A recognition for research at the interface of polymer chemistry and smart materials
The Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier (ICGM) is pleased to announce that Sébastien Blanquer, CNRS researcher within the Chemistry & Macromolecular Materials Department (D2), has been awarded the 2026 CNRS Bronze Medal.
This distinction rewards highly promising research work and highlights the quality, originality, and impact of contributions in the field of polymer materials.
His research is part of a major evolution in polymer chemistry: the design of stimuli-responsive materials capable of reacting to their environment and evolving over time, particularly through 3D and 4D printing technologies.
Through the development of so-called “smart” polymers — including hydrogels, shape-memory materials, and other responsive systems — his work paves the way for new generations of functional systems with adaptive properties.
Relying on an interdisciplinary approach at the interface between chemistry, materials science, and additive manufacturing processes, this research contributes to redefining the role of materials, now considered as dynamic systems capable of interacting with their environment.
This recognition from the CNRS highlights the scientific excellence of Sébastien Blanquer’s work, its strong innovation potential, and its contribution to major challenges in healthcare, soft robotics, and materials engineering. It also underscores the dynamism of polymer materials research at ICGM.