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Dick Houtman is a Professor of Sociology at KU Leuven's Faculty of Social Sciences , leading the Centre for Culture, Conflict, and Inequalities (C3I) . He also holds a Faculty Fellow position at Yale University's Center for Cultural Sociology . His work focuses on cultural change and cultural conflict in the West since the 1960s, particularly in politics and religion , with a special interest in the Romantic turn that has transformed Western societies. Research topics: Cultural sociology, secularization, spirituality, cultural-political polarization, anti-institutionalism, and the romantic legacy in modernity. Teaching: Culture and Society specialization in KU Leuven's Master of Sociology program. Key projects include: Non-Religious Discourses and the Secularization of the Secular (2021-2025) Fashioning Ideology, Ideologizing Fashion (2020-2024) Boundaries Across Borders (2022-2023) The Implications of Religious Pluralism (2014-2025) Scientific honors : Yale University Center for Cultural Sociology Faculty Fellow Recent publications (2023-2025) show strong focus on spirituality , secularization , religious pluralism , and cultural polarization , with keywords spanning from political sociology to digital religion . His work often examines authenticity claims, the cultural significance of science, and the transformation of religious and cultural identities in contemporary societies.

• Cultural Sociology
• Religious Pluralism
• Secularization
• +4 more

Karel Van Acker is a full professor in the Faculty of Engineering Science at KU Leuven , leading the Sustainable Materials Processing and Recycling (SeMPeR) research group. His work focuses on integrating environmental and economic sustainability assessments, particularly for metallurgical residues and circular economy systems. Head of SeMPeR group Contact person for SeMPeR at Arenberg campus Head of Subdivision 39, Brussels Campus Research areas include: Circular Economy: Monitoring systems, stock-flow models, and business models Sustainability Assessments: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis, carbon footprinting Resource Valorization: Steel slag mineral carbonation, rare earth reduction, biorefinery processes Key article trends: 2025 works emphasize steel slag carbonation for carbon capture, hydrogen storage technologies, and clothing sufficiency as circular economy strategies 2024 research explores car mobility circularity , AI environmental impacts , and policy integration for circular economy monitors Earlier works (2023-2020) address textile recycling , biomass to biofuels , and landfill mining using system dynamics Teaching responsibilities: Sustainable Materials Management (H00R6A) Environmental Impact Analysis (I0V86A) Material Selection & Sustainability (D0X32A) Global Challenges for Sustainable Society (H0O00A)

• Circular Economy
• Sustainability Assessments
• Material Flow Analysis
• +5 more

Steven De Haes is the Dean of Antwerp Management School and a Full Professor of Digital Strategy & Governance at the University of Antwerp. He specializes in IT governance, digital transformation strategies, and enterprise architecture. His research focuses on bridging IT strategy with organizational goals, emphasizing accessibility and sustainability in digital technologies. Roles: Dean, Professor, Academic Director of executive programs (IT Governance, Cyber Security, Data Science). Research: Published in international journals and co-authored books like "Enterprise Governance of IT" and "Governing Digital Transformation" . Leadership: Former Director of Research and Associate Dean at Antwerp Management School (2008–2018). Expertise: IT strategy alignment, digital transformation governance, and COBIT framework development. His work highlights the importance of board-level engagement in IT decisions and the ethical implications of emerging technologies like AI. He collaborates with organizations like PWC and Samsung Belgium to advance sustainable digital practices.

• Digital Technology Governance
• Digital Strategy & Alignment
• IT Value & Performance Management
• +3 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

Jo Renate Bauwens is a Senior Lecturer in Communication Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, affiliated with the ECHO: Media, Culture & Politics Research Group. Her work focuses on media studies, television studies, and media reception analysis, with a particular interest in media use in everyday life and transnational media dynamics. She has contributed to projects such as the GROW initiative on wastewater reuse perception and the Far Right Fictions study analyzing media consumption among youth with far-right sympathies. Her research spans environmental communication, existential-ethical approaches to digital culture, and the intersection of media and truth. Notable activities include public lectures on media desinformation and truth in mediated worlds, as well as workshops on speech-making and far-right audiovisual discourse. She has supervised master’s and doctoral theses on topics like HIV narratives, Flemish rock festivals, and social media engagement during TV viewing. Projects: 19 active projects, including transnational media studies, environmental policy communication, and cultural analyses of Brussels. Media engagements: 31 press contributions addressing urban polarization, media framing of Brussels, and children’s television. Labs/Teams: Core member of the ECHO Research Group, collaborating on interdisciplinary media studies. Bauwens’ work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analyses, emphasizing participatory research methods and societal impact.

