VUB Fellows 2019

VUB FELLOWS 2019 ACADEMIA MEETS SOCIETY

At VUB, in the heart of the Brussels Metropolitan Region, we prepare our students for tomorrow’s knowledge economy. We stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship and openness to the world.

We want to break down walls between academia and society and build bridges that link our university to the civil society, the business community and policy makers.

Our Fellowship programme perfectly meets our aims and objectives.

Caroline Pauwels, Rector VUB

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CONTENT

Bridging the gap between academia and society

5

Arts and Humanities VUB Fellows

7

Engineering VUB Fellows

9

Psychology and Educational Sciences VUB Fellows

13

Law and Criminology VUB Fellows

15

Movement and Rehabilitation VUB Fellows

21

Science VUB Fellows

23

Solvay VUB Fellows

25

UMC VUB Fellows

31

VUB Fellows

35

VUB Fellows - Classes of 2017, 2018 and 2019

40

Honorary VUB Fellows

42

Contact 43 |3

Vicerector Hugo Thienpont

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INTRODUCTION

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND SOCIETY Since Vrije Universiteit Brussel initiated its Fellowship programme

“VUB Fellow” is the highest grade of membership at our Alma

with five Solvay VUB Fellows in 2012, the VUB Fellowship had a

Mater, a title bestowed upon unique personalities: top level

significant impact and definitely changed our university. Our VUB

business people, visionary decision-makers and socially relevant

Fellows have improved the quality of our research and our

personalities.

education, the employability of our graduates and our overall capacity for innovation and competitiveness.

This year we’re introducing 22 new VUB Fellows. In total, VUB now has 88 VUB Fellows and 90 Honorary VUB Fellows, who have

For the eight time now we are privileged to warmly welcome a

agreed to continue their commitment.

new class of VUB Fellows. They will help us to further connect academia and society.

Through the VUB Fellowship Programme, all who are involved

Vicerector Hugo Thienpont

discuss joint challenges, exchange experiences, share good

University Fellowship Coordinator

practices and learn from one another for the benefit of research, academic education and society in general.

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“The most important raw material we Europeans have - and that we should invest in - is our knowledge.

At the same time, we need innovative ideas, fresh insights, and a healthy portion of entrepreneurship.

Only this will lead to tangible, real-life applications with commercial potential that will improve the world we live in.�

Eddy Van Gelder, Chairman of the Board of VUB

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ARTS AND HUMANITIES VUB FELLOWS 2019 FACULTY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR:

MARTINA TEMMERMAN

Eva Smets

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EVA SMETS

Proxima: Anne Winter BIO: Eva Smets studied history at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, graduating in 2001, and then gained a master’s degree in human rights and democratisation at the University of Padua in 2002. Since then she has built up several years’ experience in development cooperation and humanitarian aid at NGOs including Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, CARE, Oxfam UK, Caritas International and Oxfam Solidariteit België. She has worked on lobbying international institutions such as the UN and European institutions, as well as national governments. She has also carried out fieldwork in humanitarian projects in DR Congo, Uganda and Kenya. From 2009 to 2018 she was general director of Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict in New York and since 2018 she has been general director of Oxfam-Solidariteit België.

Executive Director Oxfam-Solidariteit België

“I see a university as a critical haven. I expect academia to focus on turning our young people into world citizens, always one step ahead of the society of tomorrow and the day after. It should be a place that doesn’t shy away from radical criticism, offers innovative ideas and encourages social engagement.”

8 | FACULTY LW|ARTS AND HUMANITIES VUB FELLOW 2019

ENGINEERING VUB FELLOWS 2019 FACULTY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR:

ABDELLAH TOUHAFI

Philippe Block Véronique Wendrix

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PHILIPPE BLOCK

Proximus: Lars De Laet BIO: Philippe Block is professor at the Institute of Technology in Architecture in Zurich, where he co-directs the Block Research Group. He is also director of the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research in Digital Fabrication. He studied architecture and structural engineering at VUB and at MIT in the US, where he earned his PhD in 2009. He has lectured at top universities around the world as well as at leading engineering and architecture firms. His work was exhibited at the Design Triennial 2009 in New York and at the 2012 and 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale. Professor Block has received numerous awards and recognitions for his research, serves on the editorial boards of several international journals and is on the academic committee of the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.

