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7 Loving and Sharing Science: Pierre-Gilles de Gennes--Etienne Guyon
Pages 45-48

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From page 45...
... I will not present elements of de Gennes' long scientific career. This has been amply done in the months following his death.
From page 46...
... Its use requires rigor and precise comparisons between different problems and should not be confused with loose metaphors. A mastery of analogy helped de Gennes build strong bridges between magnetism, superconductivity, liquid crystals, and polymers.
From page 47...
... De Gennes often criticized the fact that our school programs and classroom curricula were too narrowly focused and left little room for such multidisciplinary opportunities. A paradoxical attitude that great creators often have is to admit a certain bit of irrationality in their process of discovery that feeds imagination and, later, organizes creation.
From page 48...
... It was very stimulating and challenging for the younger members of the group, and I have also successfully tried to do it for my research groups. I hope that these personal memories and reflections inspired by my friend Pierre-Gilles de Gennes will offer some keys to promoting science and leading to a better understanding among each other, with rigor as well as tolerance.


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