The “Giovan Pietro Grimaldi” Foundation: history and relationships with the Gioeni Academy and the University of Catania

Abstract

The relationships between the Giovan Pietro Grimaldi Foundation, the University of Catania and the Gioenia Academy are exposed, as well as the related training, scientific research and awarding of the five-year Physics Prize initiatives carried out at the Foundation's headquarters in Modica. The Foundation was commissioned at the beginning of the last century by prof. Giovan Pietro Grimaldi, General Secretary of the Gioenia Academy, full Professor of Physics and Rector of the University of Catania, who in his will described its purposes, administrative structure and methods of operation. The Foundation was formally recognized after the death of prof. Grimaldi with the approval of the statute in 1922, but the beginning of its activities took place after about 40 years when, with the death of the last usufructuary, the assets were reunited and the numerous economic problems were resolved and management intervened in the meantime. The Administrative Commission took care of this with the active participation of the Rectors and their delegates, almost always also members of the Gioenia Academy, also through the approval of a new statute in line with the changed socio-economic conditions that were at the basis of the original purposes of the Foundation.