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Patrick Willems is a full Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Department of Civil Engineering. He serves as the head of the Hydraulics Subdivision within the Hydraulics and Geotechnics unit. Professor Willems holds multiple significant roles including chairman of the ADS Bureau, member of the Faculty Council of Engineering Sciences, and participant in the Leuven One Health Institute and KU Leuven Institute for Urban Studies (LUSI). His work addresses critical global water management challenges through advanced hydrological modeling and climate change adaptation strategies. Professor Willems' research spans several critical areas in water resources engineering. His primary expertise includes urban hydrology and river engineering, statistical hydrology with focus on flood prediction and risk analysis, integrated river basin management, precipitation analysis, and climate change impacts on hydrological extremes. He employs both traditional hydrological modeling approaches and innovative machine learning techniques to develop practical solutions for flood warning systems, urban water management, and climate adaptation planning. His research integrates statistical methods, numerical modeling, and data science to address complex water management problems across multiple geographical contexts. Professor Willems leads multiple major international research projects examining hydrological extremes in transboundary river basins, natural climate adaptation measures, hydrological modeling of peatland areas, and deep learning-based prediction of hydrological extremes. His work spans various geographical contexts including Belgium, Vietnam, Bolivia, Tanzania, and the Congo Basin, demonstrating both local relevance and global applicability of his research. Within KU Leuven, Professor Willems teaches diverse courses including Environmental Problems and Techniques, Statistics and Data Science, Stochastic Hydrology, Urban and River Hydrology and Hydraulics, River Modeling, and Probability and Statistics. He also leads the Hydraulic Engineering Project course and an Artificial Intelligence Project course, reflecting his commitment to integrating traditional engineering knowledge with modern computational approaches. As head of the Hydraulics Subdivision, he oversees research activities focused on developing advanced water engineering tools and methodologies that bridge theoretical advancements with practical applications for water management authorities.

• Hydrology
• River Engineering
• Flood Prediction
• +7 more

An Cliquet is a Professor of International Environmental and Biodiversity Law at Ghent University, specializing in both marine and terrestrial biodiversity law within international and European legal frameworks. Her research spans critical contemporary environmental challenges, with primary focus areas including ecological restoration (including China-specific applications), climate change adaptation in conservation, gender dimensions of biodiversity, ecosystem services protection, rights-based conservation approaches, wildlife trade regulation, urban biodiversity law, transboundary watercourses governance, and environmental protection during armed conflict. She also investigates specialized themes such as ecological refugees, Congo Basin protection, health-biodiversity linkages, and transboundary watercourse management under biodiversity law.

• International Biodiversity Law
• European Environmental Law
• Marine Conservation Law
• +11 more

Koenraad Muylaert is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Science, KU Leuven, and head of the Biology department at KU Leuven Kulak. His research focuses on microalgae ecology and phytoplankton physiology , with applications in eutrophication studies , wastewater treatment , and biofuel production . Based in Kortrijk, Belgium, he works with international teams in Ecuador, Qatar, and Belgium. Current projects on mountain lake eutrophication and urban aquatic systems Specializes in nano-material flocculation and omega-3 fatty acid production from microalgae Research Trends from his recent articles show emphasis on: Microalgae harvesting innovations (cellulose nanocrystals, PDMAEMA polymers) Comparative processing techniques (DAF vs sedimentation, drying methods) Biotechnological applications in flavor chemistry and microbiome interactions Laboratory operates at KU Leuven's Kortrijk campus, with strong collaborations in environmental engineering and food science . His work bridges fundamental ecological research with industrial biotechnology for sustainable solutions.

• Microalgae Ecology
• Phytoplankton Physiology
• Eutrophication
• +7 more

Véronique Hoste is Senior Full Professor of Computational Linguistics at Ghent University's Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, where she serves as Department Head of Translation, Interpreting and Communication and Director of the LT3 language technology research team. She also holds the position of Research Director for the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy. Her educational background includes a PhD in Computational Linguistics from the University of Antwerp (2005) focused on optimization in machine learning for coreference resolution. Key research areas encompass machine learning for natural language processing, semantic and discourse modeling, including specialized work in event detection, entity/event coreference resolution, irony detection, and emotion analysis. Hoste's publication trends reveal strong interdisciplinary focus, with recent work bridging NLP with crisis communication, digital humanities, and ethical AI. Her team develops high-quality datasets (e.g., EmoTwiCS for emotion trajectories) and collaborates extensively with commercial partners on projects like SentEMO for aspect-based sentiment analysis. Current research emphasizes multimodal emotion analysis, fuzzy rough set methods for sentiment detection, and cross-document event coreference. Elected member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (KVAB) Francqui Chair appointment by Université Libre de Bruxelles (2023-2024) Co-founded LT3 spin-off AlfaSent (2024) for customer feedback analysis Authored first Dutch-language book on NLP: "Taaltechnologie ontrafeld" She actively supervises multiple PhD students on projects including Common-sense knowledge in irony detection (Common-sense), cross-document event coreference (Encore), and empathy modeling in conversational agents (FlandersAI). Her team secures funding through interdisciplinary collaborations like NewsDNA for news recommendation and METRICS for emotion trajectory analysis. Hoste also engages in public outreach through the "AI at school" initiative and advises on language technology integration in high school curricula. The LT3 laboratory under her leadership maintains strong industry partnerships and develops practical NLP tools including EmotioNL and Automatic Term Extraction systems, while advancing core research through projects like CLARIAH-VL for data curation.

