Hic Sunt Leones: At the Frontiers of Neutrino Physics
Livia Ludhova (GSI Darmstadt/JGU Mainz)

In this inaugural lecture, I invite you on a journey across six continents, each representing a chapter in my scientific life and my contributions to experimental neutrino physics.
Europe marks my journey toward the research I pursue today—from academic studies through early work in exotic atom spectroscopy, and into the world of neutrino physics. I stay grounded in Europe, having recently joined Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, where I’m thrilled to be part of a vibrant neutrino physics community.
Africa represents the Sun—radiant in both beauty and intensity—and solar neutrinos, born in the Sun’s core, lie at the core of my scientific work. My journey with the Borexino experiment spanned from the beginning to the end of its data taking, culminating in the precision spectroscopy of pp-chain neutrinos and the groundbreaking detection of CNO-cycle neutrinos.
The Americas, shaped over eons by powerful geological processes, connect to my background in geology and its unexpected link to neutrino physics through geoneutrino research. In Borexino, we succeeded in observing geoneutrinos—a powerful tool for understanding Earth's energetics and formation processes.
Asia, fast-moving and future-focused, represents the JUNO experiment in China—the main project of my research group. Based on the same liquid scintillator technology as Borexino but scaled up by a factor of 70, JUNO stands out as a unique next-generation neutrino experiment, now in its commissioning phase. It will be central to my research in the coming years, allowing me to apply years of experience toward discoveries across multiple scientific goals.
Australia, geographically remote yet globally connected, symbolizes the importance of collaboration and interdisciplinarity in neutrino physics. My journey—from geology to neutrino research—taught me the value of crossing scientific boundaries. At Mainz, the PRISMA++ Cluster of Excellence offers a strong platform for scientific integration.
Antarctica, like the dream-fulfilling sailing journey to its icy shores, symbolizes the vision and determination that drive us—from personal goals to ambitious scientific quests.
Through this world tour, I share not only my research but also how science—like travel—thrives on curiosity, courage, and the pursuit of the unknown, exactly where ancient maps warned: hic sunt leones.