Tribute to the memory of Bernard Giovannini

It was with deep sadness that we learned that Bernard Giovannini passed away on July 31, 2024 at the age of 87.

After graduating in physics from ETH Zurich in 1960, Bernard Giovannini joined the company Schlumberger, where he worked on oil exploration research. He then began his thesis at the University of Geneva with Martin Peter – a thesis he obtained in 1966. Shortly afterwards, he joined the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia as a research associate, before returning to Geneva as a chargé de recherche.

He continued to oscillate between Geneva and abroad – moving to Imperial College in London before becoming an assistant professor at the University of Geneva in 1968, and spending time at UCLA as a visiting assistant professor the same year. In 1971, he became extraordinary professor in Geneva’s Department of condensed matter physics – before being appointed ordinary professor in the same department. In 1987, Bernard Giovannini joined Rector Jean-Claude Favez and became Vice-Rector until 1991.

In that year, he founded the International Academy of the Environment, the AIE – an extraordinarily ambitious and forward-looking project. The Academy focuses on interdisciplinary research linked to education and training in the field of the environment and sustainable development, from a North-South, East-West perspective. Bernard Giovannini headed the Academy from 1991 to 1995. Until 1995, the AIE carried out a series of training and research activities within the framework of four priority programs: policies and tools for sustainable development; biodiversity-biotechnology; trade and environment; consumption and sustainability. The themes addressed in the 90s are today at the heart of many reflections on environmental issues.

In 1995, Bernard Giovannini returned to the condensed matter physics Department, where he remained until 2002. Between 1999 and 2002, Bernard also worked extensively on the physics of high-temperature superconductors and the analysis of experimental results obtained by his colleagues in the department. His colleagues benefited not only from his scientific knowledge, but also from his political insights and sound advice.