Roberto Piazza, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", received the Career Award in Soft Matter.

Motivation: «The Special Recognition Award of Microfluidic Horizons 2026 is presented to Prof. Roberto Piazza, Full Professor of Condensed Matter Physics at Politecnico di Milano, in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the field of soft matter and complex fluids. His work has been instrumental in advancing the quantitative understanding of phoretic phenomena, sedimentation, and interparticle interactions in soft matter systems. Through the development and application of advanced experimental techniques, he has provided fundamental insights into the physical mechanisms governing complex fluids, with a lasting impact on the field. In addition to his scientific achievements, Prof. Piazza has made exceptional contributions to the academic community through his sustained dedication to mentorship, education, and scientific leadership. Throughout his career, he has guided and inspired generations of students, postdoctoral researchers, and young scientists, fostering intellectual curiosity. scientific rigor, and interdisciplinary thinking. His mentorship has had a profound and lasting influence on the development of numerous researchers and on the broader microfluidics and soft matter communities. This award is sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA), with which Prof. Piazza has maintained a long-standing and fruitful scientific collaboration».

The award cerimony took place at the Microfluidic Horizons 2026 (Padua, May 18-22, 2026).