I was born on 19 May 1937, in Reggio Emilia. I graduated in Physics at Bologna University in 1959. In 1964 I married Alessandra Cavallini and we have four sons (Luca, Matteo, Marco and Giovanni). I was university lecturer and researcher in leading national and international institutes and associate professor in the Physics Department of the University of Bologna (since 1983). I am author of numerous publications and of 5 international patents. As catholic, I was President of Azione Cattolica (a catholic association particularly involved in young people education) from 1986 to 1992; that was a particularly important experience for me and I remember it with affection. I have always been interested in our country's social and political events, but it was only in 1992 I started to be active as politician. That year in Italy we voted the important referendum on majority system. In 1995 I was called to be a candidate at Province of Bologna election (in the centre-left coalition) and I gained with more than 60% of votes. In that period I was active to promote a new political reformist movement, Ulivo, an unforgettable experience. I was Chairman of the Provincial Council of Bologna from 1995 to 2004. In those years I was also member of the provincial representation of the Conference 'State - Cities - Local Governments' and of the 'Unified Conference' (State, Cities, local governments and Regions). On December 2002 a project I was working on since long time was finally carried out: Monte Sole Peace School Foundation. I was President of the Foundation from 2002 to 2007. In 2004 I was candidate to European Parliament elections. Our campaign was really challenging but I was given the vote by many electors (128.900). In my first mandate as Member of the European Parliament, I joined the ALDE Group (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe). I was particularly active in the promotion of renewable energies and in the fight against climate change, as Member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, as Vice-Chairman of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change, and as Substitute of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. I was particularly interested in developing a peace diplomacy: I was Chairman of the Delegation for relations with South Africa and Substitute Member of the Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council. I was Member of the Delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee from 2004 to 2008. In 2009 I was given again the vote by many electors I particularly thank for their trust. I joined the S&D Group (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament). The promotion of renewable energies and green economy is still one of my first engagements, as Member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and Substitute Member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. I am also Member of the Delegation for relations with the United States and Substitute Member of the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China. I am Chairman of Sky and Space Intergroup.