Professor de Gennes is a world leader in the fields of: ferromagnetism; surface superconductivity; liquid crystals; polymer statistics and rheology; dynamics of wetting and drying; adhesion and interface rheology. Beyond his scientific pre-eminence, he skilfully injects his science into industrial applications, and he is a consummate expositor of science to the public and especially to the young. He is directly involved in French inputs into sciencebased Australian industry; he has ongoing collaborations with scientists in ANU, Sydney University, and CSIRO; and audiences across Australia benefited greatly from his lectures and discussions during his recent Bede Morris Fellowship.
