User:Fisica92/Anna Consortini

Consortini Anna
Consortini Anna is an italian scientist, currently retired professor at the Università degli Studi di Firenze. She mainly worked in optics, her current research subject, both theoretical and experimental, is laser propagation in the atmosphere.

More specifically, her scientific theoretical and experimental activity is in the field of electromagnetic waves and classic and quantum optics, dealing with, among other subjects, research on the physics and astronomy of meteors, antennas, electromagnetic control of the space vehicles, laser cavities, fundamental problems of diffraction, optical images, problems of quantum mechanics, statistical optics, adaptive optics, guided and free propagation, with particular attention to propagation in random media and laser propagation through atmospheric turbulence; and didactics of optics.

Career
She holds a degree in Physics from the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy, and a "Libera Docenza" (equivalent of the current Ph.D. title) in Electromagnetic Waves (Rome 1968).

From 1962 to 1982 she was with IROE, currently named IFAC-CNR, National Research Council, Italy, gaining the title of "Coordinator". She was two times one of the three winners to the position of Research Director. She was director of the group of theoretical and experimental research on atmospheric propagation and also established the activity of the Computer Center of the Institute and was the Center director until 1978.

In parallel to the scientific research she has been been involved in education. Since 1968, she was professor charged of physics in Florence. She became full Associate Professor in General Physics in 1983. She taught Electromagnetism and Optics for several years.

She published more than 160 scientific papers, and has given about 200 presentations at national and international conferences.

From 1978 to 1981 she was on the Scientific Council of the National Group of Electromagnetism of CNR, Italy.

From 1989 to 2004 she was a member of the Italian Commission for Optics, the Italian Territorial Committee of the International Commission for Optics, ICO.

In 1991 she was one of the five founders the Italian Society for Optics and Photonics (SIOF), and was a member of the Board (Consiglio) for several terms. In 2005-2006 she was president of the SIOF.

In 1993 she was elected ICO President for a three-year term (1993-1996) and was then Past President for the subsequent three years ending in 1999. She was the first woman elected ICO President, since the ICO foundation in 1947.

She was a Bureau Member of the European Optical Society (EOS) betweeen 1997-2006 and in this position she was the EOS representative for the Journals JOPAA and JOPAB published by IOP.

From 1977 to 1979, she was on the first editorial advisory panel of the Optics Letters OSA journal. She was involved in various others editorial activities, such as being the Topical Editor of Applied Optics, from 1995 to 2001, for "Atmospheric Propagation and Adaptive Optics".

After compulsory retirement in November 2005, she continues her activity participating to different schools and giving invited lectures.

In 2018 she was recognized with The Optical Society 2018 Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award. In particular, she is recognized for her outstanding dedication to promoting optics at an international level with very valuable leadership in institutions and scientific societies like International Commission for Optics (ICO), International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), The Optical Society (OSA) and Italian Society of Optics and Photonics (SIOF).

In an interview she encouraged her young public as follows: "Learn more foreign languages, but mostly, have more self confidence and be active in taking the opportunities. I was never told that a woman, from a background with no scientific tradition, could compete with men and reach typical male positions. As the first and, up to now, only woman president of the International Commission for Optics (ICO) in 60 years, I encourage you to go after being the second."