Practical
Thursday, 16 October, 2025
- 17:30 until 22:00
€20 // 💥 50% discount for VUB students 💥
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel invites you to TEDxVUB: Never Say Never
TEDxVUB presents a remarkable line-up of speakers — from dynamic young leaders breaking barriers in the public sector to visionary innovators shaping the future of technology.
- Why students shouldn’t wait for permission to change the world
Oskar Bonte is a law student at VUB and a passionate climate activist. Through his advocacy and initiatives, he encourages students to challenge norms, take action, and lead the way in addressing urgent environmental issues.
- Pain is learned. And it can be unlearned
Emma Rheel is a postdoctoral researcher at VUB, where she studies pain in children. Her research explores the causes of chronic pain in children and how distraction, education, and parental support can influence their experiences of pain and resilience.
- Women in STEM: diversity as the key to science
Lesley De Cruz is a professor at VUB. She is active across various fields dedicated to making science more inclusive. This year, she serves as a WATS ambassador, highlighting women in STEM and amplifying voices that often remain unheard in scientific discussions.
- Accelerating scientific discovery with AI
Andres Algaba is the Gen AI Coordinator at VUB. He analyses how large language models (LLMs) can move beyond mere assistance to actively contribute to scientific discovery. His work connects algorithmic creativity with human insight, exploring how AI can play a role in experimental design, analysis, and hypothesis generation.
- When the route changes and we find ourselves on unplanned paths
Amin Khorari studied Business Engineering at VUB and has since started a new life in a new city — one far removed from the path he once imagined. His journey, marked by study delays, job rejections, detours, and unexpected opportunities, taught him that progress isn’t always linear — and that resilience often grows from unplanned detours.
đź’Ą 50% discount for VUB students đź’Ą
VUB students pay €10 instead of €20. You can find more information on how to activate this discount at https://wearestudent.vub.be.
About TEDxVUB
TEDxVUB 2025 marks the very first TEDx event at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel — setting the tone for a new tradition that celebrates resilience, possibility, and the courage to push boundaries.
Founded by Zineb Afif, a visionary VUB student who sought to bring the spirit of TEDx to VUB, the event aims to create a space where passion, knowledge, and innovation can thrive. More than just an event, it’s a milestone for the university — offering a stage for bold voices, groundbreaking research, and transformative stories that challenge perspectives and spark new conversations.
TEDxVUB is an independently organised TEDx event that gives the VUB community a platform to share ideas worth spreading. More than a hub for inspiration and innovation, it encourages bold dialogue, interdisciplinary exchange, and the connections that drive real change.
At TEDxVUB, students, professors, and alumni share not only knowledge, but also vision, passion, and the belief that ideas can change everything. It’s a space where curiosity meets courage — and where the impossible becomes possible.
The world needs you
This initiative is part of VUB's public programme, a programme for everyone who believes that scientific knowledge sharing, critical thinking and dialogue are an important first step to create impact in the world.
As an Urban Engaged University, VUB aims to be a driver of change in the world. With our academic edcuational programmes and innovative research, we contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and to making a difference locally and globally.
