The OIST Foundation recently welcomed Professor Matteo Parisi and Professor Dan Daniel for the latest installment of the OIST Science in Focuswebinar series. Their conversation offered an engaging introduction to two very different areas of research, while demonstrating the remarkable range of scientific discovery taking place at OIST.
Professor Parisi, who leads OIST’s Algebraic Combinatorics and Fundamental Physics Unit, studies the elementary particles that form the building blocks of the universe. His research explores new geometries that may help scientists understand how particles interact while simplifying calculations that have traditionally been extraordinarily complex. He also described the exciting collaboration emerging between mathematicians and physicists as they discover new structures together.
Professor Daniel leads OIST’s Droplet and Soft Matter Unit, where he investigates the surprising physics hidden within seemingly ordinary droplets. His research has applications ranging from inkjet printing to the production of advanced computer chips. He reminded viewers that extraordinary scientific questions can be found in familiar objects if we are willing to look closely enough.
Both faculty members shared why OIST offers an exceptional environment for their work. Without traditional academic departments, researchers and students are encouraged to cross disciplinary boundaries, take intellectual risks, and explore unexpected connections. OIST’s resources, advanced facilities, international community, and fully funded five-year PhD program give students the freedom to ask meaningful questions, learn from mistakes, and develop their own identities as researchers.
Looking ahead, Professors Parisi and Daniel hope to build collaborative research groups where surprising discoveries can emerge and young scientists can develop ideas that shape their careers. Their ambitions reflect what makes OIST so distinctive: the freedom to pursue curiosity-driven science and the belief that the most important breakthroughs may come from connections we have not yet imagined.
Watch the full conversation here:
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