VUB Today | Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Ingrid Daubechies receives prestigious ESI medal

Eva Mertens, promovendus in de psychologie

Science and research

“Resilience is also a responsibility for managers”

Psychology PhD researcher Eva Mertens (VUB) investigates how the workplace influences our resilience

Noëmi Verreyen, teamcoördinator Well-being, en Elly Audenaert, coördinator psychosociale aspecten en VUB-Meldpunt

“How are you really doing at work?”

VUB launches new staff well-being survey to find out how employees are doing

Fotonica Onderzoekslab

Science and research

“Light can do much more than simply make something visible”

VUB and Ghent University celebrate 20 years of their joint master's in photonics

Moment of compassion 2022

Compassionate Week brings the VUB community together to reflect on serious illness, care and loss

From Onbespreekbaar to the Moment of Comfort: VUB creates space for conversation, connection and community | 16–19 November

Not to be missed

Who Rules The World? Techreuzen en wereldleiders

Who Rules The World? On Big Tech and Democracy | Caroline Pauwels Lecture

Most recent

Stervende senior

Science and research

665 Belgian deaths during the June heatwave attributable to global warming

Gaza

Science and research

VUB guest professor Sarah El Amouri wins Henri Rolin Prize

Michel Maus

Science Outreach

Michel Maus receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Science Communication

Climate change doubled the number of heat-related deaths in Belgium during the heatwave of June 2026

Fons Van Dyck

Society and engagement

When Political History Keeps Repeating Itself

morteratsch lander van tricht.jpg

Factoring daily weather extremes into glacier models reveals greater glacier loss and faster sea-level rise.

Ai computer hacker

Science and research

"Attackers do not always strike immediately"

Dave Sinardet

Society and engagement

On politics - The past does not follow a party program

Vrouw kijkt tv

It exists, and that is why we must talk about It

Science and research

VUB and UNamur study shows how AI agents develop their own ‘artificial natural language’ to communicate about complex data

Katrien en Virginia

Transformation at VUB: daring to build while moving forward

Solvay 1911

Science and research

“Once again, researchers whose work is worthy of a Nobel Prize will be sitting around the table”

Featured

Academic Opening 2026-2027

Ann Dooms

Does the world still need mathematicians?

Ann Dooms on AI: “The mathematician determines which new questions and structures are needed.”

Jo Caudron in AI-debat

Artificial Intelligence on Steroids

Panel Discussion Explores What It Means to Be Human in the Age of AI

Jan Danckaert

“I dream of a personalised AI tutor for every student”

Start-of-year interview with Rector Jan Danckaert

Jan Danckaert

AI-literate students who use machines critically, creatively and responsibly

Jan Danckaert’s inaugural lecture: VUB embraces authentic learning with AI

Featured

Einstein telescope

Leerling met een VR-bril

Exploring the universe through VR glasses

Exhibition at the Braem Building offers interactive introduction to the Einstein Telescope

Natuur

“We return the pumped water back to nature”

A team from the Water & Climate research group is developing groundwater models to predict the impact of this major project on the region’s water cycle

ETPathfinder

Science and research

Within ETpathfinder, the gravitational-wave observatory is being reinvented

An R&D laboratory in Maastricht is developing cutting-edge technology for the Einstein Telescope

ETpathfinder

Science and research

The economic return on the Einstein Telescope

Smart Skills Lab is preparing businesses and schools to develop technology for the Einstein Telescope

Header VUB @ FTI festival

Flanders Technology & Innovation Festival from 16 to 20 October

Meet Brussels’ tech pioneers, discover groundbreaking research, and experience how emerging technologies are shaping our future.

