César Gómez, whose profound contributions to gauge theory, string theory and quantum gravity were matched by his vision and generosity, passed away on 7 April 2025. After earning his PhD in Salamanca, he held positions at Harvard, the IAS and CERN before joining the CSIC in Madrid, where he became a founding member of the Instituto de Física Teórica, his true scientific home.

His career spanned key areas of theoretical physics: from the quantum vacuum in QCD and two-dimensional conformal field theory to holography, black holes and the quantum structure of spacetime. In recent years he embarked on bold new ideas about symmetry breaking and the quantum origin of the universe, entering one of his most creative periods when his life was cut short.

Beyond his scientific achievements, César was a gifted teacher, an inspiring presence at seminars and a remarkable conversationalist. He leaves behind not only a lasting scientific legacy, but also the memory of a colleague and friend who enriched every exchange with curiosity, insight and humanity.

The meeting will be an opportunity to celebrate Cesar's life and career through the personal recollections of some of his friends and collaborators.

Read CERN's obituary (page 29)

October 3rd, 2025

Blue Room

Institute for Theoretical Physics (IFT)

C. Nicolás Cabrera 13-15, Madrid