2017 Soft Condensed Matter Physics Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar
Abstract
Important advances over the past few years have begun to elucidate foundational principles that allow for systematic assembly and engineering of soft materials with predetermined structural, mechanical, optical and other properties. An important goal of the 2017 Soft Condensed Matter GRC will be to describe these recent advances as they are related to design of colloidal and liquid crystalline materials. An equally important goal is to illustrate growing connections between soft matter physics and related interdisciplinary fields, including those of biology, mathematical topology, fluid dynamics, nanotechnology and material science. In one session, the conference will illustrate how principles of soft matter can be used for assembly of novel reconfigurable colloidal materials as well as nanoparticle-liquid crystal nano-composites with intriguing optical properties. In another session, the conference will illustrate how laws of topology can be combined with nanomaterials and principles of soft matter, to design an entirely new class of reconfigurable materials on micron scale. Another session of the meeting will illustrate the connection between soft matter physics and fluid dynamics. The meeting will also illustrate the emerging experimental techniques, such as dynamical electron microscopy and their potential to transform our understanding of soft materials. An area of special emphasis is being placed on the relationship between soft materials and biology. Fundamental principles developed in soft matter physics, such as the statistical mechanics of self-assembly, are increasingly applied to biological systems. Conversely, bioinspired approaches can be applied to construct and understand novel soft matter materials with various applications. For example, in one session the conference will illustrate how fundamental material-like concepts such as rigidity and jamming can be related to design and function of biological proteins. Another area of emphasis at the interface between soft matter and biology will be focused on emergent behaviors of non-equilibrium active materials. These novel materials are collectively driven away from equilibrium by po energy consuming motile constituent units. The 2017 Gordon Research Conference has been organized to bring together a wide range of practitioners and experts, both from within condensed matter physics and outside to assess these state-of-the-art advance and other fruitful synergies. Recent developments in terms of new experimental data that has become available in the area of biologically inspired new materials as well as new theoretical advances make this a timely conference. The 2017 Soft Condensed Matter GRC will bring together an outstanding and diverse group of scientists at the forefront of research, and will make a special effort to include younger scientists and students, specifically at the preceding Gordon Research Seminar. The conference is expected to be the central event in 2017 in Soft Condensed Matter physics and it will have a strong and lasting impact on the entire field.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 16, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710365
Entities
People
- Zvonimir Đogić
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Gordon Research Conferences
- United States Army