On June 6, the Water & Climate research group (HYDR) of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is hosting the symposium "Discussions with Joeri Rogelj." Besides contributions from VUB researchers such as Wim Thiery and Harry Zekollari, Joeri Rogelj — a renowned climate scientist at Imperial College London — will deliver a keynote lecture on how climate science can be effectively translated into policy.
During an official ceremony that same day, Rogelj will be awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the VUB, upon the recommendation of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences. He receives this important recognition for his scientific and societal contributions at the intersection of climate science and policy.
For the Water & Climate research group, this is a special occasion to celebrate with a content-rich symposium, where Rogelj’s keynote lecture will be complemented by contributions from guest speakers within the group and related fields such as physical climate science, climate scenarios, policy, and climate litigation.
Program
9:00 – 9:50: Presentations by guest speakers + discussion
- Prof. Wim Thiery – Will you live an unprecedented life?
- Prof. Harry Zekollari – The 1.5°C target shapes the future of glaciers worldwide
- Dr. Chris Smith – Updated IPCC scenarios no longer limit warming to 1.5°C
- Prof. Corina Heri – Courts and climate: developments in climate litigation
9:50 – 10:00: Break
10:00 – 11:00: Keynote lecture by Prof. Joeri Rogelj – Two decades of climate targets: Is the 1.5 glass half full or half empty?
11:00 – 12:00: Light drinks and snacks
Want to join us? Register now!
- When: June 6
- Where: Auditorium I.2.01, Building I, VUB Main Campus
- Access: Building is open to the public – last-minute attendance possible, but registration via the link below is strongly recommended
About Joeri Rogelj
Joeri Rogelj (1980) is a leading Belgian climate scientist and professor at Imperial College London, where he heads the Grantham Institute. After earning his PhD in 2013 from ETH Zurich, he shook up the climate world with his calculations of the carbon budget, which helped shape the Paris Agreement. As a young lead author for the IPCC, he made a key contribution to the 1.5°C report (2018), which has been cited over 80,000 times and includes more than 70 articles in top journals. Recognized as a ‘Highly Cited Researcher,’ he excels in science communication and climate policy, including work with the European Climate Council. His work combines brilliant science with impact for a sustainable future.
About the honorary doctorate awards
During the ceremony at the Vaudeville Theatre on June 6, VUB will also confer honorary doctorates on three other distinguished academics: philosopher and animal rights pioneer Peter Singer, linguist Professor Terttu Nevalainen, and child welfare expert Professor John D. Fluke.