In this short talk, I will share my journey through astrophysics: from my early curiosity about the stars I could see on cold winter nights, to some examples of scientific insights that have shaped my career. Reflecting on the years since the first NORNDIP conference in 2018, I will consider how diversity in physics and the participation of women in STEM have evolved in Sweden and across the...
Panel: Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Jessica Wade, Finja Tieten, Maren Malling, Susanne Aalto
Moderators: Elin Ekstedt and Ulrika Sultan
Quantum gravitational effects remain one of the challenges in theoretical physics. One promising route to explore their potential signatures is through phenomenological models that incorporate quantum corrections into classical solutions. In my talk, I will introduce the framework of quantum space-times and noncommutative geometry as a possible mathematical language which introduces intrinsic...
Atomic nuclei and their properties play a crucial role in many astrophysical events, such as novae, x-ray bursts or neutron-star mergers. Understanding nuclei is pivotal to address fundamental questions, such as where and how chemical elements are formed in the Universe and what is the nature of matter in the extreme conditions of compact astrophysical objects. Nuclear astrophysics connects...
In Black Hole Perturbation Theory (BHPT), confluent Heun functions emerge as solutions to the radial Teukolsky equation, which governs the dynamics of perturbations in black hole spacetimes. While these functions have traditionally been studied for their analytic properties, their connection to the underlying spacetime geometry has been less explored. In this talk, I will present a spacetime...
The slowing down of energetic charged ions in matter involves two contributions: the nuclear and electronic stopping powers. Although the nuclear stopping power can now be predicted with high accuracy [1], substantial uncertainties remain in the calculation of the electronic stopping power, especially below the Bohr velocity. These uncertainties are exacerbated by trajectory-dependent effects,...
Axial, or circularly polarized phonons can greatly affect the properties of a material. Thus, electron-phonon coupling between phonon angular momentum and electron orbital angular momentum leads to the splitting of electron energy levels corresponding to large effective magnetic fields [1]. Therefore, it is also interesting to investigate the effects of the coupling between phonon angular...
DrGENIE is a PhD student initiative in the field of gender equity, diversity, and inclusion within the academic environment, with a special focus on the PhD student community at Chalmers University of Technology.
The vision is an equitable environment for PhD students at Chalmers. Based on the core values of respect, empathy, and commitment, the initiative works towards change across all...
Gender equality in physics is a pressing issue as women continue to be underrepresented in higher education. However, one category of higher education institutions (HEIs) – namely women’s colleges – has produced a disproportionate number of female science graduates for over a hundred years. This project uses the historical institutional records of women’s colleges and other HEIs to study the...
In quantum electrodynamics, local U(1) gauge invariance is implemented through the covariant derivative, which introduces a corresponding electromagnetic gauge field.
Similarly, we consider a geometric U(1) gauge symmetry in reciprocal space to derive a repulsive effective interaction for a Hamiltonian containing a term that linearly couples to the position operator.
This framework is...
There has been a rapid increase in auroral tourism in the European Arctic this millennium, a component of a wider arctification of tourism in the north. The region where Northern Lights are most likely to be observed lies between 60 and 75 North. It is less likely for tourists to see the aurora in the southern hemisphere since there are fewer accessible locations with infrastructure and a...
In quantum transport, one investigates particle currents through quantum devices coupled to multiple reservoirs, which are defined by their chemical potentials and temperatures. Recently, there has been a large interest in studying the energy conversion processes in these devices, making the quantum thermodynamical aspects of them relevant. For example, one could imagine using dissipated heat...
With their high melting threshold, thermal stability, and biocompatibility, silicon nanostructures serve as powerful nanoheaters, capable of boiling water and generating microbubbles under continuous-wave laser illumination. Moreover, their inherent Raman-active phonons grant a second superpower: precise Stokes thermometry, mapping temperature through shifts in phonon frequency. Combined,...
As part of the new Art & Science program at the Niels Bohr Institute, this PhD project proposes a transdisciplinary exploration of time that bridges physics with embodied artistic practice. Rather than stopping at disciplinary intersections, the work reimagines how knowledge is produced by drawing on diverse methodologies and systems of reference across disciplines.
From a physics...
In my talk I will present an overview of the current situation of women in physics in Finland, both in academia and industry. The number of female undergraduate students has increased during recent years, but otherwise the situation at universities has not changed much. After going through the figures from different universities, I will present my own experiences of when and why I quit...
This presentation begins with an overview of the activities of KIF (Kvinder i Fysik / Women in Physics Denmark), an organization dedicated to supporting gender equality in the field. To mark the 150th anniversary of women’s admission to Danish universities, I will highlight the historical roles of women in physics in Denmark with pioneers such as Julie Marie Vinther Hansen and Inge Lehmann to...
Several surveys conducted at the Department of Physics at Stockholm University have revealed that a significantly smaller proportion of women PhD students intend to remain in academia compared to the men PhD students. To follow up on this finding and investigate the underlying causes, the PhD and Postdoc Councils carried out a new survey in the spring of 2025. This survey targeted both PhD...
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death across EU countries, with ovarian cancer being one of the deadliest gynecological malignancies. Its asymptomatic onset and delayed diagnosis contribute to poor survival outcomes—only 4% at stage IV compared to 90% at stage I. Existing diagnostic tools lack the sensitivity, specificity, and scalability needed for routine early screening. There is...
From building my own microscope to constructing a synchrotron beamline, my research journey has been defined by designing tools to uncover new physics.
Over the past decade, my scientific path has been shaped by a series of deliberate leaps across diverse trajectories: instrumentation development, fundamental condensed matter physics, and atomic-scale device fabrication.
My journey began...
Plants respond to various physical stimuli, including environmental and mechanical stimuli, but their responses to an electric field are not well understood. Most studies have focused either on electrotropism, the directional growth of roots under an applied electric field, or on plant growth enhancement resulting from electric field exposure. However, the underlying mechanisms of plant...
In this talk, I will review statistics collected in recent years within the STEM disciplines at the University of Iceland, particularly regarding the gender distribution at various stages of academic careers. I will also highlight several initiatives and the results of a survey recently conducted in Iceland. Finally, I will discuss the Gen-HET project and recent data collection efforts within...
Chalmers University of Technology launched GENIE (Gender Initiative for Excellence) in 2019, a ten-year strategic initiative with a budget of SEK 300 million. Genie’s goals were and are to improve gender equality across all academic levels and foster a work environment conducive to scientific excellence. One of Genie’s foundations was that by addressing gender imbalances, removing barriers,...
After many years of EDI-work, it is important to stop and contemplate what does really work. At the same time, it is equally important to be patient and show reliance that change is possible.
In this contribution we discuss some answers to the question in the title and especially describe a project in Lund University to set up a network of "Critical Friends" at faculties and institutions....
Over the past three years, I have served as a member of the equality committee within the DFG-funded research unit FOR5195, which focuses on relativistic jets in Active Galactic Nuclei. This interdisciplinary collaboration brings together experts in theoretical modeling, observational astronomy, and data interpretation from multiple universities and research institutes.
To promote justice,...
This presentation draws on findings from a longitudinal qualitative study exploring how young women navigate their identities within the context of physics, mathematics and other science subjects in Danish upper secondary education. Through student interviews, the study explores how gendered norms and expectations shape processes of recognition and participation in the physics, mathematics and...
Understanding student experiences in physics is essential to promote equal access to physics education and careers. Often associated with masculinity, intelligence, and nerdiness, physics faces inequitable participation based on gender, ethnicity, and social background. Identity-related studies have proven helpful in understanding why some students struggle to fit in. However, quantitative...
