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Dr. Joseph Bosco Bangura is a Senior Researcher in Religious Studies & Missiology at the Evangelical Theological Faculty (ETF Leuven) and Senior Researcher in Intercultural Theology at the Protestant Theological University, Groningen. He serves as a Part-Time Lecturer at Aachen University and has held roles at institutions in Sierra Leone, Germany, South Africa, and Uganda. His work bridges Pentecostalism, missiology, and intercultural theology across Africa and Europe. Education: Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies (ETF Leuven & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 2013) M.Th. (ETF Leuven, 2007) M.Phil. (Fourah Bay College, 2004) Post-Graduate Certificate in Ecumenical Studies (Ecumenical Institute Bossey, 2001) B.Th. (Evangelical College of Theology, 1997) Research Interests focus on African Pentecostalism, contextual theology, secularization in Africa and Europe, interfaith engagement, and the cultural adaptation of migrant churches. His work explores the intersection of religion with environmental disasters, gender dynamics, and digital media in African Christianity. Selected Articles highlight eco-theology in Sierra Leone, gender and leadership in diaspora churches, and the impact of secularization on Pentecostal communities. His publications also address urban missiology, transnational practices, and the historical evolution of African churches. Academic Memberships: European Academy on Religion and Society American Society of Missiology GloPent Research Network Lamin Sanneh Institute (University of Ghana)

• Missiology
• African Pentecostalism
• Intercultural Theology
• +7 more

Pieter Ballon is a Full Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Director of imec-SMIT, part of the Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology (SMIT) research group. He holds dual affiliations in Communication Sciences and SMIT. His roles include leadership in interdisciplinary research projects and academic administration. Research expertise focuses on Smart Cities, Digital Platforms, and ICT business models. Key interests include platform urbanism, data ecosystems, and algorithmic systems' societal impacts. He has supervised 122 academic works, including 8 master’s theses listed here. Notable awards include the 1st Brussels Smart City Ambassador (2016-2017) and multiple Best Paper Awards. His work spans over 300 publications and 75 research projects, with active grants like SHALGO (2024-2028) and AMAI 5 (2025-2026). He frequently engages in public debates, academic conferences, and media discussions on topics like algorithmic governance and smart city technologies.

• Smart Cities
• Digital Platforms
• Business Models for ICT Systems
• +4 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

Imke Baetens is a Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on self-injurious behavior, mental health in adolescents and older adults, and resilience-building interventions. She leads multiple projects addressing mental health challenges in schools, elderly populations, and marginalized groups like transgender individuals. Key initiatives include the PRISM network for mental health innovations and the SMARTS project enhancing resilience through schools. Baetens collaborates internationally, with studies on cross-national self-injury trends and personality risk factors for self-harm in older adults. She actively engages in public discourse on mental health via media contributions and hosts academic visitors to advance collaborative research. Education: Not explicitly stated in text; inferred doctoral training via research roles. Research interests prioritize bridging clinical practice and population health, with a focus on preventive mental health strategies. Over 97 publications since 2009 reflect her expertise in psychology, gerontology, and public health. Notable datasets include longitudinal studies on self-harm risk and cross-country comparisons of mental health interventions. Media engagements highlight her role as a public mental health expert, addressing topics like pandemic impacts on youth and elderly self-harm trends. She supervises numerous academic works, though specific student names are not listed.

• Self-Injurious Behavior
• Mental Health
• Adolescent Psychology
• +3 more

Marius Gilbert is a Full Professor at Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) since 2023, with dual administrative roles as Vice-rector of Research and Valorization (since 2020) and Vice-rector of Culture and Scientific Mediation (current mandate). He obtained his PhD in spatial epidemiology from ULB in 2001 after studying Agricultural Sciences (1995) and conducting visiting research at Oxford's Department of Zoology. Key Research Areas: Spatial epidemiology of animal diseases and invasive species Impact of agricultural and ecosystem changes on pathogen emergence Specialization in avian influenza and emerging infectious diseases Development of livestock distribution models and antimicrobial resistance tracking Scientific Contributions: His 15 most recent publications (2025-2021) focus on viral phylogeography , livestock-environment interactions , antimicrobial use forecasting , and pandemic response modeling . Notable work includes COVID-19 spatio-temporal analysis and global antibiotic resistance trends in food animals. Public Engagement: Played a central role in French-speaking media during the pandemic , authored the book "Juste un Passage au JT" , and maintains a Le Soir column on science-society intersections. Co-founded the Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL) in 2016, now led by Simon Dellicour.