• Media Studies
• Television Studies
• Media Use and Consumption
• +5 more

Robin Kleer is an Associate Professor of Innovation Management at Vlerick Business School in Leuven, Belgium. He serves as Programme Director for the Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Masters in General Management. Previously, he held positions at RWTH Aachen University (Habilitation), Technical University of Berlin (Professor of Technology and Innovation Management), and visiting roles at MIT, Michigan State University, and others. His research focuses on technology transfer, sustainable business models, digitalisation, additive manufacturing, and blockchain applications. He teaches innovation management, technology foresight, and executive education programmes like 'Growth through Innovation.' Education: Doctor in Economics (University of Würzburg, Germany) Habilitation (Post-Doc Degree) at RWTH Aachen University Degree in Business Engineering (University of Karlsruhe) Research Interests: Dr. Kleer explores the interplay between innovation, market structures, and business models. His work emphasizes sustainable practices in digitalisation, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and blockchain. He investigates how these technologies enable more sustainable business models and collaboratively oriented value creation. Key themes include degrowth theory, mass customization, and the societal implications of Industry 4.0. Grants & Labs: His research has addressed topics like modular smartphone design, recycling consortia dynamics (e.g., German Recyclate Forum), and computational reviews of customization literature. While specific grants aren’t detailed, his work frequently engages with interdisciplinary frameworks for sustainable degrowth and post-growth economics.

• Innovation Management
• Technology Transfer
• Digitalisation
• +7 more

Jennifer Alonso-García is a tenured Professor of Actuarial Science in the Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), a position she has held since October 2019. She concurrently serves as an Associate Investigator at CEPAR, a Netspar Fellow, and treasurer of the PBSS board. Previously, she was a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen's Department of Economics, Econometrics and Finance and a Senior Research Associate at CEPAR. Her academic foundation includes mathematics studies completed in Spain and Germany, culminating in a PhD in Actuarial Science from the Université Catholique de Louvain in 2015. She maintains professional certification as an IA|BE Qualified Actuary by the Belgian Institute of Actuaries and brings industry experience as a Risk Advisor specializing in Solvency II and MCEV frameworks. Dr. Alonso-García's research program centers on actuarial science with emphasis on pension systems, retirement income security, longevity risk quantification, and variable annuity product design. Her work addresses critical challenges in demographic risk management, intergenerational equity, and sustainable pension financing through advanced stochastic modeling techniques. She investigates how socio-economic factors impact mortality patterns and retirement outcomes, with particular focus on fairness in pension design. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) reveals consistent thematic focus on pension economics and actuarial modeling, characterized by three dominant trends: intergenerational risk-sharing mechanisms in public pension schemes, innovative variable annuity contract designs with hybrid guarantees, and socio-demographic mortality analysis incorporating AI techniques. Her work demonstrates strong methodological rigor in applying risk measures to pension sustainability assessments. Her scholarly contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards: ICA 2018 Best Paper Award IAA Section IAAHS Best Paper Award (2018) IAA Section PBSS Best Paper Award (2019) Dr. Alonso-García actively shapes her field through significant service commitments including Associate Editor for Annals of Actuarial Science, Editorial Board membership at ASTIN Bulletin, and Scientific Board position at Anales del Instituto de Actuarios Españoles. She co-organizes the One World Actuarial Research Seminar and frequently participates in international collaborative projects, evidenced by upcoming engagements including a workshop on pension design in Andros, Greece (September 2025), a research visit to UNSW Sydney (October 2025), and the 1st ASTIN Bulletin Conference in Zürich (January 2026).