• Computational Linguistics
• Natural Language Processing
• Machine Learning
• +7 more

Matthias Lievens is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Philosophy at KU Leuven , Belgium. He is a member of the Research in Political Philosophy and Ethics Leuven (RIPPLE) and Ethics @ KU Leuven . His work focuses on political philosophy, ethics, environmental politics, and critical theory, with particular attention to the works of Sartre, Gramsci, and Schmitt. Lievens critiques modern political frameworks, exploring themes like democracy, resistance, and the interplay between time, power, and institutional inertia. Research Interests : His research spans existentialist political theory, environmental ethics, democratic legitimacy, and the philosophy of resistance. Notable contributions include analyses of Sartre’s theories on temporal pluralities, critiques of the Green Economy, and explorations of Gramsci’s and Schmitt’s political concepts. He emphasizes the re-politicization of environmental issues and the limits of representative democracy. Recent Trends : His articles highlight tensions between democracy and capitalism, the role of time in political conflicts, and the ethical dimensions of environmental governance. Recent work critiques 'green capitalism' and advocates for a return to radical democratic praxis. Labs/Teams : Active in RIPPLE, Lievens collaborates on projects addressing global governance, climate justice, and the political implications of environmental crises.

• Political Philosophy
• Ethics
• Environmental Politics
• +3 more

Jan Van Bavel is a full professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, KU Leuven, with a focus on demography, family dynamics, and climate change impacts. He is a member of LC&Y - KU Leuven Institute for Child and Youth and participates in councils like POC Sociology and POC Master Psychology. Research spans fertility trends, migration, poverty analysis, and adolescent decision-making Active promoter/co-promoter in 8 projects (2021–2028) on climate-family links, migrant deservingness, and wealth inequality Teaches courses on population studies, climate change, and societal transitions His recent work examines climate change's effect on fertility desires, adolescent loyalties, and immigrant integration frameworks, with articles in journals like Demographic Research and Socio-Economic Review . No scientific awards were explicitly mentioned in the provided data.

• Demography
• Sociology
• Family Dynamics
• +7 more

Elvira Crois is an Assistant Professor and postdoctoral researcher at the Brussels Research Centre on Innovation in Learning and Diversity (BILD) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on participatory arts, climate education, and worldmaking processes for social change. She coordinates the Erasmus+ project 'Codename Seedling', exploring youth-led climate activism through arts. Her work bridges education, performance studies, and environmental advocacy. Elvira holds a joint PhD from the University of Antwerp (Theatre and Intermedia) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Adult Educational Sciences). Her doctoral thesis examined performer training in participatory theatre, using second-person ethnography to analyze audience-performer dynamics. She also leads the 'Worldmaking' community of practice, fostering collaborations between arts educators and social justice practitioners. Her research interests include climate justice pedagogy, participatory methodologies, and the role of creativity in youth activism. She has coordinated EU-funded projects across Belgium, Denmark, the UK, Portugal, and France, emphasizing arts-based advocacy tools and impact-driven strategies. Key Projects: Codename Seedling (Climate Justice), Wave Makers (Youth & Ocean Health) Grants: Erasmus+ KA2, Erasmus+ Youth in Action Professional Roles: Erasmus+ Project Assessor, Apaya Network Member Elvira’s work extends to public engagement through comics (e.g., 'Cave Comic') and innovative educational resources. She advocates for 'slow science' approaches to counter academic pressures, emphasizing collaborative and reflective research practices.

• Climate Education
• Participatory Arts
• Social Change through Education
• +4 more

Lien Smeesters is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Her work focuses on advancing optical technologies for applications in climate monitoring, food safety, and industrial photonics. She is part of Brussels Photonics, a research group specializing in optical design and engineering. Her research interests include spectroscopy, LiDAR systems, space-based imaging, and the development of novel optical devices. Notably, she contributed to projects like the GRADΞD SBO initiative aimed at additive manufacturing process control. She has presented at international conferences such as SPIE Photonics Europe and organized events like the Belgian Photonics Online Meetup 2022. Education: Master's and PhD in Applied Physics and Photonics (VUB). Her awards include the Best Student Paper Award (2014), Photonics21 Student Innovation Award (2017), and EO Educational Award Finalist (2016). She has supervised master’s theses on topics like optical design for climate monitoring and tunable lenses in camera systems. Her lab work involves collaborations on projects such as wide-field-of-view cameras for Earth radiation monitoring and polymer lightguide fabrication.

