Florence Elias

Florence is interested in the physics of our daily lives, from soap films to shaving cream. From her Ph.D. until her position as a permanent researcher in Paris, her work has been devoted to the physics of magnetic and soapy foams.

Her research activities notably led her to take interest into the acoustics of these bubbly media: what physico-chemical factors influence the propagation of sound in a foam? Can certain frequencies be attenuated for the benefit of others when sound waves pass through the medium? So many questions that have motivated Florence in the past years. The potential applications of her research are numerous, especially for filtering and sound isolation. Florence is now working with marine biologists to understand the formation mechanisms of marine mosses: linked to the rapid growth of microscopic algae, they are found every year on our shores.

The visual aspect of experiments is extremely important to Florence. The beauty of scientific objects has been a driving force, a guide for her career choices. "I try to [...] communicate scientific messages with interactive and visual experiences," she says. In short, in full accordance with the philosophy of AiR.