Condensed-matter physicist Roberto Piazza was born, raised, and educated in Italy. He obtained his physics PhD in 1986 at the University of Pavia, where he taught for three years before moving to his current institution, the Polytechnic University of Milano. His research is based on the experimental study of soft matter and complex fluids, and specifically the study of structural properties, microscopic dynamics, and phase transitions.
A self-confessed amateur astronomer, he says he's resigned to conveying his love for the dark skies to his two teenage children and lover of history and philosophy literature, Piazza has written his first book, Soft Matter: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of (Springer, 2011). Physics Today recently caught up with him to discuss the book.
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