Fabrizio Scarpa

@fabrizioscarpa

Academic at Uni Bristol 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 FRAeS ERC work on #metamaterials and #biobased #materials. Love for history, geopolitics and climate. Banner shows a 2D metamaterial. Links: ibit.ly/b_Dsn and ibit.ly/MuO03 Personal opinions, etc ... 🧪⚙️🤖👾♻️🚤✈️🏋️‍♀️🏛🐈

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Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· 25d

Fantastic sunset the other day at the Mandalina peninsula close to Šibenik in Croatia 🇭🇷 (P.S. these images have no filter).

Stunning view of the islands around Sibenik at the closing moments of the sunset. The fluorescent green is a swimming pool nearby.

View from the wooden roof of the main resort in Mandalina.

Sunset in Sibenik viewed from the Mandalina peninsula.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Jun 24

🧪🌴 Our open-access review of bio-based PU foams from castor, soybean, palm & rapeseed oils covers mechanics and future directions in the circular economy. Paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.in... @erc.europa.eu @ukri.org

This is the graphical abstract of the paper. Our analysis of 189 papers on vegetable oil-derived polyols (castor, soybean, palm, rapeseed) confirms their technical and economic viability as petroleum alternatives. Data mining with performance maps modelled on Gibson & Ashby theory provides polymer designers with predictive tools for biobased foams and the development of porous materials.

While offering sustainability benefits, edible oil feedstocks, however, introduce food security concerns. LCA reveals significant environmental impacts for rapeseed oil. Optimal pathways we have identified consist of using castor oil (non-edible) and recycled edible oils, which enable circular economy alignment without food competition.

Key research directions we propose: Non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) from bio-sources, systematic analysis of additive interactions with bio-polyols, and multi-scale structure–property relationships for next-generation sustainable foams.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Jun 8

🧪 Our Perspective Paper on Engineering Material Neural Networks: embedding neural intelligence into load-bearing materials for adaptive responses without electronics. Materials: composites, architected, biological & living. 🤖 #AcademicSky doi.org/10.48550/arX...

Schematics that describe the concept of Engineering Material Neural Networks. Structures that capture functionality in the form of animate or intelligent machines have the potential to transform modern engineering applications. Animation and embedded intelligence are
typically realised by integrating advanced capabilities such as reversibility, adaptive responses and
learning directly into the materials themselves. Currently, the majority of adaptive material systems rely on predefined adaptive designs combined with in-service, electronics-based computing to dynamically modify the structural behaviour. However, structural configurations with interconnected adaptable nodes can approximate continuous functions, providing new possibilities and opportunities compared to classical metamaterials and computational materials. We discuss here the
potential to design load-bearing engineering materials with trainable physical parameters and neural network-inspired morphologies, embedding intelligence directly into their structure, a concept we define as Engineering Material Neural Networks (EMNNs) as a subcategory of Physical Neural Networks. In this perspective/opinion, we first establish the foundational concept of EMNNs; we then detail the mechanical and multifunctional properties required for such structural configurations. Finally, we evaluate existing and emerging engineering materials that hold promise for enabling this innovative approach. Key material candidates for realising EMNNs include composites, architected,
biological and engineering living materials. We also outline future directions in materials science and structural engineering for developing EMNNs.

The paper can be found here: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2606.07262

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Jun 1

New class of structural biocomposites that change curvature and twist when the external relative humidity varies. We also explore the design space and actuation of these composites, including trade-offs and optimal designs. Open access paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.co... @ukri.org @erc.europa.eu 🧪🥬🤖

A series of flax/shape-memory epoxy laminate models with stacking sequences following the double-double laminate architecture. The models have been benchmarked against experiments in which the curvature of the hygromorph composites changes with variations of the external relative humidity. The link to the paper is here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2026.120521

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· May 20

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· May 16

Nouba wishes everybody a good #Caturday, while waiting for the butler serving her dinner 🥘

Nouba, a very chatty and bright Tunisian refugee cat, is striking a pose while purring like a tractor.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Mar 24

Yes, AI chat bots don't make great focus groups

Article of the Torygraph (pardon: Telegraph) from July 2025 about AI chat bots being used by the Labour party as part of the focus groups-based approach developed by the ex strategist-in-chief Morgan McSweeney.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Mar 8

A new class of active and passive metamaterials with rolling bistable mechanisms for robotics and high static/low dynamic frequency actuators and absorbers. #OpenAccess paper here: doi.org/10.1039/D6MH... 🧪 🤖 🦾

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Jan 5

Deutsch Bahn gives a direct return to Paris Est on the 04/04

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Dec 27

The usual kilometric queue for boarding at the Grenoble Alpes Isère airport - but a big shoutout to the piano and flute players and fellow travellers , who are beautifully jamming jazz standards. We can bear the wait thanks to them.

Boarding gate at the Airport Grenoble Alpes Isère today. Very long queues to controls and passports - it is business as usual during this period of the year.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Nov 24

"... the Brexit Theory of Everything..." must have been a slow day for ChatGPT to draft answers

Headline and subhead line from the Torygraph (pardon: Telegraph). Dated: 31/03/2025.

Five Government departments use AI to draft responses to questions in Parliament

ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot
among most common tools as critics raise concerns over data privacy, accuracy and authenticity

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Nov 18

Molecular Dynamics simulations reveal how sinusoidal Kirigami graphene behaves as a #metamaterial: transverse waveforms drive auxeticity, while longitudinal waveforms dictate strength and stiffness. Paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.di.... We thank @erc.europa.eu for the support 🧪⚙️⚛️

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Nov 8

Fall in #Somerset 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 around Mells, Frome and Nunney offers some great opportunities to take decent pictures with a phone

A view of the path around Great Helm in Frome with the colours of autumn

A view of the church and part of Nunney Castle with its moat.

