Born into influential family of wine producers. Develops interest in science in high school. Enters Università di Pavia as physics major, 1948; courses by Luigi Giulotto and Piero Caldirola; keeps strong interests in philosophy (courses by Gustavo Bontadini and Enzo Paci); thesis work (adviser Fausto Fumi) on defects in ionic crystals; Pavia, 1952. Moves to University of Illinois to work with Frederick Seitz on electronic structure of semiconductors after having spent two years in Milan. Moves to Argonne National Laboratory, 1959. Eventually returns home to Italy, Università di Palermo. Later moves to Rome and Pisa; comments on lack of contact with Italian industry.
