Abstract: The ∇φ-interface model is a model for random interfaces that has been a topic of mathematical research since the 1970s (introduced by Brascamp, Lieb and Lebowitz). They also arise as effective models for many statistical mechanics models. When the potential is uniformly convex, a breakthrough was made by Naddaf and Spencer more than 20 years ago, by observing the connection between the scaling limit of the field and elliptic homogenization. I will discuss some recent results, in joint work with Scott Armstrong, that resolves a conjecture of Funaki and Spohn regarding the surface tensions.