Biografia - Biography
born in '53
Dario Braga
è uno scienziato italiano e accademico. I suoi interessi di ricerca sono nella chimica dello stato solido e nella struttura dei materiali cristallini.
Dario Braga è nato nel ’53. E’ padre di tre figli, Daniele, Ester e Fabio.
E’ professore ordinario di Chimica (in pensione) presso l’università di Bologna dove ha svolto numerosi incarichi istituzionali. Ha fatto parte dell’Osservatorio della ricerca (1998-2003), ha diretto il Collegio Superiore (2001-2006) e l’Istituto di Studi Avanzati dell’Università di Bologna (2006-2009, 2015-2021). E’ stato Prorettore alla ricerca dell’Università di Bologna (2009-2015) e ha coordinato il dottorato in Nanoscienze per la Medicina e l’Ambiente. E’ membro corrispondente dell’Istituto bolognese della Accademia delle Scienze.
E’ Presidente onorario della Associazione ParliamoneOra da lui fondata nel 2019.
La sua attività di ricerca è nel campo della chimica dello stato solido con particolare attenzione alle diverse forme cristalline associabili a una determinata molecolare, anche di interesse farmaceutico. Ha pubblicato ca. 500 tra lavori scientifici, contributi a libri, reviews a brevetti. Ha tenuto ca. 200 tra seminari e conferenze internazionali e nazionali e ha organizzato convegni sul tema della chimica dello stato solido e della preparazione e caratterizzazione di materiali cristallini molecolari. Ha ricevuto riconoscimenti dalla Società Chimica italiana (medaglia d’oro Nasini), dalla Federchimica (premio “per un futuro intelligente”) e dalla AIC (Medaglia d’oro Mammi).
E’ stato fondatore di PolyCrystalLine spa ( www.polycrystalline.it ), spinoff accademico nato nel 2005. L’azienda, completamente autonoma dall’Università dal gennaio 2007, ha ora sede a Medicina e a Mesagne e dà lavoro a laureati e addottorati su progetti di studio di farmaci solidi per conto di aziende nazionali ed estere.
Dario Braga si occupa attivamente di problemi di politica universitaria , dalla formazione degli studenti e dei dottorandi, alla carriera accademica, alla internazionalizzazione e valutazione della ricerca, temi sui quali è stato invitato a tenere relazioni e interventi in varie occasioni, tra le altre presso le Università di Firenze, Parma, Roma, Milano, Torino e presso l’Accademica Nazionale dei Lincei.
ENGLISH VERSION
is an italian scientist and academic. He retired from the University of Bologna in 2023 after 46 years of activity. Beside his efforts in various aspects of solid state chemistry (see below) and in the teaching and dissemination of science, Dario Braga has always been active in university politics.
Dario Braga was born in Bologna in 1953. He is father of Daniele, Ester and Fabio. He studied chemistry at the University of Bologna, where he graduated in 1977.
At the beginning of his scientific career (1977-1982) Dario Braga was involved in the field of transition metal cluster chemistry (in collaboration with the universities of Milan and Cambridge). The investigation of ligand mobility over the cluster cores led him and his group to study the factors controlling dynamical behaviour in the solid state (fluxionaliy, reorientation ecc.) also in collaboration with solid state NMR spectroscopists at Torino University and several other groups abroad. These studies rapidly demonstrated the need for a deeper understanding of the interplay between molecular shape, size, presence of charges and intermolecular interactions (especially weak and strong hydrogen bonds) and the mechanisms of recognition and self-assembly with an initial focus on organometallic compounds. The knowledge of the most relevant interactions acting in molecular crystals combined with the background in organometallic chemistry and the experience progressively acquired with organic crystals drove the group to develop research projects of crystal engineering directed to the synthesis and characterization of new molecule-based materials especially by means of solvent free, solid-gas and mechanochemical methods.
Braga’s research group is one of the most active groups in Italy in the area of crystal engineering and in the investigation of polymorphism, hydrates and cocrystals. In recent yeears his interests have been focused on the engineering of organic and hybrid inorganic-organic crystals for applications in pharmaceutical and agrochemical sectors.
The group is also interested in the use of solvent-free mechanochemical methods, investigation of crystal transformations, solid-state dynamics and solid-solutions.
Dario Braga has published more than 500 papers and he is inventor in a number of patents. He is also active as consultant in patent litigations.
He has delivered about 200 seminars and conferences at national and international events, meetings and schools.
Academic career
After graduating in 1977 Dario Braga pursued postdoctoral studies and research at the University of Bologna, at the Polytechnic of North London and at the University of Cambridge. In 1982 he accepted a permanent position at the Chemistry Department G. Ciamician in 1982 after postdoctoral work at the North London Polytechnic, the University of Cambridge and at the University of Bologna. Dario Braga became full professor of general and inorganic chemistry in 2001. He is a retired Professor of the Alma Mater University of Bologna.
As adjunct professor, Dario Braga is currently teaching the courses of Crystal Engineering and of Mechanochemistry in the Master course of Photochemistry and Molecular Materials of the Chemistry Department G. Ciamician of the University of Bologna.
Academic duties
Dario Braga has served as Director of the Collegio Superiore (2000-2006), of the Institute of Advanced Studies (2006-2009) and as Vicerector for Research of the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna (2009-2015). Between 2015 and 2021 he held the positions of President and Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of Bologna. He has also served as Coordinator of the doctorate in Nanoscience for Medicine and Environment (2018-2023).
Dario Braga founded in 2019, with a number of Colleagues of the University of Bologna, the Association ParliamoneOra aimed to an active contrast to the dissemination of pseudo-science and misinformation in a wide range of cultural sectors.