Como becomes the world capital of physics for a day, with the participation of Nobel Laureates Alain Aspect and William D. Phillips
COMO 2 October 2026
The European Physical Society (EPS), in partnership with Acinque, is proud to announce the award ceremony of the inaugural Alessandro Volta Prize, a new international recognition celebrating outstanding contributions to physics. The ceremony takes place on Friday, 2 October 2026, at the Teatro Sociale in Como — the birthplace of Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery and discoverer of methane
The Prize is awarded to Prof. Jean Dalibard (Collège de France & École Polytechnique, Paris), one of the most influential voices in contemporary quantum physics.
“for his pioneering contributions to laser cooling and light-matter interactions, and for groundbreaking experimental and theoretical results in the quantum many-body physics of ultracold gases”.
The morning ceremony will be followed by an International Symposium on quantum physics and ultracold matter at the Chiostro di Sant’Abbondio, University of Insubria — organised with the support of the Università degli Studi dell’Insubria and the Italian Physical Society (SIF). The symposium brings together some of the world’s most eminent scientists, including Nobel Laureates in Physics Prof. Alain Aspect (Nobel Prize 2022) and Prof. William D. Phillips (Nobel Prize 1997).
About the Alessandro Volta Prize
Conceived by the European Physical Society and realised in partnership with Acinque, the Alessandro Volta Prize was established to honour exceptional scientific achievement in physics at the European level. The Prize is part of 200VOLTeVOLTA, the multidisciplinary programme marking the bicentenary of Alessandro Volta’s death (1827–2027), designed to engage the broader public and keep alive the legacy of one of history’s greatest scientists.
About Jean Dalibard
Jean Dalibard is an internationally acclaimed physicist specialising in the interaction between matter and radiation. A former professor at the École Polytechnique, he is currently a researcher at the Collège de France in Paris, one of the world’s most prestigious research institutions, and a member of several leading scientific academies, including the Académie des Sciences (France) and the National Academy of Sciences (United States). Among his many distinctions: the Blaise Pascal Medal of the European Academy of Sciences (2009), the Max Born Award and the Davisson–Germer Prize (2012), and the Gold Medal of the CNRS (2021) — the highest honour in French scientific research.
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“Excellence in research grows from genuine scientific curiosity and, over time, creates new opportunities for technology and society. Supporting fundamental research is an investment in the future. In celebrating Dalibard’s work and honouring Volta’s memory, we wish to underscore the importance of nurturing the conditions in which the next generation of scientists can continue to innovate and build the knowledge from which tomorrow’s technologies will emerge.”
— José María De Teresa, President, European Physical Society
Programme 2nd October
- 10:00 Award Ceremony — Teatro Sociale, Como — Institutional greetings and Laudatio by Nobel Laureates Aspect and Phillips
- 14:00 International Symposium — Chiostro di Sant’Abbondio, University of Insubria — Talks by world-leading scientists on quantum physics and ultracold matter
- 18:15 Concert & Closing Reception — Chiostro di Sant’Abbondio
Full Programme at the following link: https://indico.cern.ch/event/1676546/page/43070-overview
About the organisations
European Physical Society (EPS) The European Physical Society is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing physics in Europe. It unites national physical societies, research institutions, and individual physicists, supporting scientific excellence, collaboration, and education. EPS also plays an important role in science policy, dissemination of research, and the promotion of physics to society and future generations.
Acinque Group Acinque is a Lombardy-based multiutility company active in energy, environment, water, and infrastructure services. The Group is committed to fostering sustainable development and supporting innovation in the territories where it operates. Through cultural and scientific initiatives such as the Volta Prize, Acinque contributes to strengthening the link between local communities, research, and technological progress.
Fondazione Alessandro Volta works to promote scientific culture through educational projects, outreach and cultural initiatives, and collaborations with institutions, schools, and universities, developing networks of national and international significance. Through a wide-ranging annual program of activities dedicated to the promotion of university education, research, advanced training, and culture, the Foundation contributes to enhancing the scientific and human legacy of Alessandro Volta, fostering dialogue between science, culture, and contemporary society.
