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April 8: Release event of Glänta magazine issue "What is Life". Time and place: 17.00 @ Pufendorf Institute. The program includes: reading, panel discussions, mingle & light food. The presentations will be run in Swedish, while questions and discussion in English are welcome!The issue is made in collaboration with the COMMONS Center.
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/what-life-how-did-it-start - 2026-05-05
During last week of August, we explored the physics of electron microscopy, cryo-specimen preparation, and a range of applications to soft matter. We also shared unforgettable experiences together, from in-depth technical lectures, lab visits and visiting the Cryo-EM@MAX IV facility in Lund.This week was not just about learning but also about building a community at the frontiers of cryo-EM resear
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/cryo-em-summer-school-august-2025 - 2026-05-05
Joakim Stenhammar’s essay ”On starlings and the thermodynamics of life” is now published at EuroZine. The essay was originally published in Glänta’s issue ”Life ” as part of the collaboration with COMMONS Academic Forum.
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/academic-forum-publication - 2026-05-05
On September 18, the ESS Lighthouse: Colloids and Interfaces in Food and Pharma (CaIFF), lead by COMMONS-PI Professor Martin Malmsten, was officially inaugurated.CaIFF focuses on out-of-equilibrium multi-phase colloidal systems, their investigation with large-scale neutron- and synchrotron methods, and their application in pharmaceutical and food products (https://pharmacy.ku.dk/research/caiff/).W
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/inauguration-ess-lighthouse-25-09-18 - 2026-05-05
Our COMMONS co-worker Julia Ravanis has recieved the prize "Forskarfyren" for “for her innovative way of spreading knowledge across generations through a unique combination of poetry, the humanities, and the natural sciences.”We are very happy to have Julia with us driving forward activities in the COMMONS Academic Forum, and thereby following in particular the lines outlined as motivation for the
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/julia-ravanis-awarded-forskarfyren - 2026-05-05
Nov 19, 2025The idea is to not only discuss the important aspect for chemistry's notion in the society, but also experience the seminar format hands-on as a possible teaching and examination method.13.00-13.45Gain insights into the seminar as a knowledge practiceOpen lectures by Julia Ravanis (CTH and LU, Academic forum), Lovisa Brännstedt (LU, History) and Felix Roosen-Runge (Physical Chemistry,
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/seminar-societal-misconceptions-chemistry - 2026-05-05
MARCH 19, 2024Two speakers present research that fall under one overall theme; providing two perspectives on a common underlying phenomenon. The aim is to create an interactive thinking and collaboration process focusing not only on specifics, but rather on the commonalities. More informationTheme: CooperativitySpeakers: Sara Linse (LU) & Mikael Lund (LU)Time: March 19 at 14.15-16.00
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/1st-commons-challenges-24-03-19 - 2026-05-05
From intefaces to nanostructures: Lipid self-assembly in non-equilibrium conditions14.00 Adam Squires (University of Bath, UK)Lyotropic lipid phases in the open air: films, droplets and aerosols14.30 Mark Rutland (KTH, Sweden)Bending the water – air interface with self assembly: Langmuir films in a new light15.00 Break 15.15 Anan Yaghmur (Copenhagen University, Denmark)Cubosome and hexosome
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/minisymposium-4-december - 2026-05-05
COMMONS postdoc Ferdinand Fandrei took the stage in Helsingborg in front of 500 upper secondary school students to explain their research in the most engaging way possible — in just four minutes!The occasion? Forskar GrandPrix Sweden’s national competition in research communication, where researchers are challenged to combine clarity, storytelling, and stage presence. The topic of the presentation
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/commons-postodoc-forskargrandprix - 2026-05-05
September 2025Last month, our COMMONS postdoc Nicole Galenkamp spent a few days in the north of Sweden with the another Center of Excellence, Icelab @ Umeå during their IceLab Camp. The camp brings together early-career researchers from many different fields to do something we rearly get to do in science: to slow down.Instead of chasing results or ticking off deadlines, the week was about giving c
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/commons-postdoc-icelab-camp - 2026-05-05
July 2023COMMONS is one of a total of 15 Centers of Excellence granted by Swedish universities, and the only one at Lund University.The Center will be lead by Emma Sparr, Martin Malmsten, Sara Linse (CMPS, LU) and Fredrik Höök (Chalmers). The overarching aim is to establish a multifaceted scientific environment focused on unifying physicochemical processes of key importance for the function of cel
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/commons-center-funded - 2026-05-05
Spring 2025One year has now passed since COMMONS was inaugurated at the Department of Chemistry. What has happened since then? How has the centre approached its mission – and what lies ahead?In this interview, Centre Director Emma Sparr and Centre Coordinator Felix Roosen-Runge share how they’ve worked since the start, how they aim to develop the research environment – and why COMMONS has become a
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/report-first-year-commons - 2026-05-05
May 5 2025 The role of experiments for science seems apparent, but how has it changed over time and between disciplines? After an input by Julia Ravanis, we will have a panel discussion to inspire reflections on the structure of scienceTIme and place: at 13.15 in KC:A
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/academic-forum-role-experiments - 2026-05-05
Ligand binding theory and practiceMarch 24-28, 2025 in LundThe course will give a comprehensive introduction to the quantitative theory of molecularinteractions ("ligand binding") applicable to any chemical or biochemical system. This basic-level course is suitable for beginning graduate students or advanced undergraduate students inany study field in science and engineering, requiring only genera
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/phd-course-ligand-binding-march-2025 - 2026-05-05
August 2025We are happy to announce the COMMONS summerschool Cryo-EM of Soft Materials. Topics covered include the components of the TEM and the SEM, the principles of image and picture formation in electron microscopy (EM), the physics of electron beam-specimen interaction, specimen preparation in cryo-EM, elemental analysis in cryo-EM, and a survey of a wide range applications. More informationT
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/commons-summerschool-cryo-em - 2026-05-05
May 6, 20249.30-12: inspiration lectures on essayist writing in academiaJulia Ravanis (Glänta, Chalmers) on (popular science) writing Khashayar Naderehvandi (Glänta) on (literary) writing19.00 Evening lectureDavid Dunér (LU): “Historical perspectives on the concept of life”Thematically, this lecture coincides with Glänta’s upcoming journal issue on life, published in cooperation with COMMONS.
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/1st-academic-forum-public-event-24-05-06 - 2026-05-05
Sabrina Leslie (UBC Vancouver) is visiting May-June 2024 in both Lund and Gothenburg. As part of the exchange, the LU PhD student Noemi Ferrante-Carrante spent 2 months (Nov & Dec 2024) in Vancouver in the Leslielab.The Leslie Lab is working at the interface of physics and biology with a particular interest in quantifying single-molecule dynamics. Operating at the leading edge of the field, Dr. Sa
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/visiting-professor-sabrina-leslie - 2026-05-05
June 2024The COMMONS center will make a number of strategic postdoc recruitments for triggering collaborative research activites within selected areas. We are very happy that Nicole Galencamp will start her COMMONS postdoctoral position mid May with main working place in Lund between physical chemistry and biochemistry. Her research will be focused on cooperativity in protein binding to biological
https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/welcome-nicole-galencamp-commons-1st-postdoc - 2026-05-05