• Actuarial Science
• Pension Systems
• Retirement Income
• +3 more

Amélie Lachapelle serves as Assistant Professor at the University of Namur's Faculty of Law, with cross-appointments in the Faculty of Economic, Social and Management Sciences. Her primary research affiliations include the Centre de Recherche Information, Droit et Société (CRIDS) and Namur Digital Institute (NaDI), with additional membership in UCLouvain's Centre de Recherche sur l'Etat et la Constitution (CRECO). She currently teaches Comparative Law, Environmental Law, Sustainable Development Law, and Economic Law across multiple faculties while leading research at the intersection of digital governance and ecological transition. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Laws from FUNDP (2011, High Distinction), Erasmus exchange at USAL Salamanca (2013, Matricula de honor), and Master's in State and European Law from UCLouvain (2013, High Distinction), culminating in a Doctorate in Legal Sciences from UNamur (2020) on tax whistleblowing mechanisms. Lachapelle's research synthesizes whistleblowing law , digital governance , and sustainable development , focusing on tensions between fundamental rights (privacy, freedom of expression) and fiscal transparency requirements. Her work examines how EU directives like 2019/1937 reshape tax whistleblowing while navigating GDPR constraints, with particular attention to digital reporting channels and cross-border implications. Recent scholarship explores sustainable IT frameworks where digital law intersects with circular economy principles. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) Evolution of tax whistleblowing in digital environments (40% of output), (2) Sustainable digital transition legal frameworks (35%), and (3) Fundamental rights protection in automated tax administration (25%). Her work consistently bridges Belgian implementation challenges with European legal developments. 1st prize in 2011 Eloquence Tournament (Young Bar of Namur) TFR-prijs 2018 for Foreign Tax Case Law commentary UNamur MT180 Finalist (2019) TFR Doctoral Grant 2020 FRS-FNRS Doctoral Fellowship (2015-2019) Lachapelle actively advises governmental bodies as expert for Deputy Prime Minister Georges Gilkinet's office (democratic renewal) and leads EU directive implementation studies. She serves as Editorial Secretary for the Journal of Information Technology Law and sits on the Management Board of INCUEBRUX. Her research group at CRIDS/NaDI develops practical frameworks for sustainable IT governance, recently contributing to Belgium's 4th Sustainable IT Charter signing. Current projects examine the twin green-digital transition through legal lenses, with emerging work on AI governance in public administration.

• Whistleblowing Law
• Environmental Law
• Sustainable Development Law
• +5 more

Stanislav V. Chicherin is a researcher at the Faculty of Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, specializing in energy systems and optimization within the Department of Engineering Technology. His work focuses on advancing district heating technologies and thermal network efficiency. District Heating Thermodynamics Energy Systems Optimization Thermal Network Simulation Recent publications highlight his contributions to fifth-generation district heating and cooling networks, multi-energy systems optimization, and robust design methodologies under uncertain energy market conditions. His research employs computational modeling and linear programming techniques to address thermal power flow and demand-side challenges. He actively participates in peer-review activities for journals including Discover Energy , Journal of Cleaner Production , and Applied Energy , and has presented at conferences on synthetic load profile modeling for energy consumption.

• District Heating
• Thermodynamics
• Fluid Mechanics
• +3 more

Malaika Brengman serves as a Senior Lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at the Free University of Brussels, specializing in consumer behavior within retail contexts. Her academic work bridges Communication Sciences, Business Studies, and Media Innovation through interdisciplinary research on digital retail environments. Her research focuses on consumer decision-making processes in physical and virtual retail spaces, with particular expertise in trust formation, digital signage effectiveness, and the psychological impact of emerging technologies. Key interests include: How virtual worlds influence retail appeal and consumer threat perception The relationship between store environment design and initial trust development Implicit measurement techniques for assessing service experiences Consumer responses to AI-driven personalization in retail settings Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on augmented reality applications, vaccine attitude segmentation, and social media addiction pathways, demonstrating methodological diversity across behavioral experiments and large-scale consumer surveys. Her scientific contributions have been recognized through multiple awards including the Best Conference Paper Award (2010), Best Extended Abstract Award (2020), and a Highly Commended Paper distinction (2016). These accolades highlight her impact in retail technology and consumer psychology research. Brengman actively supervises doctoral candidates and serves on PhD committees, with documented supervision of at least 153 academic works. She frequently engages with media as an expert on consumer finance topics, particularly regarding energy pricing impacts and savings behaviors during economic uncertainty. Her current projects include Brubotics (human-centered robotics) and SHALGO (algorithmic systems research). She maintains significant external engagement through advisory roles in consumer protection initiatives and regular media commentary on retail trends and consumer behavior patterns.

• Retail Consumer Behavior
• Virtual Retail Environments
• Consumer Trust
• +4 more

Wafa Hammedi is a Professor of Service Innovation and Marketing at the Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Namur, Belgium. She directs the Creativity and Innovation Research Center (CIRCE) and is affiliated with multiple research institutes including Namur Digital Institute (NADI), Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (Narilis), and Center for Research on Consumption and Leisure (CeRCLe). She also serves as President of the Faculty Council Methodological platform for human and social sciences (SHS Impulse). Dr. Hammedi received her PhD from Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands. Her research focuses on service innovation, actor engagement (customers, users, and frontline employees), co-creation mechanisms including gamification, and open/collaborative innovation in both B2B and B2C contexts. She has particular expertise in vulnerable service users (patients, users at the bottom of the pyramid) and vulnerable service frontline employees. Her publication portfolio includes articles in top journals such as Journal of Product Innovation Management, Journal of Service Management, and Journal of Business Research. Her recent work examines explainable AI in service contexts, gamification effects, and consumer engagement dynamics. IBM Faculty Award (2013 & 2015) Best Research Paper Award at QUIS Conference (2017) Elsevier Prize for Most Innovative Paper (2017) Highly Commended Paper Award from Journal of Service Management (2016) Best Paper Award at French Marketing Association conference (2016) Dr. Hammedi serves as Associate Editor of Journal of Service Marketing and is on editorial boards of multiple journals. She co-founded the Annual Doctoral Symposium 'AMA - SERVSIG - Let's Talk About Service' and chairs the Special Interest Group on service Innovation at ISPIM. She has secured research grants from FEDER, BNB, and Walloon Region, and collaborates with international institutions including Cornell University where she is an Academic Scholar.

