The 10th edition of Nose, the International Conference on Environmental Monitoring of Odours and VOCs, opens in Bologna from July 6 to 8, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of odour science. What was once considered a marginal and often humorous topic has become a standardized international discipline, recognized as a key environmental, technical, and social issue. The conference, promoted by the Italian Association of Chemical Engineering (Aidic) with the scientific collaboration of the Olfactometric Laboratory of the Polytechnic University of Milan, brings together researchers, companies, control authorities, and professionals dedicated to studying, monitoring, and managing odours and volatile organic compounds.
Nearly two decades have passed since the first Nose conference in 2008, when discussing odours often meant dealing with a subject seen as difficult to measure and sometimes even ridiculed. Today, odour emissions are acknowledged as a major environmental concern, requiring rigorous scientific methods and interdisciplinary approaches. The conference highlights how the field has matured, moving from subjective perception to objective measurement through dynamic olfactometry, dispersion models, instrumental monitoring systems, and community engagement.
At Nose 2026, international experts are presenting cutting-edge technologies that are transforming environmental monitoring. These include mobile sensors, predictive algorithms, and real-time odour maps. Such tools allow for continuous tracking of odour sources and their dispersion, providing data that can be used for regulatory compliance, industrial planning, and public communication. The integration of real-time data with citizen participation platforms is also a growing trend, enabling communities to report and track odour events, thereby fostering transparency and collaboration between industries and residents.
Odours are no longer seen merely as a nuisance; they are now understood as indicators of the relationship between productive activities, air quality, land planning, waste management, water treatment, industrial processes, and human well-being. Their assessment requires interdisciplinary expertise and a close dialogue between science, technology, regulation, and social perception. The conference underscores the importance of shared criteria for preventing, evaluating, and limiting the odour impact of plants and activities, a need that has driven the evolution of technical and regulatory frameworks.
The growth of the sector is evident in the establishment of specialized laboratories, new monitoring technologies, data-driven approaches, and tools for citizen involvement. The 10th edition of Nose celebrates this transformation from a pioneering phase, where the goal was to prove that odours could be studied rigorously, to a mature phase where the challenge is to integrate odour management into environmental policies, authorization processes, industrial design, and territorial communication.
Giuseppe Ricci, president of Aidic, stated that Nose 2026 confirms the ability of Italian chemical engineering to foster dialogue between research, industrial innovation, and environmental responsibility. He emphasized that the conference addresses a theme increasingly central to the sustainability of production processes, the quality of territories, and the relationship between companies, institutions, and citizens. Ricci noted that the 10th edition demonstrates how the scientific community's contribution can translate into concrete tools to accompany the country's technological evolution and strengthen the competitiveness of companies in a sustainable development perspective.
Selena Sironi, full professor at the Polytechnic University of Milan and scientific head of the Olfactometric Laboratory, reflected on the cultural shift: twenty years ago, odour analysis made people smile; today, olfactory nuisances worry communities, divide territories, and require increasingly sophisticated tools to be understood. She described Nose as an opportunity to tell a cultural transformation before a technical one: the ability of science to give shape, measurement, and governance tools to something that was long perceived as elusive. Speaking about odours today means talking about quality of life, sustainability, innovation, public participation, and the future of cities and productive territories.
The conference program includes sessions on odour monitoring techniques, regulatory updates, case studies from various industries, and workshops on community engagement. Participants from around the world are sharing experiences and best practices, contributing to a growing body of knowledge that supports informed decision-making. The event also features exhibitions of the latest monitoring equipment and software, providing a platform for networking and collaboration.
As the field continues to evolve, the integration of odour science into broader environmental management strategies is expected to deepen. The 10th edition of Nose in Bologna not only celebrates past achievements but also sets the stage for future innovations, ensuring that odour science remains a vital component of environmental protection and sustainable development.
