The 4th Symposium on Engineering Physics is took place on the 28th and 29th of June 2021, in the Doctoral Congress in Engineering 2021. This symposium resulted from the joint organization by the Department of Physics Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) and the Physics and Astronomy Department of the Faculty of Science of the University of Porto (FCUP). Following the previous editions, the 4th Symposium on Engineering Physics has received widespread contributions from all major Portuguese research institutions involved in the Physics and Physics Engineering fields.

The submitted works depict the current scientific trends in this field, and include topics as varied as optical and biosensors, electroluminescence, optoelectronics, advanced materials, energy storage and harvest materials, nanotechnology, and quantum studies. The quality of the scientific works of this symposium represents the transforming capacity of the EP community. We can testify it, from the familiarity of the researchers with fundamental science, which is crucial for a deep understanding of the problem, their resilience within the problem environment and their knowledge on how to operate the experimental tools to engineer its solution. The event featured two keynote lectures. Professor Filipe Duarte Santos is a distinguished scientist with extensive experience in the field both in Portugal and abroad. Professor Santos will deliver a lecture entitled “The challenge of controlling anthropogenic climate change in the 21st century”. Moreover, the symposium also received the renowned Professor Senentxu Lanceros-Mendes, who gave a lecture on “Materials by design, response by design: active and multifunctional materials”. At a time of scientific challenges, which will dominate the long-lasting effects on the way life inhabits the planet, it is with pride that we welcome all students, researchers, and professionals of the Engineering Physics community to this symposium.