• Service Innovation
• Marketing Innovation
• Value Co-creation
• +7 more

Siegfried Dewitte is a Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and Director of the BEE Research Center at KU Leuven . He serves as a member of several institutes including KIEM (Energy and Society), LIM (Mobility), and LUSI (Urban Studies). His work focuses on integrating behavioral economics with practical societal challenges.

• Behavioral Economics
• Consumer Behavior
• Pro-Environmental Behavior
• +4 more

Thomas Könecke is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven. He leads and co-promotes interdisciplinary research in sport ethics, integrity, and sustainability, with a focus on governance, consumer behavior, and policy frameworks. Member of DigiSoc – KU Leuven Institute for Digital Society Member of LIM - KU Leuven Institute for Mobility Member of LISS – KU Leuven Institute for Sports Sciences His research explores the intersection of ethics, sustainability, and sports economics, particularly in esports, mega-events, and consumer decision-making. Recent projects include governance challenges in esports, sustainability-driven pricing strategies, and ethical implementation in sports organizations. His work is published in journals like Performance Enhancement & Health and Frontiers in Sports and Active Living . Thomas supervises studies on environmental and social sustainability impacts in sports, advising on topics such as carbon footprint awareness and ethical consumption. He actively collaborates with the Faculty Council FaBeR and Departementsraad Bewegingswetenschappen, contributing to academic governance structures.

• Sport Ethics
• Integrity in Sports
• Sustainability in Sports
• +3 more

Heritiana Ranaivoson is a Research Professor at imec-SMIT-VUB in the Media Economics & Policy Unit since 2010. He holds a PhD in Economics from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and has held visiting lecturer positions at institutions including Sciences Po Lille and Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles. His research focuses on cultural and media diversity, media innovation, and online platform governance. He coordinates the ALGEPI research project and leads work packages for EU Horizon projects like Fair MusE and CresCine. Ranaivoson is also a member of UNESCO’s Reflection Group on Cultural Expressions and an Associate Editor at Frontiers in Communication. Key research interests include the role of algorithms in cultural industries, media policy frameworks, and the impact of digital platforms. His recent work addresses topics like the European Media Freedom Act and fairness in music ecosystems. He has authored/co-edited over 186 publications, including the 2023 book European Audiovisual Policy in Transition . Current projects explore sustainable climate transitions for video platforms and animation industry partnerships. He advises initiatives such as the STARTS Prize and contributes to global policy dialogues on media diversity and intellectual property. His work bridges interdisciplinary approaches to tackle challenges in media economics and digital governance.

• Cultural Policy
• Media Diversity
• Media Innovation
• +5 more

Alain Verbeke is a Professor at the Department of Management within the Faculty of Economics and Business at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). His research focuses on multinational enterprises, international business strategy, and location advantages, with significant contributions to internalization theory and regional strategy. He has published 288 research outputs including articles, books, and conference papers, and has supervised 66 student works. His research expertise spans multiple domains with a particular focus on Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) (100% of his work), Internalization Theory (64%), Regional Strategy (43%), and International Business (34%). His work also extends to subsidiary management, governance structures, and seaports economics. Verbeke's recent publications demonstrate a clear evolution in his research interests, moving from traditional international business topics toward sustainability, circular economy applications in port management, and the impact of global disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic on multinational strategies. His work increasingly integrates environmental and social considerations with traditional business strategy frameworks. h-index of 55 13674 total citations Active research since 1986 Professor Verbeke has supervised numerous Master's theses on topics ranging from location advantages for multinational enterprises to circular marketing strategies in the fashion industry. His consultancy work includes significant projects for the Brussels port cluster and the Port of Zeebrugge, focusing on socio-economic impacts and circular economy transitions. He has led multiple research projects, including the GOA75 project on Foreign Subsidiary Management in Belgium and studies on the economic impact of DHL's hub activities at Zaventem airport. His research activities extend to industrial clusters, technological manufacturing, and policy recommendations for improving Belgium's attractiveness for technology-intensive investments. Verbeke maintains active collaborations with researchers across Europe, particularly in port economics and multinational enterprise studies.

• Multinational Enterprises (MNEs)
• Internalization Theory
• International Business
• +5 more