An old farm near Mells, Somerset. The grounds around the farm are closed because of health and safety issues related to the old buildings.

A view of a traditional Somerset construction with thatched roof.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Sep 4

Alas, a St. James' flag 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 , this time with St. Francis of Assisi as the bearer. Fresco at the refectory of the minorite monastery of st. Janes in Prague 🇨🇿 even during holidays abroad, it is impossible to escape from those ☹️🤣

Fresco depicting St Francis of Assisi doing a pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostela in devotion of St James (hence the flag, no reference whatsoever with the 2025 flag shaggers in This Sceptre Isle, the event happened in 1215). The fresco is in the refectory of the Minority Convent in Prague.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Sep 4

The Belvedere complex of Prague Castle 🇨🇿 is something to behold

A view of the Belvedere in Prague Castle's park

Beautiful light and clouds over the Belvedere and Prague Castle

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Sep 1

The State Hall of the National Library in Vienna 🇦🇹 is truly one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Inside poster boards also provide a much needed crash course on Austrian recent history and politics.

Inside the State Hall of the Austrian National Library in Vienna

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Aug 26

Krakow 🇵🇱 to Vienna 🇦🇹 by Intercity via Czech Republic 🇨🇿. It's 6 hours and 55 minutes, the train is OK and quiet, plenty of time to read - lucky to enjoy time off. Paid the ticket 19.90 Euros. Crying 😭 thinking about UK 🇬🇧 fares 🚂

A view of the inside of the EC 107 Porta Moravia train

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Aug 25

The gardens of Jagellonian University in #Krakow have commemorative boards of the 06/11/39 Nazi Sonderaktion to eradicate the local intellectual elite. 184 academics were imprisoned and sent to Sachsenhausen and Dachau. We never learn enough from history #AcademicSky

A vies of the garden of Jagellonian University in Krakow. The gardens are contoured by the imposing buildings of the University and have boards describing and commemorating the arrest and deportation of 184 academics on the sixth of November 1939. The so-called Sonderaktion from the Nazi occupiers aimed at eradicate the intellectual elite of Krakow, seen as the fulcrum of the intelligentsia, academic and technical know-how in Poland.

We should never forget what would happen if Intellectual autonomy and independence are not preserved. In Krakow they know - and we should be grateful they help everybody preserving that tragic event.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Aug 25

You can really feel the history and culture of Central Europe while wandering around Krakow 🇵🇱

St Mary's Basilica in Krakow. A stunning piece of gothic style

An installation inside the National Museum in Krakow

A part of the Market Square (Rynek Główny) in Krakow

A part of the Installation of the Nativity Competition held every year in Krakow

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Aug 23

A significantly enhanced damping behaviour in biobased alginate/poloxamer gels with cactus 🌵 fibres and natural ceramics. Details here: doi.org/10.1063/5.02... @erc.europa.eu 🧪⚙️ #AcademicSky

A composite hydrogel with alginate, poloxamer, cactus fibres from prickle pear and sepiolite ceramics enhances mechanical damping and vibration alleviation.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Aug 11

I also fully expect that our beloved Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology will charge like a bull to get the OSA fully implemented, despite what the court said. He's got form.

A paragraph from the Politico article describing Wikipedia loosing its challenge at the UK High Court. Article here: https://www.politico.eu/article/wikipedia-loses-challenge-to-uk-online-safety-act/

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Aug 9

I constantly check the interactive petition map; it clearly shows where supporters are located. Looking forward to more signatories 😎

Map of signatories of the petition to limit tourist visa to UK to 90 days. Map updated at 14:02 of the 09/08/25

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Aug 9

Not only on that hell site. Lab MP is out in on this platform too, this morning (1 like only). What a language.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Aug 4

CEO of company with stocks in deep dive talking big about his business shocker

Stocks of DeepMind Platform Co, Ltd have recently taken a big hit after sudden climb.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Jul 20

The 15th-century Great Chalfield Manor in Wiltshire with beautiful Arts and Crafts gardens ... and horses.

A view of the Manor from the surrounding moat

A view of the internal court of the Manor

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Jul 16

Someone is making a mint though:

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Jul 12

32C and 43% RH in #Bristol 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, no A/C. Nouba pondering how anthropic climate change is making her usual business activity (AKA sleep) less enjoyable than usual #Caturdays #CatsofBlueSky

Nouba, a refugee cat from Tunisia, is silently complaining about the inadequate design of Victorian houses of the Southwest of England when facing 21st century heath waves caused by the humans around.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· Jun 28

Graphene #metamaterials made with Kirigami perforations following Cassini, rectangular, rhomboidal and oval patterns. Paper here doi.org/10.1016/j.eu... with the support of @erc.europa.eu 🧪⚙️ ⚛️

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· May 26

Bristol 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harbour has some beautiful spots for people interested in industrial archeology.

The Banksy mural representing the Girl with a Pierced Eardrum at the Albion Docks in Bristol.

The 1861 Mayflower steam tugboat in the Bristol Docks. Another iron ship, smaller than the SS Great Britain moored nearby.

A view of Spike Island in the Bristol Harbour. Spike Island was the centre of UK's chemical industry during the Industrial Revolution.

Fabrizio Scarpa@fabrizioscarpa· May 23

The ancient art of #Kirigami applied to graphene sheets via Molecular Dynamics simulations and generate #metamaterials. Open access paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.mt... @erc.europa.eu #AcademicSky 🧪⚙️⚛️