Enrico Fermi was an Italian physicist born in 1901 in Rome, Italy who made significant contributions to nuclear and quantum physics. Some of his accomplishments include developing the theory of beta decay, producing new elements by neutron irradiation, and achieving the first controlled nuclear chain reaction. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1938 for his work on induced radioactivity by neutron bombardment and his discoveries in connection therewith. Fermi passed away in 1954 in Chicago at the age of 53.

1. Born: September 29, 1901
Died: November 28, 1954
Greatest accomplishment in
theory and experiment.
“It is no good to try to stop
knowledge from going
forward. Ignorance is never
better than knowledge.”

2. Ethnic Background and Nationality
• Enrico Fermi was
born in Rome, Italy to
Alberto and Ida de
Gattis Fermi.
Song: National
Anthem of Italy
(instrumental)

3. Personal Life and Family HistoryPersonal Life and Family History
• Fermi was the youngest of two
children. His older brother
Giulio, who was one year older
than him, died when Fermi was
only fourteen.
• Laura Capon and Fermi met at
the University in Rome, where
Laura was a student in general
science. They married in 1928.
They had one daughter named
Nella in 1931, and a son
named Giulio after Fermi’s
deceased brother in 1936. The
family emigrated to New York
in 1938.
• His favorite pastimes
were walking,
mountaineering, and
winter sports.

4. Education/Positions HeldEducation/Positions Held
 Fermi becameFermi became
interested ininterested in
mathematics andmathematics and
physics as a youngphysics as a young
child, and immersedchild, and immersed
himself in his studieshimself in his studies
when his brotherwhen his brother
passed away. Hepassed away. He
learned most of whatlearned most of what
he knew from bookshe knew from books
given to him by agiven to him by a
good friend.good friend.
 He also attendedHe also attended
many universities:many universities:
 University of Pisa, ItalyUniversity of Pisa, Italy
(graduated in 1922)(graduated in 1922)
 University of GUniversity of Göttingen inöttingen in
GermanyGermany
 University of Leiden inUniversity of Leiden in
Holland.Holland.
 At age of 24, FermiAt age of 24, Fermi
became a professor atbecame a professor at
the University of Rome.the University of Rome.

5. ContributionsContributions
 Enrico Fermi contributed many practical andEnrico Fermi contributed many practical and
theoretical aspects to physics, which include:theoretical aspects to physics, which include:
-the theory of beta decay-the theory of beta decay
-new radioactive elements produced by neutron-new radioactive elements produced by neutron
irradiationirradiation
-controlled nuclear chain-reaction-controlled nuclear chain-reaction
-Fermi-Dirac statistics-Fermi-Dirac statistics
-established Enrico Fermi Institute in 1945-established Enrico Fermi Institute in 1945

6. Awards
1926-Awarded the Matteucci Medal for his
contributions to physics.
1938-Awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics
1942-Awarded the Hughes Medal for an
outstanding contribution to the knowledge of
the electrical structure of matter, work in
quantum theory, and experimental studies of
the neutron.
1947-Awarded Franklin Medal
1953-Awarded Rumford Prize for his
investigations in electromagnetic radiation and
nuclear energy.

7. Photo GalleryPhoto Gallery
Notebooks that Fermi kept

8. ReferencesReferences
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Fermi#Professor_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Fermi#Professor_i
 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Fermihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Fermi
The End!The End!
ID: 94186765ID: 94186765