• Optical Engineering
• Spectroscopy
• Climate Monitoring
• +3 more

Geert Vandermeersche is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Educational Sciences , Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium). He holds a PhD in Educational Sciences (UGent, 2013) and a Master’s in Languages and Literature (UGent, 2006). Education: Master in Languages and Literature (UGent, 2006); PhD in Educational Sciences (UGent, 2013) His research focuses on: (1) Culture and Arts Education , including the impact of arts on educational practices in film, music, and performing arts; and (2) Digitalization in Youth Culture , exploring how technology reshapes cultural engagement. He also investigates co-creative research methodologies and their societal implications. Recent publications address digital museum education , urban learning spaces , and musicking in prisons . These works highlight intersections between arts, technology, and social justice, often through empirical and theoretical lenses. As a member of the Brussels Research Centre on Innovation in Learning and Diversity , he leads projects like: FWOTM1216: Critiquing participation paradigms in arts education EUPOM153 (SEEDLING): Climate justice and arts-based youth work OZR3758: Digital transformations in cultural education Vandermeersche has served on PhD committees, presented at international conferences (e.g., on sound-art, crip theory in museums), and contributed to datasets on classroom learning environments and museum education. His work emphasizes experiential knowledge and collaborative practices.

• Arts Education
• Digitalization in Youth Culture
• Co-creative Research
• +4 more

Abraham Akyala is a Researcher at the University of Reading, United Kingdom, specializing in interdisciplinary migration studies. His work intersects gender, climate change, and environmental science with a focus on policy analysis and sustainable development frameworks. Research Expertise: Migration processes, drivers, and governance Climate change and environmental impacts on migration Gender relations and migrant aspirations Socio-economic and socio-cultural consequences of migration Labour market participation and urban/rural development Funding: Supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.

• Migration processes
• Gender relations
• Poverty and inequality
• +23 more

Xiliang Zhang is Professor and Director of the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy at Tsinghua University, where he also leads the Tsinghua-CTG Joint Center for Climate Governance and Low-Carbon Transformation. His work focuses on energy-environment policy integration and climate governance in China. He holds a PhD in Systems Engineering from Tsinghua University, with foundational expertise in sustainable technology systems. Professor Zhang's research centers on sustainable energy innovation, diffusion mechanisms, market design, and policy futures for China's transition. His legislative contributions include co-leading the drafting of China's Renewable Energy Law (2004-2005) and serving as Energy Expert for the Circular Economy Law (2007). Current work involves designing China's national Emissions Trading Scheme through carbon market research for the National Development and Reform Commission. He has served as lead author for the IPCC's 4th and 5th Climate Change Assessment Reports. Professional leadership includes Secretary General of the New Energy Committee (China Energy Research Society, since 2006) and Vice Chair of the China Renewable Energy Industry Association (since 2011). His institutional leadership spans the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy and the Tsinghua-CTG Joint Center, driving interdisciplinary research on decarbonization pathways and climate governance frameworks for national policy implementation.

• Climate Change
• Renewable Energy Policy
• Carbon Markets
• +3 more

Paul Erdkamp is a Professor of Ancient History at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). His research focuses on economic, demographic, and military aspects of the Roman world, with recent emphasis on climate change impacts on ancient societies. He holds a doctorate (cum laude) from Radboud University Nijmegen (1998) and has been a Research Fellow at Leiden University. Erdkamp leads the Roman Society Research Center (RSRC) and has authored/co-authored over 70 research outputs, including influential works on Roman military logistics, food supply, and paleoclimatology. His current projects explore societal resilience to climate change in ancient Eurasia and dietary studies in Greco-Roman Egypt. Erdkamp is an active collaborator in international research networks and has supervised 30 academic works. Education: PhD in History (cum laude), Radboud University Nijmegen (1998); MA/BA in History, same institution. Research Interests: Roman military structures, economic systems, food supply networks, climate history, and interdisciplinary historical food studies. Erdkamp’s work bridges archaeology, history, and environmental science, particularly in analyzing how climate influenced ancient societal dynamics. Notable Projects: 'Societal Resilience and Climate Change in Ancient Eurasia' (2024–2025), 'Agriculture, Diet, and Nutrition in Greco-Roman Egypt' (2022–2025), and the long-term Roman Society Research Center (2009–2027). Activities: Erdkamp frequently presents at international conferences (e.g., recent talks on climate and society in Eurasia) and hosts academic visitors. He served on the Research Foundation - Flanders expert panel for History & Archaeology (2016–2018).

