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January 2026COMMONS welcomes the new theme at LINXS - Learn more about LINXS Institute of advanced Neutron and X-ray Science on soft matter in life SMILE -Read more about the SMILE theme!The SMILE theme will follow several thematic areas around biomolecular assembly. The central intention is to transfer soft matter approaches at large scale facilities such as European Spallation Source ERIC - Lear

https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/smile-new-linxs-theme-initiated-commons - 2026-05-07

2026-01-22COMMONS Director Emma Sparr has been elected member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA), class for Chemistry. KVA is an independent academy with around 480 Swedish and 175 international members working to strengthen the role of science in society.  Emma was elected at the General Meeting of the Academy on January 14.More information in SwedishMore information in English

https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/commons-director-has-been-elected-member-royal-swedish-academy-sciences - 2026-05-07

September 2025The network grant will be used to develop a proposal for an excellence cluster titled "EXCITE: Excellence Cluster for Innovative Soft Adaptive Materials and Technologies."read more

https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/commons-pis-obtained-network-grants-planning-potential-excellence-cluster - 2026-05-07

November 19, 2025How can researchers in the natural sciences and engineering communicate their research to a broader audience—and what do they gain from doing so?https://www.lu.se/evenemang/hur-kan-forskare-inom-naturvetenskap-och-teknik-na-ut-med-sin-forskning-till-en-bredare-publik-ochKC.F, Kemicentrum, Lund

https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/inspirational-lecture-julia-ravanis-and-joakim-stenhammar - 2026-05-07

August 24-28: Combined summerschool and workshopTopics:  Phase separation, condensation, and self-association in 2 and 3 dimensions – from basic principles to applications in life sciencesDeadline for pre‑registration (PhD Summer School) is March 15 – complete your pre‑registration hereMore information will come. 

https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/llps26-workshop-phd-course-liquid-liquid-phase-separation - 2026-05-07

April 28, 2026 from 18:00Kino, Foajébaren Atriet, LundKino, Foajébaren Atriet, LundA conversation about Experiments, based on the Glänta issue on the same topic. We dive into experiments, models, and simulations — do they mirror reality, reshape it, or expand it?  Mikael Lund (Computational chemist) and artist Janna Holmstedt (artist) meet in conversation, moderated by historian of science Julia R

https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/conversation-about-experiments-art-and-science - 2026-05-07

COMMONS hosted several activities during April. On April 15, the Annual Meeting took place, featuring the book release of the new edition of The Colloidal Domain (Wennerström & Evans). The event gathered 90 participants from multiple universities. The program included presentations on novel advanced experimental methods, a panel discussion on depth and breadth in excellent science, and a series of

https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/commons-hosted-several-well-received-activities-during-april - 2026-05-07

What is it that causes something to transform? And what is a transformation, really? Sometimes we speak of tipping points or boiling points—critical states where a small change can cause an entire system, ultimately even the whole planet, to change form. In physics and chemistry, such phase transitions can be observed and predicted, but the larger the context, the harder it becomes—and the more is

https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/transformations-forvandlingar - 2026-05-07

Ewa Andrzejewska: Condensate-mediated amyloid nucleationFerdinand Fandrei: Membrane-induced liquid-liquid phase separationSajitha Sasidharan: Impact of Nanoparticle Binding on Lipid Redistribution and Membrane Deformation in Cellular MembranesNicole Galenkamp started her COMMONS postdoc in 2024. She investigates a-synuclein coopreative binding to biological membranes. The COMMONS postdocs work bet

https://www.commons-center.lu.se/article/march-2025-four-commons-postdocs-board - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07

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 - 2026-05-07