Thinking and acting freely is part of the DNA of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). But what does that freedom really mean for our scientists, researchers, staff, students, and alumni? How does it shape the way they think and act? In a series of videos, VUB'ers share their personal stories. This time, we hand the mic to Dean and Professor Dominique Maes and marine biologist Joëlle De Weerdt.
Dominique Maes: “Free to push boundaries”
Professor Dominique Maes, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Bioengineering Sciences, studies how proteins clump together in the human body. Because when that process goes wrong, it can lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s or ALS. Her goal? To understand that process to its very core. And that doesn’t just happen in a lab on Earth—it happens in space, too. Literally. For Dominique, freedom means being able to think outside the box. That’s where new insights are born.
Joëlle De Weerdt: “Free to follow your curiosity”
Joëlle De Weerdt is a marine biologist doing PhD research on humpback whales along the coast of Nicaragua. She studies how these magnificent animals migrate, behave, and—crucially—what dangers they face along the way. Her mission is clear: to use knowledge to better protect these endangered species. With her head and her heart.
*This is a machine translation. We apologise for any inaccuracies.