientific structures.

ACTIVITIES

The study of elementary structure of matter and the comprehension of the laws regulating basic forces and the focus of research in nuclear and sub-nuclear physics. Theoretical and experimental efforts embrace phenomena of enormously varied size: from the infinitely small to the infinitely large.

RESOURCES

The Institute is State-financed. For the year 1995 founded is expected to amount to 431 billion Lire. The staff is made up of 1900 employees and 1000 researchers and technical assistants.

last update: year 1995