Guidance in adversity

摘要

Science news from Italy tends to be negative - too little research money and too much cronyism. But Nature's annual mentorship competition, which rotates through different regions and this year featured Italy, shows how scientists have found ways to nurture PhD students and postdocs despite these challenges, and to help them to flourish in great careers of their own. On 25 November, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano presented the 2013 Nature Awards for Mentoring in Science to chemist Vincenzo Balzani of the University of Bologna and theoretical physicist Giorgio Parisi of the Sapienza University of Rome, who between them shared the lifetime-achievement award, and to neuro-biologist Michela Matteoli of the University of Milan, winner of the mid-career award.