Welcome

Among the advanced materials that underpin contemporary technology, glasses and glass ceramics occupy a preeminent role. Characterized by their cost-effectiveness and fabrication versatility, these materials offer physicists and chemists the unique ability to precisely engineer mechanical, thermal, and optical properties through compositional adjustments. The field of photonics, in particular, has significantly benefited from the photoluminescent properties of rare-earth-doped glasses, which have enabled the development of cutting-edge optical devices.

For the past forty years, Dr. Maurizio Ferrari has been a preeminent figure in this field. This one-day conference is organized to honor his distinguished career at the Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnologies of the National Research Council of Italy (IFN-CNR) and to recognize his seminal contributions to the understanding of photonic glasses.

Throughout his tenure, Dr. Ferrari has cultivated an extensive international network of collaborators. We are, therefore, pleased to invite his colleagues and friends to join us in this celebration and to acknowledge his scientific legacy. Furthermore, the conference will serve as a forum to present comprehensive reviews of specific research areas and to highlight recent breakthroughs in glass characterization, processing technologies, and industrial applications. Aligning with the theme chosen for 2026 International Day of Light—'Light for a Sustainable Future'—we also particularly welcome contributions that explore the impact of glasses and glass-ceramics on energy-efficient lighting, renewable energy, and sustainable buildings’ design.

Simone Berneschi

Ambra Giannetti

Gualtiero Nunzi Conti

Giancarlo C. Righini

Stefano Varas