Senior Lecturer in Automatic Control with focus on the intersection of optimization, learning, and control

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Costa Rica Expat’s Bus Journey to the Border: A Ride Like No Other

Image
I can’t say what compelled me to buy a ticket to the border on a collectivo bus . I got to the station too early. The time on the ticket was approximate as the bus was on its way from San Jose, a few dozen stops in between there and here. When the bus arrived, I boarded and saw a woman snoozing in my assigned seat, so I grabbed seat number 4, directly behind the driver. It is always an interesting place to sit. I like sitting behind the pilot on the Cessna flights over the mountains to San Jose, so I can keep my eye on the altimeter for that long couple minutes when the plane disappears completely in the clouds. As we pulled from the station and headed south, I kept one eye on the driver. Early on, I heard him answer his cell phone and converse over speakerphone with a woman who further conversation revealed to be the mother of his child. I leaned forward in my seat as if stretching; in truth I was checking to make sure he had both hands on the wheel. His phone was in a holder, whic...
Read more

Costa Rica’s Tourism Sector Faces Competitive Challenges Despite Modest Growth

The Costa Rican tourism sector, a key driver of our nation’s economy, is grappling with competitiveness issues even as it sees a slight uptick in visitor numbers. According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), air arrivals in 2025 are projected to range between 2,663,245 and 2,869,809, aligning with planning for international visitors. In April, the country welcomed 231,678 international tourists, a 4.6% increase from the 221,573 recorded in April 2024, breaking a seven-month decline from September 2024 to March of this year. Tourism Minister William Rodríguez projects a modest growth of 2% to 4% in arrivals for the rest of 2025, a step down from last year’s highs but in line with global trends. However, this slight recovery masks deeper concerns raised by industry leaders. Daniel Campos, president of the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels, pointed to the appreciating Costa Rican colón, now around ₡500 to the U.S. dollar compared to ₡700 in mid-2022, as a major hurdle. This shift ha...
Read more

Costa Rica Pushes USA to the Brink but Falls in Penalty Heartbreak

If you just caught the end of the USA vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup quarterfinal, you probably feel like you need another cup of coffee—and maybe a moment to catch your breath. The match, which wrapped up just about half an hour ago, ended in a dramatic penalty shootout after a wild 2-2 draw in regulation. The United States came out on top, 4-3 on penalties, and now moves on to the semifinals. The game started with Costa Rica looking sharp. In the 12th minute, Francisco Calvo put them ahead from the penalty spot, coolly slotting home after a foul in the box. The early goal set the tone for a tense first half, but the USA gradually found their rhythm. Just before halftime, Diego Luna scored his first international goal to level the match, sending the teams into the break at 1-1. The second half kicked off with the USA taking the lead almost immediately. Max Arfsten, another young American, made it 2-1 with his first goal for the national team in the 47th minute. For a while, it looked like ...
Read more