Armand Soldera: a man of conviction

Armand Soldera is a man of conviction. The dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Sherbrooke (UdeS) readily acknowledges that his commitment is "deep," whether from a social, civic, or academic perspective.

You only need to look at his career path to understand that this son of Italian immigrants doesn't do things by halves. When he sets his mind to something, he doesn't give up. Starting with his studies. Armand Soldera recounts this with a touch of humor and his unfailing smile: "I wanted to do a short course of study to become a high school teacher, but I loved research too much!"

After earning a master's degree in physics, he began a PhD in molecular physical chemistry at the University of Strasbourg, which he completed in 1992. Passionate about research, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Laval University (Quebec, Canada), during which he fell in love with La Belle Province before being hired as a research engineer at the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in Tours in 1994. But the call of academia was too strong. In 2002, Armand Soldera resigned and returned to academia... on the other side of the Atlantic.

At the intersection of physics and chemistry

Director of the molecular physical chemistry laboratory and professor in the chemistry department at the University of Sherbrooke, Armand Soldera has rediscovered "the freedom we enjoy in academia, which I really valued." His area of expertise is soft matter. "This refers to complex systems that are intermediate between liquids and solids, such as gels, pastes, and slurries," explains his mentor Éric Anglaret, professor of materials physics and deputy director of international relations at Polytech Montpellier.

Armand Soldera is particularly interested in statistical thermodynamics and conducts multi-scale studies, from molecules to materials, using computer-based experiments. He excels in a field at the crossroads of physics and chemistry, with a passion for science, but also literature, philosophy, and more.

Focusing on student success

In 2018, Armand Soldera became Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Science for Development and Partnerships, which led him to strengthen ties with the University of Montpellier. The two cities, which became twin cities in 2013, already collaborate on theMontpellier-Sherbrooke Scientific Meetings, which have been held every two years since 2006. It was in this context that Éric Anglaret met Armand Soldera in 2019. Together, they set up joint training programs, including a dual-degree program that welcomes a handful of engineering students from Polytech Montpellier to Sherbrooke each year.

In 2020, they founded the International Laboratory for Learning about Technological Nanomaterials (LIANT), bringing together Professors Polytech Montpellier, IUT Montpellier-Sète, and the faculties of science, engineering, and education at the University of Sherbrooke around educational innovation. "I am proud that UM is honoring Armand, because he is a colleague and friend who is committed to all aspects of our profession: research, of course, education, particularly educational innovation, which is so dear to our Quebec friends, and innovation, in close collaboration with businesses, which has led him to file several patents," his sponsor readily acknowledges.

1,300 km by bike!

The two men also share a civic cause: environmental issues. This led to the creation of a crazy project designed to promote eco-friendly transportation: in 2022, Armand Soldera will cycle more than 1,300 kilometers from Paris to Montpellier, passing through eight of France's fifteen Polytech schools. He was accompanied on the last leg by around fifty students and teachers from the UM. In return, the people of Montpellier have committed to making the journey to Quebec by sailing cargo ship in the coming years.

Another equallyunconventionalproject was to create a beer designed and researched at Polytech Montpellier and produced at the Sherbrooke teaching brewery in partnership with Siboire microbreweries. Called Debryde, this "hybrid beer challenge" was tasted by participants at the 2024 Montpellier-Sherbrooke meetings.

Since spring 2024, Armand Soldera has been Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Sherbrooke. This appointment came a few months after his four-month stay in Montpellier as a guest researcher in the MAK'IT program. Rarely has a recipient of an honorary doctorate known the UM as well as he does, as its president Philippe Augé pointed out in his speech.  "None of this is about me, but about us," insists Armand Soldera, promising an even deeper commitment and lasting bonds.