Classifying and understanding phases of matter with effective theories

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. This 
    classic Einstein's quote summarizes beautifully the spirit of effective
    field theories (EFTs), where the measure of simplicity is dictated by the
    symmetries of the system. In this talk, I will promote the role and the
    power of EFT methods by discussing with you some interesting open questions
    such as the difference between liquids and solids, the nature of glassy 
    materials and the role of periodicity in crystals. I will guide you through
    the different theoretical layers, from standard EFT and hydrodynamics to
    holographic techniques, emphasizing the leading role of spacetime
    symmetries and the wide range of applicability of these methods.
    The talk is designed in a colloquium format suitable for all IFT members from
    the 1st to 5th floor and it will be my farewell to IFT after these 2 productive
    years.