About Me
Biography
I am a Full Professor (Professor Catedrático) in the Department of Physics at the University of Aveiro, and Director of the Associated Laboratory i3N-Aveiro (Institute of Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication). My research lies at the vanguard of Statistical Physics, Complex Systems, Percolation Theory, and Network Science.
Over more than three decades in theoretical physics, I have investigated the fundamental mechanisms governing complex networks, non-equilibrium phase transitions, and avalanche collapse in interdependent systems. I am the co-author of foundational monographs published by Oxford University Press, including Evolution of Networks (2003) and The Nature of Complex Networks (2022).
From 2021 to 2024, I served as President of the Complex Systems Society (CSS), the foremost international organization dedicated to advancing complex systems science. In 2020, I was honored with the Senior Prize of the Complex Systems Society, and elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and Fellow of the Network Science Society (NetSci). I am also an elected Member of the Academia Europaea (Physics & Engineering Sciences section) and recipient of the Prémio Gulbenkian Ciência (2004).
Beyond analytical equations and academic leadership, I am deeply devoted to fine arts and SciArt, working primarily in oil painting on canvas and soft pastel. My visual creations explore emergent textures, luminance, and spatial equilibrium — expressing visually the poetic harmony of physical structures.
Personal Details
Passions
My family; the relentless search for universal laws hidden within interconnected complex networks; and fine arts painting (oil and soft pastel), translating emergent complexity and light into vibrant textural forms.
Hobbies & Leisure
Creative rhythm and active focus away from theoretical physics:
Playing Drums
I am a beginner currently learning how to play drums. Right now, I am practicing foundational beats, coordination, and playing simple rhythms — enjoying every step of the learning process.
Playing Golf
The pursuit of geometry, trajectory, and serenity on the green. Member of Amarante Golfe Clube (Fed. Code 53864, HCP 28), balancing physical endurance, strategic focus, and the calm of natural landscapes.
Favourites & Influences
Visited Places & Academic Travels
Countries and regions where I have lived, conducted research, held visiting professorships, or delivered invited keynote lectures:
Personal Motto
"The greatest equaliser humanity has ever known is the relentless advance of science, shared openly with the world."