Physics, politics and gendered imaginaries: for a new history of the «via Panisperna boys», 1926-1975

PANISPERNA focuses on the so-called “via Panisperna boys”, a group of young Italian scientists led by E. Fermi who, in 1934, discovered the slow neutrons, paving the way for the construction of the nuclear reactor and, eventually, the first atomic bomb. Over time, they reached legendary status in their country, to the point where their myth became an obstacle for historians. The goal of this project is to write a new, inclusive, and accurate history of the group from its birth in the late 1920s to the publication of L. Sciascia’s bestselling novel on the disappearance of the “boy” E. Majorana (1975) – the most influential book in shaping Italian collective memory of Fermi’s team. For this purpose, the ER will take into account a new set of sources, paying attention to transnational circulations and using an interdisciplinary approach to shed light on three major issues. 1) The relationship between science and power in different (and seemingly incompatible) political regimes such as American democracy and Italian fascism. 2) The transnational networks that allowed the “boys” not only to correspond with the top physicists of their time but also to find refuge abroad when political persecution, racism and war forced them to flee their country. 3) The presence of women in the group, the gender dynamics within it, and the gendered dimension of scientific work, communication and memory. Because of the topic and the innovative methodology, the project has the potential to have a considerable impact at both a scientific and a societal level, during the fellowship and beyond. On the one hand, it will produce new, high-quality knowledge on a relevant case study, making it available through open-access, free-of-charge publications as well as communication activities. On the other hand, it will raise awareness of the importance of both gender equality in science and innovative scientific practices under political and societal constraints.