The Brussels Studies Institute Thesis Award goes this year to Lucas Lyko, master’s student in Urban Studies (VUB/ULB). His sharp analysis of the mobility platform Floya earns him €2,000 and a firm spot in Brussels’ research landscape.
Read the full article on BRUZZ (in Dutch)
During the ceremony at the Museum of the City of Brussels, the jury announced their choice. Fifteen strong master’s theses made the shortlist. Each project offered a fresh look at Brussels, from historic access routes to workers’ daily realities or the reuse of building materials. A snapshot of just how rich and diverse research in our city can be.
Lucas Lyko
Putting the public interest first
In his award-winning research, Lyko dives into the development of Floya, the app that aims to bring different transport modes together on one platform. A big promise. A tough challenge. He exposes how public and private players each pull in their own direction — and where the friction lies.
“Technology doesn’t automatically make everything better”
According to Lyko, such an app is never neutral. It shapes choices, can amplify inequalities, and certainly doesn’t solve everything. “Smart mobility isn’t always that smart. One app won’t magically fix our mobility problems,” he stresses.
Lyko argues that the public interest should come first. Only when you start from the realities and needs of Brussels residents does such a platform gain real value.
The jury praises Lyko’s critical approach. His work prompts policymakers to rethink the role of technology, justice and sustainability. Supervisor Wojciech Kębłowski notes that public and private actors often have completely different visions of what MaaS — Mobility as a Service — should be. That’s exactly why this analysis matters.
Silver and bronze
- Second place: Elliott Papazahariakis, for powerful research on the daily reality of migrant workers in Brussels.
- Third place: Imane Huyghebaert, who explores how recycled materials from the former CCN building find new life in the city.
Both laureates show, just like Lyko, how Brussels becomes a living laboratory for anyone willing to look deeper and ask questions.
Read more about the research and the award via BRUZZ (in Dutch): Thesis Award voor onderzoek over Floya: 'Technologie maakt niet alles automatisch beter' | BRUZZ