#1. “Mathematics was never enough for me” Interdisciplinary research is on everyone's lips. Yet, Italian interdisciplinary researchers like Roberta Sirovich struggle to find their place

Ever since my time in the #scicomm team in Münster, I have missed a space to host critical conversations with researchers. Hence 'On the Shoulders of Giants': in the first episode I talk to Roberta Sirovich on the barriers to interdisciplinary research.
simoneramello.substack.com/p/1-mathemat...

The first list filled up quickly, so using the holidays to make a new one - have added you there! go.bsky.app/AFSGdUQ

We have to define what we mean by “AI.” Because the model that advanced our understanding of protein folding and the LLMs that churn out the nonsense slop that fills the internet both get called “AI.” And the latter is co-opting the usefulness of the former to create this exactly perception.

Would be happy to be added, I do mostly mathsy stuff :-)

Simone standing in front of a slides presentation about "Model theory of valued difference fields".

Time for a (re?)introduction 👋
I'm Simone (he/him) and I'm an 🇮🇹 mathematician. I did my PhD in Münster 🇩🇪, and have left research for scicomm. I like to think about technology and society, 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ rights, animation, stories, and all things meta.

The #SciComm starter pack is almost full. Make sure to revisit it as l’ve added lots of folk this week.

Do share it and flag up if you’d like added.

go.bsky.app/VJQzace

Being Gay in Academia: Unravelling Suffocating Contradictions - The PhD Place This article explores the experience of a gay man entering academia in an oppressive conservative culture, creating impossible contradictions between who they are and who academia wants them to be.

The last months have been hectic. Turns out I have missed the publication of a piece I care about, where I try to make sense of contradictions between my identity and academia. Writing it was deeply cathartic; maybe it will be useful for someone else too.