CASUS Institute Seminar, Pablo de Castro, postdoc at ICTP – South American Institute for Fundamental Research, Institute for Theoretical Physics (IFT) – São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil
Pablo received his PhD in Physics from the Department of Mathematics at King’s College London. After his postdoctoral position on active matter at Universidad de Chile, he continued his work as a postdoctoral researcher on biophysics and theoretical ecology at ICTP-SAIFR in São Paulo, Brazil, in the group of Prof. Ricardo Martínez-García. Until 2014 he also worked temporarily as a lecturer at the Physics Department of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) and at the Escola Politécnica de Engenharia of the Universidade de Pernambuco (UPE).
Abstract of the talk// Imagine a flock of birds flying in splendid coordination or a swarm of bacteria moving in synchronized patterns. These collective behaviors are at the heart of Active Matter, a fascinating field in Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics that investigates the dynamics of self-propelled entities such as fish, cells, and artificial particles. For larger spatial and temporal scales beyond the typical scope of Active Matter research, the collective behavior of moving organisms enters the realm of Spatial Ecology, where demographic events like birth and death become important. In this context, population-level phenomena are controlled by both movement behavior and ecological interactions. Moreover, external factors such as habitat fragmentation and other forms of environmental heterogeneity can significantly affect the spatial distribution of organisms.
In this seminar, Pablo will present some of his contributions to questions in both Active Matter and Spatial Ecology, with applications in Epidemiology. The research of Pablo and his colleagues seeks to uncover new physical principles and develop theoretical frameworks for exploring the collective behavior of moving organisms. In the process, the team expects to provide insights that establish a dialogue with more applied research and guide data-driven studies, including wildlife conservation efforts, medical treatments and fundamental research in biology.
Pablo will be talking live in Görlitz. However, as the event is organized in a hybrid format that includes a videoconferencing tool by Zoom Inc., people interested in the topic have the chance to also join the talk remotely. Please ask for the login details via contact@casus.science.