In this talk I will introduce two topics that are objectively unrelated, but subjectively very close to each other in my heart: science and diversity, equity and inclusion matters.
On one hand, X-ray studies are a useful and powerful tool to disentangle the diverse physics behind the observed transient phenomena such as those in Be/X-ray binaries (BeXBs) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)....
One of the very many open problems in theoretical physics is that of quantising gravity, which is the attempt to successfully combine general relativity and quantum theory. In this talk I will give a broad overview of the problem of quantum gravity and the choices that we can make, along the routes we take. This will lead me to the poset-based "causal set" approach to quantisation....
Diversity and inclusion are essential for fostering innovation and progress in any scientific field. However, the disciplines of astronomy and astrophysics in Europe continue to face significant challenges in achieving equitable representation of different genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This talk will present an analysis of the current state of diversity within these...
Einstein’s theory of general relativity successfully describes gravitation by providing dynamics for the geometry of space-time continuum. However, at small scales or in extreme conditions, the smooth structure of space-time breaks down and must be replaced by a notion of quantum space-time. In this talk, I will present a framework for constructing a notion of ‘quantum geometry’, whose...
I will discuss some recent work looking quantitatively at the process of wound healing using ideas from thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Wound healing is a highly conserved process required for survival of an animal after tissue damage. The wound repair process is not only of great interest in its own right but is also a laboratory to study complex tissue dynamics and...
In the seminar this workshop is based on, we asked the question: how does gender shape science? While the first perception might be that sciences such as physics are independent of their researchers and consecutive genders, we looked at multiple ways gender interacts with the process of knowledge acquisition, starting with the questions scientists choose to ask (or not to ask) to the way of...
In recent years, the issue of gender-inclusive language use has ignited increasingly controversial debates across various countries and language communities. In languages with grammatical gender, this particularly concerns the use of alternative forms for so-called masculine generic terms. While some argue that the gendered meaning of masculine forms can be neutralized – allowing these terms...
In this seminar, I will illustrate why, more than 100 years after Einstein's fundamental work on Brownian motion, this topic is still debated. In particular, I will discuss some of its anomalies and focus on what is defined as Brownian but non-Gaussian behavior. I will highlight the possible biological advantages of this phenomenon. In the last part of the seminar, I will talk about gender,...
Despite revolutionary social and technological changes in the past decades, the "what do I want to do when I grow up" approach to life still dominates our thinking: Go to school, get a degree or vocational training, start working, build more and more expertise in your field, climb the corporate or academic ladder, retire, and then enjoy life. Such a life path may feel secure and predictable...
