iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

European Research Council (ERC) @erc.europa.eu · 29/09/2026

"I strongly condemn Russia’s violent attack on the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv. We stand strong with our colleagues in Ukraine." 🇺🇦 Prof. Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council

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Manlio De Domenico @manlius.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Sorry, but AI did not officially solve Navier–Stokes. Yet. It seems that someone should say that, in this AI madness. This is how rigor gets traded for virality. And it is also how propAIganda works. #ComplexityThoughts 👉 manlius.substack.com/p/no-ai-hasn...

manlius.substack.com

No, AI hasn’t officially solved Navier–Stokes. Yet

PropAIganda, now with a Millennium Prize Problem

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Metamaterials make the unexpected possible. It is no longer only about describing nature, but also about exploring what else might be possible beyond the limits we once thought were impossible. Check our comment on the #metawayofthinking in @natmater.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

The meta way of thinking - Nature Materials

Beyond enabling new optical behaviours, metamaterials influence our thinking of wave–matter interactions in science and engineering.

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Emily Hunt @emily.space · 19/08/2026

Once again: university courses HAVE to change if we want our students to keep learning things. AI hinders education. Learning always requires effort, and effort-shortcuts always impede learning

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T. Ryan Gregory 🇨🇦 @tryangregory.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Billionaire logic is that it makes more sense to terraform Mars rather than to stop venusifying Earth, and that it is a better strategy to build underground bunkers than to make the whole planet a better place to live for everyone.

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James Greenwood-Reeves @jgreenwoodreeves.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

As an academic, I have decided to pre-empt AI taking my job, so I am going to take ITS job! I am going to start hallucinating, lying to my students, and drinking 700,000 litres of water

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European University Association (EUA) @eua.eu · 14/07/2026

Today’s academic profession is challenging. So why do we still hire, assess and reward academics as if excellent research output and adequate teaching skills is all that matters? #EUAExpertVoices article by Karen Vandevelde, from @uantwerpen.be 🔗 bit.ly/47XdG7S

This image features an individual smiling, accompanied by text associated with the European University Association. The text reads: "Without good leadership, there are no attractive careers. And without attractive career paths, universities will lose their appeal." The name "Karen Vandevelde" and "University of Antwerp" are mentioned.

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

European Research Council (ERC) @erc.europa.eu · 13/07/2026

📢 The new #ERCMagazine is out! Who defines the question? Who owns the data? Who benefits? This edition explores how equity is woven into excellent frontier science, with concrete examples from the field. 👉 link.europa.eu/JFFYYH #FrontierResearch @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

@ec.europa.eu is fundamental more than ever to support European research to stay competitive for the decades to come! There is no time to be hesitant! We need courage, we need vision, we need more education and research education! And to strengthen ties between academic and industrial ecosystems!

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

European Research Council (ERC) @erc.europa.eu · 29/06/2026

🔴 Starting now in Brussels: an important discussion on Europe's future in research. As the debate on #FP10 gathers pace, leading scientists and policymakers will discuss what Europe needs to remain a global leader in R&I. Join the livestream: webcast.ec.europa.eu/voices-from-...

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

European University Association (EUA) @eua.eu · 27/06/2026

What is competitiveness? And what is the role of higher education? This briefing offers a digest of recent policy initiatives that are relevant to the recognition of professional qualification in the context of EU competitiveness policies. 🔗 bit.ly/4sXXZ8K

A briefing document from the European University Association (EUA) is shown. The document is titled "Competitiveness and the recognition of professional qualifications" dated April 2026. The document cover is displayed partially.

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

SIOF-Plasmonica @plasmonica.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

What a day today 😅: we are also announcing the call for abstracts 📥 for our yearly workshop of #Plasmonics and #Nano-Optics💡 #PLASMONICA2026 is open! 📅 8-10 July, 2026 in Pisa #UniPi #CNR-NANO @sns.it + free entry for junior researchers. All details at 🌐https://www.plasmonica.it/2026/. 🧵/1

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Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation @kawresearch.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

By changing the physical structure of gold at the nanoscale, researchers can drastically change how the material interacts with light – and, as a result, its electronic and optical properties. This is shown by a study from Umeå University published in @natcomms.nature.com

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

We recently published a work in @natcomms.nature.com where we show that #nanoporosity can drastically alter how #electronic #transitions contribute to the optical response of #metals. Research funded by @kawresearch.bsky.social, @erc.europa.eu and @vetenskapsradet.bsky.social.