• Ancient Roman History
• Military History
• Economic History
• +4 more

Hubert Rahier is a Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), specializing in Materials Engineering. His expertise spans Thermal Analysis, non-traditional cements, geopolymers, and self-healing polymers. He holds a Chemical Engineering degree from VUB (1988) and has led numerous projects on sustainable materials, including the RECONSTRUCT initiative for circular low-carbon construction. His research emphasizes alkali-activated materials, biomineralization in concrete, and eco-friendly composites. Recent work includes studies on potassium silicate mortars, fungi-mediated self-healing concrete, and diffusion-controlled self-healing polymers. He has supervised over 40 students and received awards such as the 2023 Outstanding Research Award. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations, he contributes to projects addressing decarbonization and material durability. Key areas of focus include circular economy applications, carbon-reducing construction practices, and innovative material synthesis. His labs explore biomineralization mechanisms, composite reinforcement, and low-temperature ceramic processing.

• Thermal Analysis
• Non-Traditional Cements
• Alkali Activation
• +5 more

Wim Van Lancker is an Associate Professor in Social Work and Social Policy at KU Leuven's Faculty of Social Sciences, specifically within the Education Policy, Sociology department. He is affiliated with the Centre for Sociological Research (CESO) and holds multiple leadership positions including programme director of POC Sociologie and membership on the Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Van Lancker is also active in several research institutes including KIES – KU Leuven Institute for Energy and Society and L-C&Y - KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute. His research focuses on the welfare state, examining the interaction between the design of, public attitudes towards, and outcomes of social policies and social work interventions. Van Lancker's work spans critical contemporary issues including poverty, inequality, family policy, social investment, climate transition impacts, and welfare state measurement. His research employs diverse methodologies from qualitative inquiries to advanced regression methods and randomized controlled trials, addressing challenges such as climate change, migration, digitalization, and aging populations. Van Lancker has published extensively in top-tier journals including American Sociological Review, Journal of European Social Policy, and Social Science Research. His publications reveal a consistent focus on comparative welfare state analysis, with particular attention to poverty measurement, family policy effects, and social inequality patterns across European countries. World's Top 2% scientists (Stanford University) Member of the Young Academy of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and Arts Co-editor of The Palgrave Handbook of Family Policy Recipient of European Research Council funding for the rEUsilience project Van Lancker actively supervises students and contributes to policy debates through frequent media appearances and parliamentary testimony. He leads numerous research projects funded through Horizon Europe, national research councils, and institutional grants, with a current focus on understanding poverty cycles, climate transition social impacts, and welfare system responsiveness. His work bridges academic research with practical policy applications, notably through the Permanente Vorming Armoede & Participatie educational program for poverty policy professionals. As part of the rEUsilience project consortium, Van Lancker contributes to developing innovative measurement tools for family resilience across European welfare states. His work with the Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy and other European research networks demonstrates his commitment to comparative analysis of social policy effectiveness across different institutional contexts.

• social policy
• comparative welfare state research
• family policy
• +4 more

Lesley De Cruz is a Research Fellow at Vrije Universiteit Brussel's Electronics and Informatics department within the School of Electronics and Computer Science, with concurrent research affiliation at the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium since 2012. Current projects include climate-resilient urban modeling through BRGEOZ464 and flood prediction systems under FWOAL1127. Research focuses on AI-driven climate modeling with expertise in nonlinear dimension reduction (DIRESA framework), urban climate resilience, and renewable energy meteorology. Key methodologies integrate deep learning with environmental physics for applications including real-time flood prediction offshore wind farm optimization LEGO-based urban climate prototyping regional climate downscaling Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate strong trends in geospatial AI for environmental systems, with 64% focusing on climate change impact analysis, 54% on urban applications, and 51% on control measure development. The DIRESA framework represents a significant contribution to nonlinear dimension reduction in climate informatics. Awards include: Matìère Grise Science Communication Trophy (2024) Major media recognition for breakthrough rainfall prediction model (2021) Supervises multiple PhD candidates and leads public engagement initiatives including CurieuCity and Dag Van de Wetenschap. Current grants total 12 active projects (2021-2029) with €2.8M+ funding, primarily focused on climate adaptation and sustainable technology development. Labs and teams include the Climate Informatics Group at VUB and collaborative networks with Ghent University and the Flemish Institute for Carbon-Aware Technologies.

• Climate Modeling
• Regional Climate Downscaling
• AI for Environmental Systems
• +3 more