Jácome Armas

Jácome Armas is an Associate Professor in Theoretical Physics at the University of Amsterdam and an affiliate Associate Professor at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen. He leads research on string theory, quantum gravity, black holes, holography, and complex systems, while coordinating the interdisciplinary Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena (DIEP). His work bridges physics, computer science, mathematics, and ecosystem dynamics.

• Education
  • Engineering Physics (Licenciatura), University of Aveiro (2007)
  • Advanced Mathematics (Part III), University of Cambridge (2008)
  • PhD in Theoretical Physics, Niels Bohr Institute (2012)
  • BA in Philosophy, KU Leuven (2017)

He has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Bern (2013–2014) and Université Libre de Bruxelles (2015–2017) before joining the University of Amsterdam in 2018. His research spans black holes, string theory, fracton superfluids, and the hydrodynamics of active matter, with applications to ecosystems and social systems.

Armas is a renowned science communicator, founding the international event series Science & Cocktails in 2010, which attracts over 1000 attendees per event. He also authored the book Conversations on Quantum Gravity (Cambridge University Press, 2021) and collaborates with artists on installations like Fabrikken’s lighthouse and Orb sea.

• Scientific Awards
  • Genius Prize for Science Communication (2014)
  • Outreach Prize, European Physical Society (2023)
  • LabJovem Second Prize for Conjunto Homem (2014)

He co-founded the cultural and scientific newspaper Fazendo in the Azores and contributes to interdisciplinary projects such as the dance performance Act of Gravity and the theater play DATA: the history of the computer. His work exemplifies the integration of science, art, and public engagement.