Massimo Tarenghi Awarded Grand Cross by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The former ESO representative in Chile, Massimo Tarenghi, was awarded the Grand Cross, highest rank of the Bernardo O’Higgins Order, by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a ceremony in Santiago on 10 May 2013.

In the presence of government officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Foreign Minister, Alfredo Moreno, granted Tarenghi this decoration in recognition of his 35 years devoted to the construction of major telescopes in Chile.

“Massimo is not only a scientist, an outstanding professional and an entrepreneur, but also a friend who, over the years, has become a great promoter of our country. With his energy, experience and hard work, he has contributed to the process of making public the virtues of Chile,” said Minister Moreno during the event.

Since 1979, Tarenghi has been in charge of the construction and operation of several of the most important ESO telescopes in Chile, including the New Technology Telescope (NTT) at La Silla, the Very Large Telescope (VLT) on Cerro Paranal, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) on the Chajnantor Plateau. ALMA was inaugurated on 13 March 2013 during an official ceremony.

“I’d like to thank you for this great honour that has been bestowed upon me and also express my gratitude to all the people who have made me feel so close to this country,” said Massimo Tarenghi at the award ceremony.

In October 2012, the Chilean Senate had granted Chilean nationality by special grace to Massimo Tarenghi, in recognition of his great contributions to the development of astronomy in Chile (see ann12079).

Courtesy of European Southern Observatory