Soft Matter Science and Beyond: From Inert to Living Matter
(Benasque Science Center, Jun 03 - Jun 07, 2025)

Organizers:

Nicolas Bremond (ESPCI), Jacques Fattaccioli (ENS Paris), Alberto Fernandez-Nieves (UB - ICREA), David A. Weitz (Harvard)

Soft materials have long captivated scientists in physical chemistry and condensed matter physics, inspiring extensive research and discovery. Since its early days, soft matter science has expanded its focus from the study of inert materials to encompass out-of-equilibrium systems, including active and living matter. The upcoming conference in Benasque will showcase significant advances on both fronts, highlighting the cross-fertilization that has led to new concepts, experiments, tools, and applications. The next generation of scientists driving this scientific and technological transformation are warmly invited to Benasque for the second edition of this distinctive gathering.

The workshop will start with a welcome reception (a buffet dinner) on Tuesday 3rd, followed by scientific talks, as well as moments to enjoy the place and the people, from Wednesday 4th to Friday 6th.

You can join Benasque by bus (4-5h) or by car (3h30) from Barcelona (see below), or coming from the other side from Toulouse (France) by car (3h30).

Here is the list of invited speakers:

Stefano Aime (ESPCI Paris, France)
Laura Arriaga (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain)
Jean Baudry (ESPCI Paris, France)
Erez Braun (Technion, Israel)
Jasna Brujic (New York University, USA)
Isabelle Cantat (Université de Rennes, France)
Itai Cohen (Cornell University, USA)
Paul Chaikin (New York University, USA)
Annie Colin (ESPCI Paris, France)
Zvonimir Dogic (University of California Santa Barbara, USA)
Rémi Dreyfus (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
Andrew Griffiths (ESPCI Paris, France)
Demian Levis (University of Barcelona, Spain)
Fred MacKintosh (Rice University, USA)
Renaud Nicolaÿ (ESPCI Paris, France)
Dave Pine (New York University, USA)
Valérie Ravaine (Université de Bordeaux, France)
Shmuel Rubinstein (Hebrew University, Israel)
Miguel Ruiz-Garcia (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
Thomas Salez (Université de Bordeaux, France)
Véronique Schmitt (Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, France)
Patrick Tabeling (ESPCI Paris, France)
Eric Vanden-Eijnden (New York University, USA)
Jan Vermant (ETH Zürich, Switzerland)

Attendance to the workshop is by invitation from the organizing committee.

Registration fee information