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

European University Association (EUA) @eua.eu · 18/11/2025

To continue to drive excellent research, the ERC must be safeguarded from political steering. While the Commission’s proposal to expand the ERC is welcome, proposed changes like the reduction of the President’s term are concerning. 📄 bit.ly/4nxoFL4 #FP10 @erc.europa.eu

Promotional image for the European University Association's analysis of the European Commission's Horizon Europe 2028-2034 proposal, featuring an abstract blue-toned background of architectural glass structures.

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

The crazy thing is not what is happening. What will happen is inevitable for several reasons. The crazy thing is that they talk about war, finance, people lives, etc. as kids would talk about a Monopoly game. That is the craziness described in the history books. But now we are part of it, living it.

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

European Research Council (ERC) @erc.europa.eu · 03/08/2025

"It's important to follow your instinct and go for it." Sonia María García Blanco. "I was hesitant to tell my colleagues that I was applying for an ERC grant. In the end, it turned out I was good enough to get it. If I had listened to others, I wouldn't have even applied."

europa.eu

Researcher to entrepreneur: from love for tiny things to building a startup

Discover how a researcher and university professor jumped into the market with her research on integrated photonics.

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation @kawresearch.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

@nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social is investigating how light can be used to understand and manipulate matter at an extremely detailed level. His work could lead to computers powered by light instead of electricity – faster, more energy-efficient, and more environmentally friendly. tinyurl.com/ycx7rmu6

tinyurl.com

Researching the power of light to revolutionize computers and energy use | Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

At Umeå University, research is under way that could change how we view energy, computing, and data storage. Physicist Nicolò Maccaferri is investigating how light can be used to understand and manipu...

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation @kawresearch.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

@nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social undersöker hur ljus kan användas för att förstå och manipulera materia på en extremt detaljerad nivå. Arbetet kan leda till att framtida datorer drivs av ljus i stället för elektricitet – snabbare, mer energieffektivt och mer miljövänligt #forskning tinyurl.com/3yu4nsvd

tinyurl.com

Forskning om ljusets kraft – kan revolutionera datorer och energianvändning | Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse

Vid Umeå universitet pågår forskning som kan förändra hur vi ser på energi, beräkningar och datalagring. Fysikern Nicolò Maccaferri undersöker hur ljus kan användas för att förstå och manipulera mater...

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

Sergey Frolov🇺🇦 @spinespresso.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Proud to have our work appear in SCIENCE!!!

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

We need, more than ever, the Churchills, not the weak and insidious Chamberlains.

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Maria Leptin @marialep.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

The report identifies factors that limit innovation in Europe: fragmentation, both of markets and of regulatory frameworks, incl different national implementations of EU legislation, no true financial union, incompatible standards, insufficient R&D funding, risk-averse regulatory culture.

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

European University Association (EUA) @eua.eu · 12/07/2025

Before the upcoming publication of the #MFF proposal outlining the architecture of #FP10, EUA underlines the need to safeguard the bottom-up character of the ERC, MSCA, EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition. The FP10 proposal must ensure that the ERC maintains its full independence.

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Maria Leptin @marialep.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Congratulations! The new Advanced Grant winners are great news. But yet again, many scientists - around 260 - with ground-breaking ideas were rated as excellent, but remained unfunded due to a lack of funds at the ERC. Hope that more funding will be available in the future!

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

New changes in @erc.europa.eu policies and the new working programme are amazing!!!! 🤩

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Reposted by Nicolò Maccaferri

Stephen Curry @scurry.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

If your test for ground-breaking discoveries can’t detect the discovery of RNAi, or of CRISPR-Cas9, or the cryoEM resolution revolution or Alphafold2, maybe it’s not a very good test. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Graph claiming to show a decline in groundbreaking discoveries flatlines for the life sciences around zero from about 1996 onwards.

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

I would also increase the trust and support to the European researchers, as there so many good ones who, for many reasons, do not have access to top funding because they do not belong (or refuse to be part of) to the any “academic family/clan”! Then I agree 100% on the plan!

