VUB Today | Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Takotsubo mainly affects women over fifty

Hannelore Van Bavel en Tmas Lazar

New VUB Members of the Young Academy 2026

Bioengineer Tamás Lázár & Social Anthropologist Hannelore Van Bavel

Jan Danckaert

VUB rector election: Jan Danckaert only candidate to succeed himself

"VUB must remain pioneering university at the heart of Europe"

Lippenstift

Vrije Universiteit Brussel linguistics professor Rik Vosters on gender-neutral job titles

The rector’s lipstick

Vera Rogiers

Where it all began: that one woman

The way up for women academics at VUB

Most recent

Infodag

VUB Open Days offer a closer look at programmes and campuses

VUB study breastfeeding and surgery: important questions often not asked

GO! Atheneum Caroline Pauwels

Fundraising event supports educational opportunities for pupils in Brussels

Studenten bezig met een examen

VUB researcher and AI expert Tim Brys calls for a slowdown

offshore wind farms

Offshore Wind Energy & Belgium: From North Sea Pioneer to Research-Driven Powerhouse

Nomena Andriantiana Tahiana

International students

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

Gevangenis

Society and engagement

Islam in Belgian prisons: VUB research nuances 'radicalisation focus'

Afwateringssloot

Can we listen to groundwater?

Onderzoek naar antibiotica

New insights into a bacterial toxin–antitoxin system may lead to alternatives to antibiotics

Dabalà_2026_NatComms_outreach_press_article_photograph_1.JPG

Science and research

Safeguarding climate-resilient mangroves requires only a moderate increase in the global protected area

Netwerkevent FARI

From AI literacy to digital autonomy: Networking events in March

2025 UZ Brussel UZ BRussel

Science and research

Iron deficiency blocks the growth of young pancreatic cells, according to a team led by VUB researchers

Featured

4 years of Danckaert: a retrospective

Raf Devos

“Some of the contacts I make may only prove useful in a few years’ time.”

4 years with Danckaert: a retrospective

Elisabeth Rabaey

“Funding through the Foundation gives researchers greater freedom”

Jan Danckaert

“We must ensure that we remain agile”

Nic Van Craen

Organising growth in times of austerity

Tania Van Loon

“At VUB, we are increasingly punching above our weight”

Read all articles in the series

Featured

Science awards VUB

VUB pionier Sylvain Loccufier in het Braemgebouw

Science and research

"My greatest contribution is that, as rector, I have been able to contribute to the university’s growth, from 750 to 2,000 students."

New science awards named after VUB pioneers: the Sylvain Loccufier Prize

Elisabeth Rabaey en Pieter Ballon in het Braemgebouw

Science and research

"Researchers who win awards become role models for others"

Ingrid Daubechies

Science and research

"I discovered mathematical formulas for wavelets, which can be used to compress images without any loss of quality"

Inge Liebaers

Science and research

“Be thorough in your research, but don’t lock yourself away in your own little corner"

Andre Van Steirteghem

Science and research

"What appeared to be a “failed attempt” in mice led to the birth of a baby"

Featured

Honorary doctorates VUB-ULB 2025

Dries van Acht lecture - Mona van den Berg & The Rights Forum (7) (3) (1).jpg

Society and engagement

Three Flemish universities honour UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese with joint honorary doctorate

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

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

Deniz Dag

International students

From Turkey to Brussels: Deniz deepens his expertise in Applied Computer Science

The world at VUB: meet Deniz Dag from Uşak (near Izmir), Turkey

Dorothea Regier

International students

From Bielefeld to Brussels: Dorothea explores languages and cultures at the VUB

The world at VUB: meet Dorothea Regier from Bielefeld, Germany

Read everything about the international students

Featured

Budget cuts

Protest VUB-campus tegen de besparingen

Protest against higher education cuts brings students together at VUB

Students voice concerns over plans that could undermine access and equal opportunities

Een lege aula

Trade unions and students will demonstrate on 11 December against budget cuts

KVAB

KVAB loses structural government funding

2022_Living Campus Walk_Koning fiets_Twee mannen op de fiets aan het Braemgebouw_Etterbeek_VUB

Flemish universities warn of severe budget cuts

De Vlaamse Vereniging van Studenten (VVS) plaatste 1.000 lege stoelen aan het Martelaarsplein als protest tegen de geplande besparingen in het hoger onderwijs

"Don’t cut corners on students’ futures"

Read all articles in the series

More features

Invisible diseases

Supercomputer

Honorary doctorates VUB-ULB 2025

New science awards

Climate

Fertility

Press

VUB study breastfeeding and surgery: important questions often not asked

Islam in Belgian prisons: VUB research nuances 'radicalisation focus'

New insights into a bacterial toxin–antitoxin system may lead to alternatives to antibiotics

More press releases

Short

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

“Knowledge Nests: VUB Brings Science into Brussels Neighbourhoods”

“VUB marks 25 Years of journalism with marathon event”

More short news stories

VUB Tomorrow, het nieuwe nieuwskanaal van de VUB

Curious about tomorrow’s world? Discover VUB Tomorrow!

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is launching VUB Tomorrow, a brand-new digital magazine that shifts the focus to the world of tomorrow. While VUB Today keeps you up to date with daily news from our university, VUB Tomorrow goes further—offering in-depth, inspiring stories about research that shapes our future.

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

GO! Atheneum Caroline Pauwels

Fundraising event supports educational opportunities for pupils in Brussels

VUB Alumni Association organises fundraiser for pupils of GO! Atheneum Caroline Pauwels

Fernando Oliva

“To become a mentor, you have to grow as a person”

VUB alumnus Fernando Oliva, elite athletics coach and mentor to Olympic athletes

Hans Moyson

“Never give up on your courage or your dreams”

VUB alumnus Hans Moyson, Media Relations Manager at WWF

Alumnus Sergiu Scolobiuc

“We must keep fighting for the European dream, just as others did before us”

VUB alumnus Sergiu Scolobiuc, Director at Penta Group

Read all stories of our alumni

In pictures: the TIER1 Supercomputer

Inauguratie Tier1 supercomputer - 27 november 2025

View more albums on FLICKR

Public programme

Events with impact

06/12 up to and including 05/04 - 2026

Exhibition | 45-65. Jan Walravens, art critic

FeliX Art & Eco Museum

05/03 up to and including 02/04 - 2026

Festival: ASAP Heartbreak

Pilar @ VUB Main Campus

Art effects: sensory education in uncertain times

VUB Main Campus Etterbeek

24/04 up to and including 29/05 - 2026

Exhibition: The Foragers

Discover all public programme events

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