Remembering Professor Alessandro Belardini

Alessandro Belardini, a great professor, mentor and scientist, prematurely passed away on 9 February 2026, shortly after his 54th birthday. He is deeply missed in both Italian and International community of plasmonics and nanophotonics, for both research and teaching, and for his infinite kindness, patience, and support of the young peers. To his students, he was a Renaissance man, answering questions with dedication and depth, willing to help with empathy. To his research colleagues, his nonlinear and chiro-optical experiments led to pioneering contributions in chiro-optical research at the nanoscale. Moreover, he was dedicated to the mission of the European Optical Society, its Italian branch, and the Plasmonica working group in plasmonics and nano-photonics. Behind more than 100 highly impactful research articles and proceedings, there is his name, efforts and dedication. However, as we were privileged to directly work and learn from him, in this memoriam article we would like to remember him for his personal virtues, and skills he had as a professor, supervisor and mentor.