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Don’t miss this fantastic panel discussion next week!

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Room has been assigned. The panel discussion will be in room 203B!

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

If you are attending @optica.org #CLEO Conference do not miss the opportunity to attend our panel session on May 5th 6.30-8pm (room TBD) entitled “Next-Gen Photonic Metamaterials: Innovations in Light, Heat, Devices, and AI” (see below for more details).

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Sergey Frolov🇺🇦 @spinespresso.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

A problem with all these journals publishing ridiculous corrections instead of retracting articles is that a 'correction' will become associated with terrible fraud. And the editors talk about 'decriminalizing retractions' and removing that stigma. Fraud is fraud, not matter how you call it.

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Check out our new perspective on layered materials, from the fundamental science to technological applications in opto-electronics published open access in 2D Materials @ioppublishing.bsky.social! Thanks @vetenskapsradet.bsky.social, @kawresearch.bsky.social and @erc.europa.eu for the support!

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Looking forward to this symposium! Thanks for inviting me at @in2ub.bsky.social to showcase the research we are doing at @umeauniversitet.bsky.social!

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EOS - European Optical Society @europeanoptics.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

📢Meet the invited speakers for the Optical Materials Topical Meeting at #EOSAM2025: 🔹 Monika Fleischer 🔹 @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social 🔹 Ambra Gianetti Submit your work and share the stage with them! 🚨Submission Deadline: April 10!🚨 🔗 www.conftool.com/eosam2025 More details: tinyurl.com/yz9r95w4

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Sander @sanderregter.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Some Republicans criticized Trump. "This is the most shameful and embarrassing moment I have ever seen in the Oval Office."

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European University Association (EUA) @eua.eu · 01/03/2025

Underfunding is a serious threat when universities face increased responsibilities to respond to multiple changes/challenges 🚨 70% of universities identify underfunding as one of the top 3️⃣ obstacles for improving learning and teaching. #EUATRENDS 2024: buff.ly/4k27IXJ

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

One reason why I think respectability is stupid is because it's often used as a mask. Such judgements are rarely about the clothes themselves, but more often about the bodies beneath them. To wit, no one raised an issue when Elon wore a graphic t-shirt and ball cap to meet the Trump cabinet.

Two photos: One shows Zelenskyy in a black quarter zip at the White House meeting, the other shows Elon Musk in a black graphic t-shirt, black topcoat, and black ball cap, also meeting with the Trump cabinet.

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

I am thrilled to announce that our application to organize the Nobel Symposium entitled “Metamaterials science and technology: structuring light and sound in space and time” has been funded by the the #NobelPrizeFoundation, through the #RoyalSwedishAcademyofSciences. More details will come soon!

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Can someone explain to me in simple words what is the implication of having the density of states in 1D systems (nanowires) diverging at low energies? What is the main physical meaning of this result? I can explain the constant value in 2D, the dependence on sqrt(E) in 3D…but in 1D I am struggling!

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Clearly in the dirty hands of incompetent and dangerous people.

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Gerard Rocher-Ros @grocherros.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

PhD #1 involves river network modeling of carbon processing. Co-advisors are R. Sponseller (Professor in Ecosystem Ecology) and M. Rosvall (Professor in Physics). This position is part of a research school in Stress responses of complex systems. Apply by February 16th. www.umu.se/en/work-with...

umu.se

Stress response modelling in IceLab: PhD position in ecosystem modelling focused on responses of river network carbon processing to climate stress

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Gerard Rocher-Ros @grocherros.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

I'm hiring, two fully funded PhD positions! Come work in Umeå in Arctic Sweden, a leading place for high-latitude ecosystem ecology and carbon biogeochemistry

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Nicolò Maccaferri @nicolomaccaferri.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

What I think this world missed so far is a duo Gaga-Winehouse. A big missed opportunity for our universe.

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SIOF-Plasmonica @plasmonica.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Every other year, we organize an international School on nano-optics 🔬 aimed at early-stage researchers. The 2024 edition, hosted by the Lake Como School of Advanced Studies, was an intense week of science and fun! We are now scouting for locations (in Italy) for 2026 - suggestions are welcome 🙂

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