The “Renata Borlone Prize” will be awarded to Prof. Suleiman Baraka, a native of Gaza and an internationally renowned astrophysicist on Sunday 25 February, in the Auditorium of the International Centre of Loppiano (Florence), in the presence of the representatives of the scientific world and civil authorities. Now on its 4th edition, the Prize was instituted by the Cultural Association bearing the same name, to honour the memory of Renata Borlone (1930-1990), who for over 20 years was co-director of the town of Loppiano and is now a Servant of God. Full of human and spiritual values, Renata nurtured a special passion for science, intended as the privileged tool for the construction of unity of the human family.

The Prize’s Scientific Committee conferred this recognition to Prof. Baraka for “his scientific research which focuses on human values and peace”. The awardee stated “This prize in honour of Renata Borlone who worked for the good of society – is a further incentive and encouragement to place science and its beauty at the service of humanity, promote peace among peoples, and enable the young generations to open their horizons to hope, despite the difficulties and obstacles they may have to face.”