• Spatial epidemiology
• Epidemiology of avian influenza
• Emerging infectious diseases
• +3 more

Steven Devleminck is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at KU Leuven's Faculty of Engineering Technology, concurrently serving as coordinator of the School of Arts (Associated Faculty) in Brussels. His dual appointment bridges engineering and arts through the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) group at Group T Leuven Campus and Unit Art & Technology in Brussels, with active membership in DigiSoc – KU Leuven Digital Society Institute. His research centers on human-centered computing and speculative design methodologies , with core expertise in tangible interaction for emotion regulation and multispecies futures. Key themes include biofuturing as co-creative response to climate crises, squeeze-based interfaces for workplace stress, and artistic AI collaborations. His work uniquely integrates computer science with choreography, film studies, and anthropology through projects like “Youth TikTok production as public pedagogy” and “Imagining the Post-Anthropocene in BioFutures Living Lab”. Analysis of recent publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) Advancement of squeeze interaction techniques for affective computing, (2) Development of biofuturing frameworks for multispecies speculation, and (3) Critical examinations of AI's role in artistic mediumship. Cross-cutting themes include post-anthropocentric design, climate-responsive technologies, and decolonial approaches to digital pedagogy. Devleminck actively mentors doctoral candidates including Ula Sickle (choreographic exhibitions) and J. Verbesselt (cinema studies), while leading major funded projects such as: Living Corpora (2025-2029): Pioneering human-AI collaboration in digital humanities as Co-promotor Experiential Futuring (2022-2026): Co-creative methodology for social media outage response as Co-promotor Deradicalizing the City (2021-2025): Urban intervention research as Promotor He serves on the Computer Science Department Council and Doctoral Committee for the Associated Faculty of Arts. His laboratory ecosystem spans the HCI Group T Leuven Campus for technical development, Brussels-based Unit Art & Technology for artistic integration, and BioFutures Living Lab for participatory multispecies experimentation. This tripartite structure enables transdisciplinary work connecting squeeze sensor engineering with climate futures speculation and museum interface design.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Humanities
• Art and Technology
• +5 more

Maarten De Vos is a Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) , KU Leuven , with dual appointments in the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering Science . He leads interdisciplinary research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biomedical signal processing.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Biomedical Signal Processing
• Sleep Research
• +4 more

Stijn Baert is a Full-Time Professor of Empirical Labor Economics at Ghent University and a Part-Time Professor at the University of Antwerp. He leads UGent@Work, a research network of 30 professors analyzing labor market dynamics. Affiliated with institutions like Université catholique de Louvain, GLO, IMISCOE, and IZA, Baert's work bridges academic rigor with policy impact. Doctorate in Economics (2013), Ghent University Master's in Economics (2008), Ghent University Civil Engineering Degree (2006), Ghent University His research focuses on labor market discrimination , unemployment consequences , and work-health intersections . He has published in European Economic Review , Health Economics , and Social Science & Medicine , with over 1,000 annual citations. Baert's policy work includes proposals for degressive unemployment benefits and sector-specific practical tests to address discrimination. Key articles highlight AI's labor market impact, parenthood's career effects, and compressed work schedules. His awards include the Rotary Science Award (2020) and multiple recognitions for doctoral research. He is a frequent media commentator, with over 7,500 citations in national/international outlets, and a top 1% globally influential economist. 2020: Ranked Second Among Flemish Thought Leaders 2019: Included in Trends Magazine’s Top 30 Belgian Thirty-Somethings 2014: Charles Ullens Prize 2013: P&V Foundation Prize Baert's advocacy includes evidence-based labor market reforms, participation in Flemish recovery committees, and public engagement through YouTube videos and media interviews. His work on AI in the workplace (2025) reveals that 52% of men but only 40% of women use AI, with 21% finding AI brainstorming more productive than human collaboration.

• Labor Economics
• Employment Policy
• Discrimination
• +5 more

Laura Vandenbosch is a Senior Lecturer at KU Leuven's Faculty of Social Sciences , actively leading the Lab for Media Psychology (OG) . She contributes to interdisciplinary research networks like DigiSoc , LC&Y , and Leuven One Health , with formal university affiliations confirmed through ORCID (0000-0001-6834-8386). Key research themes: digital media effects on adolescent mental health, body image, political identity, and social media literacy Current projects focus on topics like positive body image in preadolescence , influencer morality , and digital intimacy literacy Her 2025 publications include multi-method studies on appearance-focused social media activity, AI chatbot interactions, and political socialization through non-political figures Advises PhD candidates through promotor roles in diverse media psychology research areas

• Media Psychology
• Social Media Effects
• Adolescent Development
• +5 more

Martijn Van Heel is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at Brussels University, affiliated with the Consultation Center. He specializes in adolescent mental health, focusing on parenting practices, emotion regulation, and non-suicidal self-injury. His work integrates cross-cultural comparisons and digital media's impact on youth development. He leads and co-leads several projects, including the PRISM network (Psychology, Research, and Innovations for Mental Health) and the SMARTS initiative (Strengthening Mental health and Resilience Through Schools). He also contributed to the 'Good Game' project promoting mental health in esports and research on online communication's effects on adolescents. Van Heel’s research emphasizes cultural differences in parenting, the role of digital platforms in mental health, and developing school-based interventions. His recent studies include benchmarking mindfulness therapies, analyzing emotion regulation across Belgium and Iran, and evaluating the Psychological Referral Optimization (PRO) app for adolescent mental health screening. He collaborates extensively with researchers in Iran, Vietnam, Tanzania, and South Africa, exploring topics like aggression norms, attachment styles, and pandemic impacts on self-injury. His work is disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, with notable contributions to Current Psychology and Cognitive Therapy and Research .

