Introduction

This book is based on talks delivered at the 2nd Weiglhofer Symposium on Electromagnetic Theory. The symposium was dedicated to the memory of Werner Siegfried Weiglhofer, formerly Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Glasgow, who died in January 2003 in a mountaineering accident in Norway (Fig. 1). The 1st Weiglhofer Symposium on Electromagnetic Theory was held in July 2022 in Edinburgh, Scotland. A book comprising talks delivered at that symposium was published the following year [1]. The 2nd Weiglhofer Symposium, held in Cetara, Italy, was coordinated by the two of us. Francesco is Professor of Optics, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, and Vincenzo is Professor of Electromagnetics, Department of Engineering, University of Basilicata. Although not having worked directly with Prof. Weiglhofer, both of us have deeply appreciated and capitalized on his pioneering work on theoretical electromagnetics of complex materials. Twenty-two papers on cutting-edge topics of electromagnetic theory and appli-cations were presented at the 2nd Weiglhofer Symposium by researchers from 13 different countries (Fig. 2). This book consists of 16 chapters showcasing significant recent progress in theoretical electromagnetics ranging from engineering science to nanotechnology. The topics covered are diverse, ranging from foundational concepts to practical applications, and include both analytical and numerical approaches. The book also includes a chapter that is an English translation from German of a seminal paper published by Eduard Reusch in 1869. The last chapter in the book is a report on a round-table discussion held in the closing session of the symposium, on the critical role of Electromagnetism—particularly in the fields of Optics and Photonics—addressing some of today’s most pressing societal challenges, including Energy, Climate, and Health.