Electrostatics in soft matter

Recent progress in understanding the effect of electrostatics in soft matter is presented. A vast number of materials contain ions, ranging from the molecular scale (e. g. electrolyte) to the meso/macroscopic one (e. g. charged colloidal particles or polyelectrolytes). Their (micro) structure and physico-chemical properties are especially dictated by the famous and redoubtable long-ranged Coulomb interaction. In particular, theoretical and simulational aspects, including the experimental motivations, will be discussed.