Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Marcello Seri

@mseri.me

860 followers 690 following 480 posts

Associate prof at Bernoulli Institute, Groningen. Proud dad, mathematical physicist, #OCaml enthusiast, LEGO aficionado, amateur photographer, mushroom lover, fresh podcaster #mathsky #physics #scicomm #ocaml #edusky Also @[email protected]

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · Jun 23

Mathematics is a powerful language, but getting acquainted to it can be painful and discouraging, especially if you are not really interested in it. But it can be different!
Listen to us on creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/... or your favourite podcast platform

#🧮 #EduSky

S2E08 - Actively learning mathematics with Brendan Kelly by It’s Not Just Numbers

In this special episode, we return to the topics of learning and teaching mathematics. We are joined by Brendan Kelly, Director of Introductory Mathematics at Harvard University, to discuss the…

creators.spotify.com

1 3

Reposted by Marcello Seri

Melanie Mitchell @melaniemitchell.bsky.social · 18h

The lifecycle of software objects

The Verge @theverge.com · 21h

Sam Altman says ChatGPT will soon sext with verified adults

ChatGPT is about to get flirty.

buff.ly

2 8 59

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 22h

I have found some little amanitas in the bushes, this one was quite tiny

An amanita, maybe citrina, among fallen leaves

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 22h

Nice, the campus has some very beautiful sceneries!

Let me also add my other favourite tree species in Groningen’s autumn, just saw it this afternoon when cycling back to the center 😁
There are a few of those also around campus

A view on a green patch over a smal water reservoir, with many green trees and one that shades from green to orange

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 1d

Yes!! How cute is that one 🤩

1 1

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 1d

I know, th photo is terrible, but those colours this morning… wow!

#autumn

Autumn colours. A photo of trees on the side of the road. The leaves range from dark green, to red, to bright orange. A grey sky in the background makes the colours pop out

2 8

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 5d

Another milestone for our "oscillation book" tonight, with a new heavily edited version, introducing linear algebra much earlier and integrating some notions of harmonic analysis in the text. Still aiming at a "non-expert" audience.

The new draft: academic.mseri.me/pe.htm#oscil...

#mathSky #eduSky

Marcello Seri Academic Page - Public Engagement

Marcello Seri, academic pages

academic.mseri.me

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 6d

If you can travel on Dec 9-12 and you are interested in LEAN, mathlib and in general formalizing mathematics, don't miss #ItaLean25

Great job @marcolenci.bsky.social and @pietromonticone.bsky.social

pitmonticone.github.io/ItaLean2025/

ItaLean 2025

pitmonticone.github.io

1 4

Reposted by Marcello Seri

Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 7d

Marcello Seri's first month in the University Council flew by; read about his experiences on our blog!

Or, you know, his blog. We ain't jealous about page views.

1 4

Reposted by Marcello Seri

SMBC Comics @smbccomics.bsky.social · 7d

When biologists can't explain cubic wombat poop, why don't THEY call it a singularity?

COMIC ◆ www.smbc-comics.com/comic/beyond
PATREON ◆ www.patreon.com/c/ZachWeiner...
STORE ◆ smbc-store.myshopify.com

2-panel SMBC comic update. The first panel has a narration box saying "Caveman" where two cavemen are looking out at the ocean. One says "us not know what on other side of ocean." The second panel has a narration box saying "Caveman Physicist" where the same caveman now says "Past ocean... Science breaks down. Is Ocean singularity" as the other caveman marvels.

7 15 150

Reposted by Marcello Seri

José A. Alonso @jalonso.bsky.social · 7d

Growing Mathlib: Maintenance of a large scale mathematical library. ~ Anne Baanen, Matthew Robert Ballard, Johan Commelin, Bryan Gin-ge Chen, Michael Rothgang, Damiano Testa. arxiv.org/abs/2508.21593 #ITP #LeanProver #Mathlib #Math

Growing Mathlib: maintenance of a large scale mathematical library

The Lean mathematical library Mathlib is one of the fastest-growing libraries of formalised mathematics. We describe various strategies to manage this growth, while allowing for change and avoiding ma...

arxiv.org

1 4

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 7d

And if you'd like a TL;DR, you can also find a shorter summary on the @sciencefaction.nl official blog!

