Some Nonlinear Problems in Anisotropic Systems.

We concentrate on those problems that we believe have shown, or will prove, to be useful quantitative paradigms of nonlinear systems. Our point of view was to use the physics of liquid crystals to give qualitative aspects of solutions, then discuss control parameters to develop a more quantitative picture. We conclude that liquid crystals are well suited to do nonlinear science: their nonlinear dynamics can be observed in real time and real space and, in the long term, they provide a link with the many non-equilibrium and nonlinear problems of biology.