The Order of Minerva was established by the "G. d'Annunzio" University in 1986.It is conferred upon distinguished national and international individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of science, culture, or the economy.The proposal for the award is submitted to the Academic Senate by the Rector and must be accompanied by a detailed report outlining the grounds for the conferment.The insignia consists of a gold medal depicting the head of Minerva. List of Recent Conferments Academic Year 2024/2025Professor Gigliola Staffilani - Full Professor Department of Mathematics-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Professor Remo Ruffini - Professore Fisica Teorica e Direttore dell'ICRANet,International Centre for Relativistic Astrophysics NetworkAcademic Year 2023/2024Sister Alessandra Smerilli FMA – Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human DevelopmentProfessor Giuseppe Novelli – Professor of Medical Genetics and former Rector of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”Academic Year 2022/2023Edi Rama – Prime Minister of AlbaniaAcademic Year 2021/2022Giovanni Caravelli – Army Corps General Conferment Archive Academic Year 2020/2021Not awardedAcademic Year 2019/2020Maestro Michelangelo Pistoletto – Artist, painter, and sculptorAcademic Year 2018/2019Maestro Giulio Rapetti Mogol – MusicianAcademic Year 2017/2018H.E. Monsignor Bruno ForteDonatella Di Pietrantonio – WriterAcademic Year 2016/2017Carmela Remigio – SopranoAcademic Year 2015/2016Luciano Odorisio – Director and screenwriterAcademic Year 2014/2015Alfredo Paglione – Art collector and patronTony Vaccaro – PhotojournalistAcademic Year 2013/2014Antonio D’Aloisio – JuristNicola Occhiocupo – Constitutional law expertAcademic Year 2012/2013Marcello De Cecco – EconomistEttore Spalletti – ArtistAcademic Year 2011/2012Raffaele Colapietra – HistorianAcademic Year 2010/2011Sergio Dompé – President of Dompé PharmaceuticalsDomenico Silvestri – Professor of Linguistics and Philology, University of Naples “L’Orientale”Academic Year 2009/2010René Guitton – Journalist and writerAcademic Year 2008/2009Luciano Russi – Professor of History of Political and Social Ideas, University of Rome “La Sapienza” Academic Year 2007/2008Giuseppe N. Colasurdo – Dean, University of Texas Medical School, HoustonRoberto Gervaso – Journalist and writerAcademic Year 2006/2007Prof. Giovanni de Gaetano – Director of Research Laboratories, Catholic University of CampobassoDr. Sergio Marchionne – CEO of FIAT GroupAcademic Year 2005/2006Engineer Pierluigi Zappacosta – Founder of Logitech and Digital Persona; CEO of Sierra SciencesAcademic Year 2004/2005Prof. Mario Agrimi – Professor of Moral Philosophy, Oriental University of Naples; former RectorDr. Edoardo Tiboni – Journalist, publisher, and founder of major cultural institutionsAcademic Year 2003/2004Dr. Margaret Kelley – Director, UN General Assembly and Economic and Social Council, New YorkProfessor Uberto Crescenti – Professor of Applied Geology, “G. d’Annunzio” University; former Rector (1985–1997)Academic Year 2002/2003Professor Aldo Pinchera – Director of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa; Director of WHO Collaborating Center; Vice President of the National University Council (C.U.N.)Academic Year 2001/2002Professor Gianfranco Mazzuoli – Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”; Medical Coordinator for the Presidency of the RepublicProfessor Francesco Sabatini – President of the Accademia della CruscaAcademic Year 2000/2001Folco Quilici – Director, documentary filmmaker, science communicator, and authorKarl Ludwig Kley – CFO of LufthansaAcademic Year 1999/2000Giorgio Albertazzi – Actor, director and writerAcademic Year 1998/1999Dr. Piero Angela – Journalist and science communicatorAcademic Year 1997/1998Dr. Cesare Romiti – President of FIATDr. Giovanni D’Addona – Director General, Department of Economic Affairs, MURSTAcademic Year 1996/1997Prof. Enrico Garaci – President of the National Research Council (C.N.R.)Prof. Antonio Zappi – CEO of the "Reiss Romoli" Higher Education SchoolAcademic Year 1995/1996Professor Fabio Roversi Monaco – Rector, University of BolognaProfessor Giovanni Schippa – Rector, University of L’AquilaAcademic Year 1994/1995Not awardedAcademic Year 1993/1994Professor Nicola Cabibbo – Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”; President of the ENEA Institute of Nuclear PhysicsDr. Emilio Di Giambattista – Attorney General, Court of AuditorsAcademic Year 1992/1993Professor Wolfgang Pechhold – Rector, University of Ulm (Germany)Senator Franca Falcucci – Former Minister of EducationAcademic Year 1991/1992Professor Giuliano Vassalli – Former Professor of Criminal Law, University of Rome “La Sapienza”; Senator of the Republic; former Minister of JusticeProfessor Raffaele Laporta – Former Professor of Pedagogy, “G. d’Annunzio” University; Former Dean of the Faculty of HumanitiesAcademic Year 1990/1991Professor Carlo Bo – Rector, University of UrbinoProfessor Dominick Salvatore – Professor of Economics, Fordham University, New York; Vice President of the New York Academy of SciencesAcademic Year 1989/1990Maestro Pietro Cascella – SculptorProfessor Felice Ippolito – Professor of Geology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”Academic Year 1988/1989Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; President of the International Theological CommissionAcademic Year 1987/1988Professor Francesco Antonio Manzoli – Professor of Human Anatomy, University of Bologna; former Dean of Medicine at “G. d’Annunzio” UniversityDr. Domenico Fazio – Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of EducationAcademic Year 1986/1987Professor Luigi Rossi Bernardi – President, C.N.R.Professor Luigi Frati – Vice President, C.U.N.