• Adolescent Mental Health
• Parenting Practices
• Emotion Regulation
• +4 more

Kyoko Iwaki is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Literature of the University of Antwerp, with a focus on Japanese theatre, performance studies, and post-catastrophe narratives. She actively engages in collaborative research and holds internal governance roles, including membership in the Departmental Council for Literature and the Education Committee for the Educational Master in Languages. Her research explores Japanese contemporary theatre's intersections with ethics, digital performance, and nuclear trauma. Key themes include collaborative methodologies, liminality, and the philosophical implications of post-Fukushima art. Her work spans classical adaptations, avant-garde practices, and interdisciplinary approaches to performance. Recent publications analyze experimental Japanese theatre (Okada Toshiki, Sankai Juku), post-disaster memory, and the politics of digital pandemic spaces. She contributes to global discourse through interviews with practitioners and critiques of institutional frameworks in theatre and academia.

• Theatre Studies
• Performance Studies
• Japanese Contemporary Theatre
• +4 more

Prof. Wim Desmet is a full professor at the Faculty of Engineering Science and head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KU Leuven . His research focuses on advanced modeling techniques for mechanical systems, including: noise and vibration control in automotive and industrial systems computational acoustics and interval field uncertainty modeling metamaterials for broadband vibroacoustic performance AI-driven diagnostic systems in renewable energy and manufacturing Current research projects address challenges in electric vehicle drivetrains, wind turbine monitoring, and multi-physical digital twin development. He actively contributes to academic governance as: Managing Director of KU Leuven Head of Subdivision HIST Chair of multiple executive committees Member of 15+ academic and administrative councils

• Noise Abatement in Machines and Vehicles
• Numerical Modeling in Mechanics
• Automotive Structures and Dynamics
• +12 more

Karine Charry is a Professor at the Louvain School of Management (LSM) within the University of Louvain (UCLouvain), affiliated with the Louvain Research Institute in Management and Organizations (LouRIM) . Her work focuses on behavioral responses to marketing strategies in health and sustainability contexts. Email: karine.charry@uclouvain.be Office: Building B, Floor 02, Office B207, Chaussée de Binche 151, 7000 Mons Research Interests: Behavioral impact of sustainability labels and nudges Effectiveness of environmental NGO campaigns Role of social media influencers in dietary and ecological behaviors Prosocial communication via platforms like Twitter Co-branding and packaging strategies for child-targeted products Key Article Trends (2006-2025): Her publications span food marketing ethics, social media dynamics, threat appeals in youth campaigns, gamification for health apps, and sustainability labeling. Notably, she investigates how social norms and digital engagement shape pro-environmental and healthy eating behaviors in children and adolescents.

• Sustainable Consumption
• Social Media Marketing
• Child Nutrition
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Maaheen Ahmed is a faculty member at Ghent University , affiliated with the Department of Literary Studies and research groups 20cc - Twentieth-Century Crossroads and CMSI - Cultural Memory Studies Initiative . Her work spans comics studies , cultural memory , and children's literature , with a focus on the 19th-21st centuries , Belgium , Western Europe , and North America . She employs comparative analysis , iconography , and textual studies . Her recent articles address children in comics , historical revisionism , and comics as a medium . Projects like The Networked Author (2023–2026) and Children in Comics (2017–2018) highlight her dedication to digital comics and childhood studies . Collaborations with researchers such as Benoit Crucifix and Eva Van de Wiele emphasize trauma , gender , and ecological narratives . Key themes include comics' affective power , historical memory , and intercultural exchanges .

• Comics Studies
• Graphic Novels
• Cultural Memory
• +5 more

Prof. Yazan Badran is an Assistant Professor in International Media and Communication Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel , affiliated with the ECHO: Media, Culture & Politics Research Group . His research focuses on media, journalism, and politics in the MENA region, particularly Syrian and Tunisian mediaspheres, and diasporic communities. He holds a PhD from VUB (2021), MSc in Communication Studies (2015), and BEng in Computer Science (2013). Affiliations: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, ECHO Research Group, Centre for Democracy, Signification, and Resistance. Teaching: BSc Social Sciences, MSc Communication Studies. Research interests include emerging media systems, journalistic precarity, and media in conflict zones. Key projects include FWO-funded studies on pan-Arab satire and Syrian exiled journalism. Awards include the Best Paper by an Emerging Scholar (2018) and FWO fellowships (2016–2025). Recent publications analyze media framing in Syria, Kurdish media in Iraq, and digital archives of conflict. He advises 26 students and collaborates with institutions in Turkey, Tunisia, and others. Active in editorial roles for Journalism Practice and Journal of Global Diaspora and Media .

• Media Studies
• Journalism
• Political Communication
• +7 more