VUB Today | Vrije Universiteit Brussel

“European trees can tell us much more about wildfires in the past”

Peter Schelkens

Research costs money, but it can also generate returns

VUB Vice-Rector Peter Schelkens: “Turning research into value is a societal mission”

Nic Van Craen en Jan Danckaert

“We need to think smarter and be more agile, rather than simply getting bigger”

Jan Danckaert and Nic Van Craen on the new General Strategic Plan (GSP6) and the next eight years

Mentale gezondheid

“We Need to Move Towards Prevention, Early Detection and Rapid Support”

WeDoMind expert centre aims to fundamentally transform mental healthcare in Europe

Hannes Van de Durpel

“The possibilities of AI for sign language are enormous, if scientists and deaf people work on it together”

Meet the VUB fellows: Hannes De Durpel of the Flemish Sign Language Centre

Not to be missed

16/11 up to and including 19/11 - 2026

Monument van troost

Compassionate Week 2026

VUB Main Campus Etterbeek

Most recent

Radio Neutrino Observatory

Science and research

Nobel Prize for Francis Halzen also honours decades of IceCube research at VUB

Troostende vrouw

Society and engagement

How do you respond to sexual abuse in your immediate environment?

Juf in de klas

“The first graduates of the Master’s in Primary Education have received their degrees, but a suitable professional status and corresponding remuneration are still lacking”

Jurgen Wayenberg draagt het dirigeerstokje over aan Charlotte Panouklia, de nieuwe dirigent van het VUB Symfonisch Orkest

VUB Orchestra opens a new musical chapter with Ardor Unis

Zoë Maebe

How do you explain chronic pain to 2,000 healthy children?

Ann Dooms

VUB-professor Ann Dooms in De Tijd

Mach

Science and research

Five talented VUB researchers win 2026 ULB-VUB Syensqo Awards

Labo

Science and research

Do not undermine the foundation of growth and productivity

Kahawa by Pamela Tulizo

Arts and culture

“My father said I couldn't become a photographer because I was a woman”

Ingrid Daubeschies

Ingrid Daubechies receives prestigious ESI medal

Stap de CAVE binnen

Science and research

FARI wins Brussels Best Smart Experience Award

VUB Bewegingswetenschapper Dirk Aerenhouts op de fiets

“Cycling is the smartest shortcut to health”

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

A study by the VUB argues in favour of a STEM policy tailored to each school

VUB research: how cities can go greener in a warming climate

Behind the Bars of Time

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

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

Helga Van Peer

Meet the VUB Fellows: Helga Van Peer, lawyer, mediator and independent director

“Echo chambers help no one. Leaders and organisations also need pushback.”

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

16/10 up to and including 18/10 - 2026

FTI Brussel: Open door @ Photonics Innovation Centre

VUB Photonics Campus Pajottegem

17/10 up to and including 18/10 - 2026

FTI Brussels: Innovation Walk @ Researchpark Zellik

Researchpark Zellik

FTI Brussels x VUB: The Soft Side of Robotics

Discover all public programme events

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