From Superfluids to Interfaces:
The Scientific Legacy of Philippe Nozières

Philippe Nozières was one of the major figures of twentieth-century theoretical physics and one of the founders of modern condensed-matter physics. Over an exceptionally broad scientific career, he made seminal contributions to many-body physics, quantum liquids, strongly correlated systems, the Kondo problem, superconductivity and superfluidity, as well as to classical statistical physics, crystal growth, wetting, faceting and the physics of interfaces. His work was characterized by a rare combination of physical intuition, conceptual depth, technical virtuosity and simplicity: he could master sophisticated theoretical techniques while never losing sight of the essential physical mechanism. Many of the concepts, methods and ways of thinking that he introduced have become part of the foundations of contemporary theoretical physics.

After studying at the École normale supérieure in Paris, Philippe Nozières spent two formative years at Princeton University, working with David Pines on the emerging theory of quantum many-body systems, and also spent time at Bell Laboratories, then one of the great centers of the developing field of solid-state physics. Returning to France, he played a central role in establishing a distinctive and internationally influential school of condensed-matter theory. From 1972 onward, the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble became the principal base of his research activities, and he led its Theory Group until 2000. From 1983 to 2000 he held the Chair of Statistical Physics at the Collège de France, while maintaining his close connection with Grenoble. He was elected to the Académie des Sciences in 1982 and received numerous distinctions, including the Wolf Prize in Physics in 1985 and the CNRS Gold Medal in 1988. Beyond his own scientific achievements, he profoundly influenced generations of physicists through his teaching, his writings, and in particular through several remarkable books that became lasting references for the community. His books, like his lectures, combined formal mastery with an extraordinary ability to isolate the essential physics, and helped shape the way generations of condensed-matter physicists learned to think about many-body problems.

The conference **From Superfluids to Interfaces: The Scientific Legacy of Philippe Nozières**, held on 18–19 January 2027 at the Collège de France and the Académie des Sciences, will celebrate both Philippe Nozières' scientific achievements and the continuing vitality of his legacy. The program brings together scientists who knew and worked with him closely and researchers from younger generations who are advancing fields that he helped create or profoundly reshape. Through lectures spanning quantum many-body physics, correlated materials, ultracold gases, statistical physics and the physics of surfaces and interfaces, the meeting will highlight the remarkable breadth of Philippe Nozières' work and the enduring influence of his ideas on physics today.