Denise Van Dam

Denise Van Dam is a researcher at the Department of Social, Political and Communication Sciences, focusing on psycho-sociological approaches to organic farming, sociology of social movements, and adult education. She contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through interdisciplinary research in agroecology and rural labor dynamics.

• Bachelor of Psychology (KUL)
• Postgraduate in Couples Therapy (KUL)
• Bachelor's degree in Economic and Social Policy (UCL)
• Doctorate in Social Sciences (ULg)

Her research explores the intersection of agricultural practices, emotional labor, and human-animal relationships. Recent work analyzes beekeeping through the lenses of emotional resilience, collective action, and cultural representation. Projects include international collaborations in Morocco and theoretical contributions to sustainable agriculture.

Key article trends emphasize agroecology, emotional dynamics in labor, human-animal bonds, and collective knowledge systems. Publications often address societal idealism versus practical implementation in rural contexts.

External affiliations include:

• GIRAF (Interdisciplinary Research Group in Agroecology - FNRS)
• ESA (European Sociological Association, Emotions Workgroup)
• Petites Paysanneries (CNRS Research Group)

Van Dam organizes workshops on soft skills development in academia and participates in conferences like ESA and ACFA. She contributes to public debates on participatory governance and sustainable practices.