# Violette Impellizzeri

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**Violette Impellizzeri** (born 14 August 1977) is an [Italian](/source/Italians) [astronomer](/source/Astronomer) and [astrophysicist](/source/Astrophysics) specializing in [active galactic nuclei](/source/Active_galactic_nucleus) and [molecular clouds](/source/Molecular_cloud) surrounding [supermassive black holes](/source/Supermassive_black_hole). She is currently a [professor](/source/Professor) at [Leiden University](/source/Leiden_University), where she conducts research on these phenomena using [radio interferometry](/source/Radio_interferometry).[1]

## Biography

Impellizzeri was born in [Saronno](/source/Saronno), a [comune](/source/Comune) in the [Province of Varese](/source/Province_of_Varese), Italy. She completed her primary and secondary education in [Alcamo](/source/Alcamo), [Sicily](/source/Sicily), before relocating with her family to [Karlsruhe](/source/Karlsruhe), [Germany](/source/Germany), where her father worked as a teacher.[citation needed]

She completed her studies at the [European School](/source/European_School_Karlsruhe) in [Karlsruhe](/source/Karlsruhe), where she obtained her [European Baccalaureate](/source/European_Baccalaureate).[2] In 1995, she entered the [University of Bristol](/source/University_of_Bristol); later, she returned to [Germany](/source/Germany) to complete a master's degree in physics and earned a PhD in astrophysics at the [Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy](/source/Max_Planck_Institute_for_Radio_Astronomy) in [Bonn](/source/Bonn).

Following her doctoral studies, Impellizzeri conducted [postdoctoral research](/source/Postdoctoral_researcher) at the [National Radio Astronomy Observatory](/source/National_Radio_Astronomy_Observatory) (NRAO) in [Charlottesville, Virginia](/source/Charlottesville,_Virginia), focusing on [physical cosmology](/source/Physical_cosmology) and [megamasers](/source/Megamaser) as part of the Megamaser Cosmology Project.[3]

In 2011, she began working as an astronomer at the [Atacama Large Millimeter Array](/source/Atacama_Large_Millimeter_Array) (ALMA) in [Chile](/source/Chile). In October 2020, she returned to Europe to serve as a program manager with Allegro (ALMA Local Expertise Group)[4] and the European ALMA Regional Center node in the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands), hosted by [Leiden Observatory](/source/Leiden_Observatory). She currently teaches at [Leiden University](/source/Leiden_University).[2]

## Activity

During her doctoral studies at the [Max Planck Institute](/source/Max_Planck_Institute), she mainly focused on [active galactic nuclei](/source/Active_galactic_nucleus) on Radio Astronomy. As part of her research, she conducted a series of observations using the [Effelsberg 100-m Radio Telescope](/source/Effelsberg_100-m_Radio_Telescope) to detect water [masers](/source/Maser) in distant [galaxies](/source/Galaxy). Her discoveries were later confirmed by observations made with the [Very Large Array Radio Telescope](/source/Very_Large_Array) in [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico), operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

In 2007, while at the University of Virginia, Impellizzeri was recruited by a [cosmological](/source/Cosmology) research initiative, the [National Radio Astronomy Observatory](/source/National_Radio_Astronomy_Observatory), to contribute to the Megamaser Cosmology Project. She coordinated research efforts at the [Green Bank Telescope](/source/Green_Bank_Telescope) in [Virginia](/source/Virginia), integrating these with observations made using the [Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)](/source/Very-long-baseline_interferometry) system. She continued to work with the VLBI system at the ALMA in Chile, where she was involved in testing and served as a liaison for VLBI activities.[3]

Impellizzeri joined the [Atacama Cosmology Telescope](/source/Atacama_Cosmology_Telescope) project as an [NRAO](/source/National_Radio_Astronomy_Observatory) astronomer, working with a [radio telescope](/source/Radio_telescope) operating at an altitude of 5,000 meters. She was responsible for data integration of the [Atacama Large Millimeter Array](/source/Atacama_Large_Millimeter_Array) observations into the VLBI network under the title of “Friend of VLBI”.[3]

## Honours

- Earned the title of “Woman of Stars”[5] and published a paper in [*Nature*](/source/Nature_(journal)) on the discovery of the most ancient water in the universe.
- 11 August 2018: Awarded the Tablet *[Paul Harris Fellow](/source/Paul_Harris_Fellow)* by Rotary Clubs for her contributions to the diffusion of Italian culture.
- 18 April 2019: Awarded a medal by the [Chilean](/source/Chile) government, as official recognition for her work done in the exploration of [black holes](/source/Black_hole).
- 12 August 2019: Received a Tablet from the Mayor of Alcamo in recognition of her work in scientific research.
- 5 September 2019: Together with the other [astrophysicists](/source/Astrophysicists) who took the first image of a black hole, Impellizzeri was awarded the [Breakthrough Prize](/source/Breakthrough_Prize) (2020).[6]
- 11 August 2021: Annual Prize of the Kiwanis Club of [Alcamo](/source/Alcamo), with the following remark: “To Violette Impellizzeri, an astronomer with international fame, for her dedication to the study of the mysteries of the universe and the safeguarding of the environment”.
- 28 November 2022: KHMW Outreach Award for her project [ALMA](/source/Atacama_Large_Millimeter_Array) for [Leiden](/source/Leiden).

