I like simple problems with elegant solutions.
Questions & Answers
Why did you decide to pursue your field of research?
I explored a number of areas of endeavor and physics and mathematics turned out to be the fields where I finally felt at home. Solving problems in condensed matter and liquid crystal physics has been immensely satisfying.
What would you tell a student at the beginning of their academic career?
Don't stop searching until you find the field - whatever that may be - which is right for you.
Tell us a little about your research:
Puzzles are everywhere; almost everything we see around us is incompletely understood. I am not well disciplined, and, together with close colleagues, tend to work on a number of unrelated but fascinating topics. These range from liquid crystal lasers, shape changing materials, the physics of magic tricks, paradoxes in mechanics and statistics, and so on. I like simple problems with elegant solutions.
What are you hoping to accomplish?
To shed a little light on interesting phenomena, and to inspire the odd student to do likewise.
What鈥檚 the best advice you鈥檝e ever received?
Don't worry, be happy.
Who is someone you admire, and why?
I admire everyone who excels at their art.
Do You have any skills or talents most people don't know about?
Yes.
What do you like to do when you鈥檙e not working?
In physics and math it's hard to know when work stops and not working begins.
I enjoy sports (skating, skiing, karate), music (flamenco guitar) and fixing things.
What does it mean to you to be included in the top 2% in your field?
An unexpected and largely undeserved honor to be included in a list of such distinguished scientists.