Roberto Piazza trained as a physicist in the school of Vittorio Degiorgio, and is now professor of Condensed Matter Physics at Politecnico di Milano, Italy, Associate Editor of the European Physical Journal E and coordinator of the Topical Team for "Applications of colloids in microgravity" of the European Space Agency. He has given important contributions to research on nanoparticle suspensions, polymer and surfactant solutions and  biological macromolecules. He is not only a gifted physicists, but equally versed in history and literature.