The Associazione Italiana di Calorimetria e Analisi Termica (AICAT) was established in 1979 as a fully independent cultural and scientific body. This condition proved to be very appropriate in that it allowed a quick growth of AICAT to its present size of more than 150 regular members as well as a satisfactory development of all its activities (meetings, schools, seminars). In particular, relations with ICTA and various C&TA National Groups have undoubtedly been made easier.

In the second half of ’80s a closer contact with the community of Italian chemists represented by the Società Chimica Italiana (SCI) became necessary and even urgent. Since SCI had provided the right space to this end through the creation of Interdivisional Groups, in 1989 the vast majority of the AICAT members decided to set up the Gruppo Interdivisionale di Calorimetria e Analisi Termica (GICAT), without suppressing the original association. Because of its peculiar regulations, GICAT not only put together very soon about 70 SCI members adhering to various disciplinary Divisions, but was also able to attract a remarkable number of AICAT members wishing to join the new Group and participate in its life. This “double-faced” situation was seen at the beginning as provisional, in expectation of the results of the activities of the new Group. In reality, almost 20 years of very good collaboration have shown the great advantages of this coexistence. Therefore, two formally separated but strictly collaborating and even interconnected bodies are currently acting in Italy in the field of C&TA.

The updated list of the AICAT Presidents is

Presidents of AICAT

• 1979-1981 G. Della Gatta, Turin
• 1982-1984 R. Riccardi, Pavia
• 1985-1987 G. Barone, Naples
• 1988-1990 E. Rizzarelli, Catania
• 1991-1993 A. Cesàro, Trieste
• 1994-1996 A. Buri, Naples
• 1997-1999 A. Schiraldi, Milan
• 2002-2007 M.R. Tinè, Pisa
• 2008-2010 B. Marongiu, Cagliari