(Apr. 4) – “I graduated in Telecommunications Engineering at Padua. I was quite a lazy student, so I decided to finish my studies abroad to make a change and find a new inspiration. Today I work for the IMDEA, Madrid Institute of Advanced Studies at the Autonomous University of Madrid.” Fabio Giust is part of the ‘brain drain’ generation but happy with the choice he made “to change my life and create a better future.” He tells how his adventure abroad began: “In my area of study is quite common to seek prospects out of Italy, so I went to Erasmus. I was very happy about that experience: I spent six months at Alcatel-Lucent in Paris where I completed my education and, most important thing, I made a lot of contacts. In fact, once graduated, I was called by the IMDEA Networks in Madrid to work in a European project that involves various industrial (Alcatel-Lucent) and academics (University Carlos III of Madrid, where I attend a Ph.d. program) partners. Now my days are split in two: research assistant and PhD student. And I really like it, because it’s what I’ve studied for and it’s a profession with a strong international mark. In fact, – Fabio explains – I have participated in events and conferences in various parts of the world to present my research and results. Anyone who attends a doctoral degree knows that you have to work hard but, in the end, the reward is huge.” Fabio Giust has also met many Italian colleagues: “In Spain I found many Italians. Spain is a favorite destination for cultural and geographical proximity. It only costed me to find a place in Madrid, just after a few months I found a home.” About the ‘new-emigration’ he says: “Italians have always been immigrants: my grandfather worked in Belgian mines in the 40s and many other relatives of mine are scattered across France, Germany and Argentina. Now it seems that we are experiencing another wave of young people on the run, I think because the conditions in Italy are really hard.” (Gil/Peg)
