COLLOQUIUM EHRENFESTII 2026

initiated by Paul Ehrenfest in 1912
currently organized by Subodh Patil (read about its history)


Dinner participants: 28 | Follow the live stream

Del Gado

Emanuela Del Gado

Georgetown University, USA

May 27

7:30 p.m.

CM 1.26

Connected matter: the architectures of soft materials.

Soft materials that we eat, spread, squeeze, or 3D print are typically gels - soft amorphous solids whose structural integrity relies on self-assembled networks of particles, fibers, or agglomerates of proteins, polymers, and colloids. In biology, the space between and within human cells is permeated by self-assembled gel networks, the extra-cellular matrix and the cytoskeleton, whose self- organization and heterogeneity is central to biological functions. Complex network architectures underpin the adaptive, tunable, and nonlinear mechanics of these materials and arise from the interplay of molecular forces, surface interactions, aggregation kinetics and frozen-in stresses. In this colloquium, I will discuss the surprises and mysteries of these "connected" systems, and how rigidity, memory, and failure emerge in their complex architectures

The Colloquium Ehrenfestii takes place Wednesday evenings starting at 19:30 hours in the Gorlaeus building, lecture hall CM 1.26 (first floor, near main entrance on Einsteinweg 55). Before the Colloquium, there is a common dinner in the Beta Café (far end of the first floor, see map). This dinner starts at 18:00 hours sharp and is free of charge, under the condition that one attends the colloquium and that one has made a reservation before noon on the Tuesday preceding the colloquium.

We count on your presence if you register, please do show up. Meal registrations may close earlier, when 80 persons have signed up.

Colloquium Ehrenfestii Program 2026

14 Jan

Eran Sharon (Hebrew University, Israel)

Non-Euclidean Sheets - From Growing Leaves to Self-Morphing Architecture and to Locomotion

15 Apr

Roberto Car (Princeton University, USA)

Studies of the ferroelectric phase transition in the age of artificial intelligence

27 May

Emanuela Del Gado (Georgetown University, USA)

Connected matter: the architectures of soft materials.

23 Sep

Tomaž Prosen (University of Ljubljana)

TBA

14 Oct

Vijay Balasubramanian (U. Penn USA)

TBA

11 Nov

Bernard Derrida (College de France)

TBA

02 Dec

Mariangeles Serrano Moral (University of Barcelona)

TBA

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