Location: Pompeia Auditorium, IEF Building
Time: 1:30pm (BRT, UTC−3)
Date: 29 Apr 2026.
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Giancarlo Cappellini (University of Cagliari).
Title: Electronic and optical properties of molecules within DFT based schemes: from PAHs to nucleobases.
Abstract: Different DFT based computational techniques have been used to determine the electronic properties and absorption spectra of molecules of importance for the ongoing research in different fields; from Astrochemistry to Condensed Matter and Solid State Theory. The studied molecules could be free, in solution or adsorbed on solid surfaces. We will present results obtained at UniCa on those subjects from collaborations with some national/international teams, focusing in particular on PAHs and RNA/DNA nucleobases.
Date: 15 Apr 2026.
Speaker: Dr. Márcio Guilherme Bronzato de Avellar (INPE).
Title: Beyond correlations: the case of FRBs | Test severity as a discriminating criterion.
Abstract: In this seminar, FRBs are presented as a problem of decision-making between competing physical scenarios, rather than as a search for additional correlations. The central argument is that progress in the field will be driven by severe tests based on polarization, temporal behavior, host galaxy environment, multi-band constraints, and explicit control of selection and propagation effects. The talk is grounded in my research program at INPE, which combines magnetar models, Kozai–Lidov dynamics, unified scenarios in compact systems, and propagation physics within a test-oriented framework.
Date: 1 Apr 2026.
Speaker: Dr. Mariane Satomi Weber Murase (ITA).
Title: Engineering energy and charge transport in conjugated polymers for applications in sensors and photoelectrochemical systems.
Abstract: In this seminar, I will discuss how conjugated polymers can be designed as functional materials through the control of energy and charge transfer processes. Starting from the physicochemical fundamentals that relate π-conjugation, electronic structure, and optical properties in organic semiconductors, I will address how radiation absorption leads to the formation of excited states and how the fate of these states can be modulated through material design. Initially, I will explore systems based on MEH-PPV, in which the use of polymer matrices and organic scintillators enables the development of sensors and dosimeters with tunable optical responses to visible, ultraviolet, and ionizing radiation. Next, I will present systems based on polyaniline and PANI/TiO₂ heterostructures, where interface engineering promotes charge separation and enhances the photoelectrochemical response. The seminar aims to show how controlling the fate of absorbed energy—whether through emission or charge transport—constitutes a unifying principle for the development of advanced materials for sensing and energy conversion applications.
Date: 18 Mar 2026
Speaker: Dr. Carline Biesdorf (ITA).
Title: Compact stars: between quarks, hadrons, and dark matter.
Abstract: In this seminar, I will explore the mysteries of compact stars and how advanced theoretical models can reveal new possibilities for their internal composition. Starting from the fundamental question — what are the so-called neutron stars actually made of? — I will discuss the hypothesis of quark stars in the context of the Modified MIT Bag Model, developed to describe more realistically the stability and properties of quark matter under extreme conditions, such as those found in these compact objects. Next, I will address hybrid stars, which combine hadronic and quark matter, and how the presence of dark matter may silently reshape their cores, altering the critical mass for the formation of quark cores and concealing their observational signatures. The seminar will show how nuclear physics, astrophysics, and cosmology intertwine in the quest to understand the nature of matter in extreme regimes, highlighting recent contributions and future perspectives.
Date: 4 Mar 2026
Speakers: Prof. Carmen Belderrain and Prof. Iris de Oliveira Zeli (Working Group on Conscious Discipline, ITA).
Title: Conscious Discipline at ITA: A Culture that Shapes.
Abstract: This presentation proposes a reflection on Conscious Discipline (CD) as an essential part of ITA’s educational model, adopted since 1955. CD is a culture based on mutual trust, responsibility, integrity, and commitment to the collective. The talk revisits the historical foundations of Conscious Discipline, presenting practical examples and highlighting its continuity and relevance in the 21st century, reinforcing its role in the comprehensive development of individuals — technically, ethically, and humanly. Perceptions from the academic community and initiatives aimed at strengthening this culture in the daily life of the institution will also be shared. The goal is to broaden the shared understanding of Conscious Discipline and encourage its conscious, active, and continuous practice at ITA.