## See also

- [Atacama Large Millimeter Array](/source/Atacama_Large_Millimeter_Array)
- [Breakthrough Prize](/source/Breakthrough_Prize)
- [Leiden University](/source/Leiden_University)

## References

1. ["STRW local: Pers"](https://local.strw.leidenuniv.nl/people/pers.php?id=5397). *local.strw.leidenuniv.nl*. Retrieved 2024-10-12.

1. ["Violette Impellizzeri"](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/violette-impellizzeri#tab-1/). *universiteitleiden.nl/*

1. ["Violette Impellizzeri to head astronomy and operations department"](https://www.astron.nl/violette-impellizzeri-to-head-astronomy-and-operations-department/). *ASTRON*. 2024-05-31. Retrieved 2024-08-28.

1. ["ABOUT US"](https://www.alma-allegro.nl/about-us/). *ALMA Regional Centre Allegro*. Retrieved 2024-10-29.

1. [citation needed]

1. ["Breakthrough Prize – Winners of the 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics and Mathematics Announced"](https://breakthroughprize.org/News/54)

## Sources

- ["Violette, la donna delle stelle venuta da Alcamo"](http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2015/02/15/violette-la-donna-delle-stelle-venuta-da-alcamoPalermo08.html?refresh_ce). 15 February 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ["Scienziata alcamese, in Olanda, a capo di gruppo di astronomi"](https://www.alpauno.com/scienziata-alcamese-a-capo-di-gruppo-di-astronomi/). 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Violette Impellizzeri, l'astronoma cacciatrice del buco nero sognato da bambina"](https://www.lavocedinewyork.com/people/nuovo-mondo/2019/04/19/violette-impellizzeri-lastronoma-cacciatrice-del-buco-nero-sognato-da-bambina/). 19 April 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Astrofisica? Può essere semplice. Violette Impellizzeri lo sa"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210512215522/http://www.masterlex.it/lifestyle/astrofisica-intervista-violette-impellizzeri/). 16 October 2016. Archived from [the original](http://www.masterlex.it/lifestyle/astrofisica-intervista-violette-impellizzeri/) on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Allegro, the European ALMA Regional Center node in the Netherlands"](https://www.alma-allegro.nl/). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["About us"](https://www.alma-allegro.nl/about-us/). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Violette Impellizzeri Program Manager Allegro"](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/violette-impellizzeri#tab-1). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["L'astronoma siciliana che in Cile svela i segreti delle antiche galassie"](http://www.lasicilia.it/news/sicilians/4447/l-astronoma-siciliana-che-in-cile-svela-i-segreti-delle-antiche-galassie-.html). 10 December 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Black Hole Imaged For First Time By Event Horizon Telescope"](https://www.universetoday.com/134996/black-hole-imaged-first-time-event-horizon-telescope/). 15 April 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["La scienziata alcamese Violette Impellizzeri premiata dal governo del Cile"](https://www.alpauno.com/la-scienziata-alcamese-violette-impellizzeri-premiata-dal-governo-del-cile/). 19 April 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["First image of black hole released in Chile"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190412130502/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-04/11/c_137967114.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-04/11/c_137967114.htm) on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Winners Of The 2020 Breakthrough Prize In Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics And Mathematics Announced"](https://breakthroughprize.org/News/54). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Alcamo, Premio dell'anno kiwaniano. A Violette Impellizzeri prestigioso riconoscimento"](https://www.alpauno.com/alcamo-premio-dellanno-kiwaniano-a-violette-impellizzeri-prestigioso-riconoscimento/). 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

## External links

- ["Alcamo, l'astronoma Violette Impellizzeri in videoconferenza dal Cile"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_ouCU_D2N4). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Dr. Violette Impellizzeri"](https://vimeo.com/172953291). 30 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Observatorio ALMA"](https://www.facebook.com/ObservatorioALMA/posts/802631006466146). *[Facebook](/source/Facebook)*. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["Astronomers Capture the First Image of a Black Hole"](https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-release/astronomers-capture-first-image-of-a-black-hole/). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ["KHMW Outreach Award"](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2022/12/multiple-khmw-awards-for-science-students#:~:text=KHMW%20Outreach%20Award%20Every%20year%2C%20the%20KHMW%20also,the%20use%20of%20astronomy%20to%20promote%20societal%20developments.). 5 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ["Violette Impellizzeri"](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/violette-impellizzeri). *[Leiden University](/source/Leiden_University)*. Retrieved 25 September 2024.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Violette Impellizzeri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violette_Impellizzeri) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violette_Impellizzeri?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.