A boost for natural sciences
The Fund for Natural Sciences in Society is an initiative of alumna in experimental physics Krist'l Van Ouytsel. The Fund supports the Solvay Science project, the STEM Support Centre Brussels, and the Physics and Astronomy Department at VUB.
The Solvay Institutes
Solvay Science Project
At the initiative of Prof. Emeritus Franklin Lambert, this project—in collaboration with the Solvay family and various libraries and archives—is conducting research into the Solvay archives, focusing in particular on the Solvay Councils from 1911 to 1927, which, among other things, led to the emergence of quantum mechanics. His first book, co-authored with Prof. Emeritus Frits Berends, titled “Einstein’s Witches’ Sabbath and the Early Solvay Councils – The Untold Story,” describes the interactions among the participating renowned scientists, including H.A. Lorentz (chairman), Walther Nernst, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Max Planck, Henri Poincaré, … from which many collaborations and friendships emerged among the scientists, who often met each other for the first time there.
He published a second book, “The Solvay Science Project and the First Quantum Revolution,” together with Alessio Rocci—whose research was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship funded by this VUB Fund, thanks in part to a generous donation from Jean-Marie Solvay. The book focuses in particular on 12 renowned scientists who, thanks to Solvay’s grants, made significant advances in physics and were able to bring their ideas to fruition. His driving force led to a major achievement within the project: the awarding of the UNESCO “Memory of the World” designation to the Archives of the International Solvay Conferences on Physics and Chemistry (1910-1962), in 2023.
STEM Support Centre Brussels
STEM: “Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics” represents a different focus and a different approach to the teaching of science, technology/engineering, and mathematics. The Brussels STEM Support Center was founded on December 5, 2016, and is institutionally affiliated with the Brussels University Association. The initiative was based on a proposal by Emeritus Professor Dr. Henri Eisendrath (VUB) and Frank Noten (formerly of EhB) to support teachers in the Brussels region in implementing innovative STEM education. This proposal was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of the Brussels University Association (UAB).
Major societal problems are largely solved through an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach, and the aim is to make this clear to young people within STEM education. The various STEM disciplines and/or course content are often taught separately in schools. However, there are also clear connections between the disciplines, allowing them to be taught together or interwoven (i.e., integrated). The program is based on authentic and relevant themes that present a challenge to young people, enabling them to engage in more active and meaningful learning through research, design, and collaboration.
The Brussels STEM Support Center is led by Dr. Zino Boisdenghien and Dr. Ronny Merken and aims to help young people recognize, during their classes, the connection between the STEM disciplines and the development of a sustainable society, with a view to a challenging professional life. Various learning pathways (in Dutch) have already been developed for the first, second, and third levels of secondary education. These are currently being used in about 25 schools in Brussels by students and teachers, are freely available to all teachers, and can also be used outside of Brussels. In addition, the Support Center is looking to actively focus on other Flemish regions that are strategically important to the VUB and Erasmus University College. The Support Center collaborates with various partners in education, the education inspectorate, and various companies.
The fund aims to provide additional support to the Support Center in its activities, such as the purchase of materials needed for the learning pathways.
Het Kwantumhuis
This project is an initiative of Emeritus Prof. Henri Eisendrath and Emeritus Prof. Gaston Moens (UGent). Many initiatives are emerging to support, among other things, the teaching of quantum physics in schools. Together, they have developed the content for a digital platform called “Het Kwantumhuis.” The platform consists of eight chapters or “rooms,” each with three sections: one section that describes the basic concepts of quantum physics, a second that provides a contemporary overview of the social, economic, and cultural contexts surrounding quantum mechanical issues, and a third that offers opportunities for in-depth exploration and further study. For eight of the rooms, eight short introductory videos were presented during “Scienceville”—a science festival for children held as part of the International Documentary Film Festival Docville—and were received with acclaim.
Additional short films—“Women in Science” and “The Concept of Chance Through the Centuries”—are currently in production. The digital platform will serve as the central and guiding element of an entire quantum mechanics environment, comprising an exhibition (covering 450 m²), the book *Quantum Revolution*, and the DVD of the same name. The Fund is providing financial support for the digital development of the quantum physics platform.
To bring this digital project to fruition, 80% of the funding has already been made available through the VUB Fund for the Support of the Natural Sciences in Society. You, too, can contribute.
Donate now and make all the difference!
Donate online or by bank transfer to the account number BE51 0013 6779 3562 of VUB with the reference GIFT FO8. Donations from € 40 are tax-deductible.