Ing. Gianni Ferrari was awarded the 2015 Sawyer Dialing prize, with his certificate acknowledging: "for his long career educating the dialing community about the nearly forgotten heritage of ancient Islamic gnomonics and the wide variety of modern analytically developed sundials." Since 2000 Gianni has contributed nearly 30 articles to the NASS Compendium, enriching dialists' knowledge around the world. Recently he published the books Le Meridiane Dell'Antico Islam (Sundials of Ancient Islam) and Formule e metodi per lo studio degli orologi solari piani - Caratteristiche, descrizione e calcolo degli orologi solar paini comuni e pop conosciuti (Formulae and methods for the study of flat sundials - with characteristics, descriptions and calculations of common and less known sundials). Gianni's acceptance presentation for the conference was on "Forgotten Dialing Formulas" using versines. The versine trigonometric function was engraved on ancient quadrants, forming the small arcs "versus" and "rectus" that were used for solving the Astronomical Triangle to derive solar azimuth and hour angle time. Those that have learned to navigate with a sextant may indeed remember using half versines or "haversines" tables. His presentation is in the September 2015 issue of the NASS The Compendium. Gianni was not able to attend the NASS Conference in Victoria, but sent greetings from Italy. He asked that NASS donate the $200 prize money to benefit an appropriate dialing cause. Like other dialing prize recipients, he received a Spectra Sundial by Jim Tallman of Artisan Industrials. Gianni's dial was designed for his home in Modena, Italy at 44o 34' N 10o 51' E.
http://www.artisanindustrials.com/world-of-sundials/spectra-sundial-modena-italy.html