Mario Bertolotti was a full professor of Physics from 1970 to 2008 at the Engineering Faculty of the University of Roma, La Sapienza, Roma. He taught optics and atomic physics and conducted research in lasers and laser applications, photothermal techniques, non-linear optics, and nano-optics documented by more than 500 publications in international peer-reviewed journals. He has also authored 6 books in English on lasers and cosmic rays.