Vincenzo Barone (2016-2019)
A theoretical and computational chemist, and a full professor at the Scuola Normale since 2008, Barone was the first full professor of Chemistry of the Scuola Normale Superiore.
Dean of the Faculty of Sciences in 2015, he was elected Director in September 2016.
During his years of management, he worked hard to expand the network of collaborations and partnerships of the Scuola Normale, and to diversify and strengthen the teaching and research syllabus.
In 2018 the Ministry of Education, University and Research approved the Federation between the Scuola Normale and the other two Italian university schools that cover the entire cycle of university studies (graduate and post graduate): the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna and the IUSS of Pavia, already federated for some years.
In the meantime, in Florence, the project for the creation of an Institute of Advanced Studies, dedicated to Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, was launched and an undergraduate course was also promoted for the disciplines pertaining to the Department of Political and Social Sciences, which became a Faculty.
The directorship of Vincenzo Barone also favoured research communication initiatives aimed at the public: film reviews and interdisciplinary conference cycles taking place outdoors, in Piazza dei Cavalieri.
On 9 January 2019 he resigned from the office of Director.