Prof. Dimitri Batani is Professor of “Exceptional Class” at Bordeaux University, France, and an internationally recognised expert in laser-produced plasmas. His research has significantly advanced the understanding of matter under extreme conditions through the use of laser-driven shock waves and, more recently, short-pulse high-intensity lasers.

Prof. Batani has been a pioneer in studying the transport of fast electrons in dense matter—an area crucial to the fast ignition concept of inertial confinement fusion (ICF)—as well as in the field of shock ignition. He is a leading figure in major European plasma physics initiatives: he leads the PETAL+ project, developing advanced plasma diagnostics for the LMJ/PETAL facility, and is also responsible for the EUROFusion project on Shock Ignition.

His contributions to the field have been recognised with the Friedel-Volterra Prize, jointly awarded by the Italian and French Physical Societies, in honour of his work in inertial fusion. Prof. Batani is a Member of the Institut Universitaire de France, a Fellow of the European Physical Society (EPS), and a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc).

Within the European Academy of Sciences, Prof. Batani has served as Officer of the Physics Division since March 2017, with the following mandates: March 2017 – March 2020; March 2020 – March 2023 (extended until March 2024 due to the COVID-19 pandemic)