ABSTRACT

P.-G. de Gennes (1932–2007) (Figure 1.1) is considered the inventor of the science called soft matter. After spectacular initial contributions in solid physics (magnetism, superconductivity), his career in the theoretical physics of condensed matter opened up to a very wide spectrum of subjects, namely liquid crystals, polymers, colloids, wetting and adhesion, and biophysics, which define soft matter. Although de Gennes’ record is very impressive, the importance of his work mainly relies on his style, in permanent contact with the experimentalists and the industrial world, and on the idea that all the physical phenomena can be explained in simple terms. Pierre-Gilles had the passion to transmit his knowledge and discoveries to a wide audience, from schoolchildren to researchers, with accurate and colorful words and an impetus that triggered scientific vocations. His work was rewarded by the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1991. Pierre-Gilles de Gennes. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429154355/a763ff5b-c317-45ee-bbca-9ba0408a1d56/content/fig1_1_PB.jpg"/> https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429154355/a763ff5b-c317-45ee-bbca-9ba0408a1d56/content/fig1_1_OB.jpg"/>