A brief debrief of our first month in the University Council

When I enlisted for the University Council, I took a stance about transparency and opening channels with the staff. It is time to act on this promise, and...

www.rug.nl

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 7d

In September I have joined our University Council, a co-participation body that monitors the activities of the Uni Board, issues (un)solicited advice and has a say in some important decisions.

What we do can sound a bit mysterious and I hope I can make it more transparent by blogging about it :)

Our first month in the University Council

A month has passed since the new University Council (UC) was installed, and I think it’s time to look back on what has happened so far, and what seems to lie ahead. When I enlisted I promised myself t...

www.mseri.me

1 2

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 8d

> I gave the world wide web away for free because I thought that it would only work if it worked for everyone. Today, I believe that to be truer than ever. — T. Berners-Lee

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Why I gave the world wide web away for free | Technology | The Guardian

My vision was based on sharing, not exploitation – and here’s why it’s still worth fighting for

www.theguardian.com

2 4

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 9d

Ottimo video di Taglio Netto, diFlavia Carlini, su Chat Control 2.0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwDe...

Manca poco più di una settimana per il voto al parlamento Europeo, non possiamo continuare a far finta di niente

Per contattare i vostri europarlamentari consultate fightchatcontrol.eu

L'Unione Europea vuole condurci verso la sorveglianza di massa.

YouTube video by flaviacarlini

www.youtube.com

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 9d

The QR code was generated with the one and incredible erikdemaine.org/prints/QR/la...

QR Designer

erikdemaine.org

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 9d

Despite the severe lack of time and funding, the third season of It's Not Just Numbers, a podcast on the human side of #mathematics, is finally in the making!

Stay tuned, and catch up on the episodes you missed 😊
Find us on podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/not-just-numbers or your favorite platform

2 3

Reposted by Marcello Seri

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 11d

Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Brendan Loper. #NewYorkerCartoons

3 77 270

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 14d

I am so happy that I took the time to watch @veritasium.bsky.social talk at the @perimeterinstitute.ca and if you care about #education I would strongly recommend to take the time too

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 14d

The best thing about education isn’t access to information, it’s being in a room with a good teacher, likeminded engaged peers, and time to talk. Education is a social activity. Tech hype misses the point: the real challenge isn’t delivering info, but creating meaning together

youtu.be/0xS68sl2D70

Veritasium: What Everyone Gets Wrong About AI and Learning – Derek Muller Explains

youtu.be

2 2 4

Reposted by Marcello Seri

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 15d

This should be repeated constantly:
"In three years, roughly a tenth of US energy demand will come from data centers alone."

We need to have a real response to this!!
www.nplusonemag.com/issue-51/the...

Large Language Muddle | The Editors

The AI upheaval is unique in its ability to metabolize any number of dread-inducing transformations. The university is becoming more corporate, more politically oppressive, and all but hostile to the ...

www.nplusonemag.com

2 58 180

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 16d

> The message for practice is clear. A single quiz at the end of a lesson is a start, but not enough. Retrieval practice is most effective when learners receive repeated opportunities with feedback. This, […] is key […] (to) also build the ability to use knowledge flexibly when it really matters.

Pedro De Bruyckere @thebandb.bsky.social · 16d

What you understand today is often gone tomorrow – unless you do this theeconomyofmeaning.com/2025/09/29/w...

What you understand today is often gone tomorrow – unless you do this

Discover how retrieval practice for complex learning can transform your approach to studying and mastering challenging subjects.

theeconomyofmeaning.com

1 2

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 18d

What do you think about all this @gerardrve.com as a privacy law expert?

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 19d

#ChatControl is a dangerous development at the EU level, after many failed attempts it looks closer to becoming reality than ever. Detailed information on what is it about and why it is not a good idea can be found in many places, like the link below.

#stopscanningme

ChatControl wants to scan all your private messages

The EU is pushing legislation that would scan all our private messages, even in encrypted apps.

metalhearf.fr

1 1

Reposted by Marcello Seri

Wetenschapsfractie | Science Faction @sciencefaction.nl · 19d

The uni cuts top-ups and demands refunds from PhDs after their CSC scholarships were raised; yet some contracts don’t even tie top-ups to CSC amounts. Our @therezalangeler.bsky.social raised this with the board in committee yesterday; to be continued in plenary!

1 2

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 19d

🤦‍♂️

Marcello Seri @mseri.me · 19d

ChatControl wants to scan all your private messages

The EU is pushing legislation that would scan all our private messages, even in encrypted apps.

metalhearf.fr

3 7