Identity card
Name: Claudia Corradino
Years: 31
Qualification: Research Fellow
Headquarters: Section of the Etna Observatory of Catania
Field of activity: Volcanic Hazard
Favorite colour: Teal
Determination, passion and curiosity have led Claudia Corradino to be an esteemed young researcher. Passionate about 800th century English literature, she dreams of a conversation on the relationship between faith and science with Albert Einstein. Experiences abroad but roots well planted in the daughter city of the "Great Mother" have traced the path of Claudia who dreams of achieving important scientific goals and, why not, the right job stability.
What or who brought you closer to the world of volcanology?
Living in the city with one of the most active volcanoes in the world and witnessing the spectacular eruptions of Etna has certainly conditioned me in this sense. When I was involved by my doctoral thesis supervisor in Systems Engineering in a new research activity related to the use of new methods for monitoring Etna from space, I immediately seized this extraordinary opportunity. Since then, I have been involved in the development of advanced satellite data processing techniques for the analysis and monitoring of volcanic phenomena.
As a child, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up?
The researcher. Although at the time I didn't quite understand what that meant, attracted as I was to math and science, I thought I wanted to discover things that no one else had discovered yet and thus help the community.
What subjects were you passionate about at school?
Mathematics and sciences but also artistic drawing.
Was there a reference "myth" that inspired you?
In addition to the great scientists and great philanthropists who have always inspired me, my mother has certainly been a great source of inspiration for me.
Where did you graduate and what memories do you have of your university career?
I took a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Engineering from the University of Catania and a Master's Degree from Imperial College London. I have good memories, although they were intense and demanding periods, they shaped me a lot and I had the opportunity to meet special people still close to me today.
The most exciting moment of your “young” career?
One of the most exciting moments was winning the prestigious Fulbright research grant to work on an important research project at the University of Pittsburgh, USA.
But the most emotional moment in your private life?
My wedding day was one of the most emotional moments of my personal life.
What do you think you would have become if you hadn't been a researcher?
I think I would have worked in the company or taught in school.
How long have you been at INGV?
For almost two years.
What's the first thing you do when you get home?
A shower to relax after a day's work.
How did you experience this lockdown period?
Although it was a sad time for everyone, I tried to make the most of the time available. Apart from the work that kept me busy most of the time, I read a lot, tried to do some indoor physical activity and, like everyone else, armed myself with yeast and flour to experiment with some recipes.
What is, in your opinion, the scientific discovery that would change the history of volcanology?
The formulation of a model for the prediction of volcanic events.
A city you've visited that has remained in your heart and one you've always dreamed of moving to?
Since I was a child, I dreamed of moving to London. In 2013 I realized this dream to attend a course of study. Although I then chose to return to Italy, it is certainly the city that has remained in my heart.
What have been your best trips?
The journey to discover Madagascar was one of the most beautiful so far. It's one of the most pristine places I've ever seen, with about 80% endemic species and a wonderful population. The smile of the children we met on our journeys was disarming, always happy despite the adverse conditions in which they live.
What is your main concern?
The precariousness. I hope soon to be able to stabilize and realize myself professionally.
The conversation you've never had and would have liked to have…with whom?
A conversation on the controversial relationship between faith and science with Albert Einstein.
As a researcher, is everything always explicable?
The reality that surrounds us is so complex that in order to be able to study its facets we proceed by exploiting "ideal" mathematical models which, however precise, will always constitute an approximation of the same; premise that attributes to scientific evidence the function of impetus for research that is always in progress: "what we know is a drop, what we ignore is an ocean" (I. Newton).
Your promise kept and the one you failed to keep…
The promise I kept to myself was to be able to graduate on time (a rarity for my degree course at the time) without neglecting social relationships and fun. What I haven't been able to maintain is being able to return to London, a second home for me, more regularly and more frequently.
Your love at first sight?
A chalet inside the Etna park, about 1700 asl. The first time I saw it, it was the Christmas period and it was immersed in the snow.
What's your X-Factor?
Tenacity, if I have a goal, I commit myself with all my strength to achieve it.
You like sport?
Yes, and I firmly believe that "Mens sana in corpore sano".
Have you ever practiced any?
I did dance for many years until high school. Since university I started practicing various sports such as fit-boxing, spinning, trx.
Listen to the music?
Yes very often.
What's your favorite genre?
I don't have a favorite genre, I switch from classical to country music, from pop to rock according to the moment.
Favourite book?
I have always been a lover of 800th century English literature; I really like the descriptions of the landscapes, of that historical period and of the social dynamics that characterize the narrated characters. Among my favorite authors I include Charles Dickens who with "Hard Times" highlights the social ills of the time and the negative consequences brought by industrialization and Jane Austen who in "Pride and Prejudice" describes in detail the setting, the uses , the ways of thinking and the traditions of the time.
If you had to remember one of your "first days" which one would you remember?
I taught at the University of Maryland Global Campus present in the American base of Sigonella in Catania. I still remember my “first day”, it was the first time I taught at university level and in another language to adult students with very diverse backgrounds. Fortunately it went very well, it was a wonderful experience.
What do you do when you are not at work?
I spend time with my family and friends, do sports, volunteer, read, travel.
Do you have a place of the heart?
A café where I usually go with my mother to chat. We've been going there for many years and it's one of the few places where they make coffee with a mocha which we love.
Your best luck?
I consider myself very lucky from all points of view, both family and work.
Can it never be missing in your suitcase?
I love photographing landscapes and hidden views wherever I go, so I would say a camera (even the smartphone one is fine) and a book to keep me company during the trip.
Are you more sweet or savory in the kitchen?
Absolutely salty.
Favorite dish?
Normal pasta.
Do you like cooking?
Let's say I don't mind, but I generally prefer to prepare a quick dish to be able to dedicate my time to something else.
One thing you understood “when you grew up”?
That the world is not as perfect as I thought, that too often the "grown-ups" do not act for the common good and for the good of others, but are only guided by the lust for power and wealth.
Last question: what is the song that you would never stop listening to?
Bruce Springsteen's Blood Brothers.