Featured

Science awards VUB

Vincent Ginis

Science and research

VUB researcher Vincent Ginis wins Silvain Loccufier science prize

“This award confirms that you don’t have to make choices that go against your own values”

Ellen goossens

Science and research

VUB researcher Ellen Goossens wins Liebaers–Van Steirteghem Prize

Wim Versees

Science and research

“Scientific research is always a team effort”

Willem Staels

Science and research

“A particularly meaningful award for a scientist who combines patient care with research”

Ilse Rooman

Science and research

“This award is a tremendous recognition and a real boost for new research”

Featured

Honorary doctorates VUB-ULB 2025

eredoctoraat Albanese

Society and engagement

UAntwerpen, UGent and VUB jointly award honorary doctorate to Francesca Albanese

Flemish universities crown commitment to human rights and international law

Ever Meulen, Amélie Nothomb, Stromae, Lize Spit en François Schuiten

VUB and ULB award joint honorary doctorates to Stromae, Amélie Nothomb, Lize Spit, Ever Meulen and François Schuiten

Artists who embody our capital in an exceptional way

François Schuiten

“Brussels is the matrix of my imagination”

Honorary Doctor François Schuiten on his love for Brussels

Ever Meulen

“Brussels in the late sixties was a gentle city, easy to get your head around”

Honorary Doctor Ever Meulen on his love for Brussels

Dossier

International Students

The VUBMUN team in Paris

VUBMUN Delegation wins all 5 awards at ParisMUN

VUB students among 200 students from 32 different countries

Florence studied in London with Fayat scholarship

Florence studied at University College London with a Fayat Scholarship

“I got a broader perspective from being among people from different cultures and with different views”

Nomena Andriantiana Tahiana

International students

From Madagascar to Brussels: Nomena studies a Master’s in Biology at the VUB

The world at VUB: meet Nomena from Antananarivo, Madagascar

GuilianaAllegara

International students

From Sicily to Brussels: Giuliana studies linguistics at VUB

The world at VUB: meet Giuliana Allegra from Villarosa, Sicily

Read everything about the international students

More features

Invisible diseases

Supercomputer

Honorary doctorates VUB-ULB 2025

New science awards

Climate

Fertility

Press

665 Belgian deaths during the June heatwave attributable to global warming

Climate change doubled the number of heat-related deaths in Belgium during the heatwave of June 2026

Factoring daily weather extremes into glacier models reveals greater glacier loss and faster sea-level rise.

More press releases

Short

Sunday 3 May is World Press Freedom Day. Here you can find all the winners of the Difference Day Honorary Title for Freedom of Expression.

5th annual meeting of the Belgian Society for Extracellular Vesicles January 30th, 2026

“Knowledge Nests: VUB Brings Science into Brussels Neighbourhoods”

More short news stories

Broaden your horizons, create more impact

Public programme

Campagnebeeld Zij Is Wetenschap

Science and research

‘Women Shaping Science’

VUB honours women scientists with an exhibition, article series and experts list

Timothy Snyder

Critical thinking

“Democracy does not defend itself”

Peter Singer

Science and research

Peter Singer: “For the price of a vacation, you can save lives in a poor country”

Samuel Baker

“I hope to one day return to Rwanda, when press freedom is restored”

Dood in venetie Dirk Bogarde

Arts and culture

“Acting on first impressions may seem harmless, but before you know it, you’re classifying people as safe or unsafe”

Read all the news on the public programme

Stories of our

Alumni

Juana Jimenez

“We Need to Bring People and Nature Together”

VUB alumna Juana Jimenez, International Liaison Officer at the Flanders Marine Institute

Steven Van den Panhuyzen

“As teachers, we should never underestimate our power to set things in motion”

VUB alumnus Steven Van den Panhuyzen, Youth & Education Manager at WWF Belgium

Tom Van Der Stocken, professor Ecologie en promotor OceanConnectXL

“The challenges facing the ocean require collaboration across borders and generations”

OceanConnectXL alumni network brings ocean experts from around the world to Ostend

Reusachtige brekende oceaangolven

Bringing together 40 years of ocean expertise

OceanConnectXL Alumni Event on 16 November – registration now open

Read all stories of our alumni

VUB - Academic opening 2026 - 2027

Academische Openingsceremonie 2026

View more albums on FLICKR

Public programme

Events with impact

08/10 up to and including 31/10 - 2026

EXPO | MABABU - Spirit of the Ancestors. By Pamela Tulizo

Registration closed

So, will you live an unprecedented life? | ERC Lecture by Wim Thiery

VUB Main Campus Etterbeek

Resonances | Literary and musical evening centered around Wozzeck

De Munt / La Monnaie

Dance with a Bully: Occupied Brussels in the First World War

VUB Main Campus Etterbeek

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