Professor at ETH Zurich / Director of Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research in Digital Fabrication.

10 | FACULTY IR | ENGINEERING VUB FELLOW 2019

“The building and construction industry needs to change its outdated, slow, polluting and wasteful ways. We need to design and build better! I hope to help steer and accelerate good concepts in research to turn them into practice and bring about much-needed disruption for a more sustainable future.�

VÉRONIQUE WENDRIX

Proximus: Heidi Ottevaere

BIO: Véronique Wendrix graduated at the VUB as a civil engineer in electronics and information technology. She started her career as a researcher at ULB, where for three years she worked on bio sensors for medical applications. Véronique continued this research for four years at the German Aerospace Center in Cologne.

Now, she has been working at ABB for 14 years in several functions. First as a business controller and SOX implementer over all business processes within the company, with a sustainable transformation as result. Consequently, she became responsible for three Benelux business units, with focus on profitable growth.

In her current job as Vice-president Service Benelux manager she has the helicopter view over 20 service departments and plays a role in the European service team. Her professional motto is to strive to excellence, out of the power of all team members.

“VUB actively contributes to a better society by connecting the dots between academia and society. I fully agree that together we can influence our society much more, by bringing our complementary expertise together and by thinking in multidisciplinary teams. I am honoured and fully committed to contributing to this exciting journey as a Fellow. I will share, listen, discuss, think and act. I am convinced that we will realise fantastic things together, which will lead to faster and more sustainable innovations, adapted education, aligned research and mutual benefit, all contributing to a much better world.”

Vice-president Service ABB Benelux

FACULTY IR | ENGINEERING VUB FELLOW 2019 | 11

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PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES VUB FELLOWS 2019 FACULTY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR:

DOMINIQUE VERTÉ

Erhan Demirci

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ERHAN DEMIRCI

Proximus: Pieter Meurs BIO: Erhan Demirci began experimenting with comedy during his study years in Brussels. He made the final of the Culture Comedy Award in 2009 and took the jury prize of the 123 Comedy Award the following year, marking him out as a promising talent on Flanders’ comedy scene. He toured with comedy collective Hakims of Comedy, performing at many cultural centres in Flanders and the Netherlands. In his performances, as the son of a migrant worker, no subject is spared – not least going from a tough life growing up in a Limburg village to the even harder ‘life in the ghetto’ in Brussels. Besides politics and integration, he’s inspired by everyday Belgian life. He also does some radio and TV work.

Stand-up comedian

“For me, the most important thing comedy can do is bring people together, and show that while we’re all different, we’re also very similar. That’s what VUB stands for: bringing together its students, Brussels and its residents. Comedy and education are the most powerful weapons we have.

Let’s never stop using them!” #HumorCanSaveTheWorld 14 | FACULTY PE | PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES VUB FELLOW 2019

LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY VUB FELLOWS 2019 FACULTY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR:

GUIDO VAN LIMBERGHEN

Lola Boeykens Karl Dhont Vincent Mannaert Diana Wallis Andreas Ziegler | 15

LOLA BOEYKENS

Proximus: Wilfried Rauws BIO: Lola Boeykens studied law at VUB and has considerable experience as a magistrate in the labour courts, where she has built up a wide and in-depth expertise in social law and has become a top magistrate. She was project leader of the workload measurement project in courts and tribunals in 2008 - 2009 and became first president of the Antwerp labour court, and therefore charged with the management of the court. She was first president of the provisional College of courts and tribunals, then a member of the College. She is a member of the board and chair of the executive committee of the Association for Employment Law in Antwerp.

President of the labour court in Antwerp

16 | FACULTY RC | LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY VUB FELLOW 2019

“Throughout my career, first as a lawyer and later as a judge, I have been most grateful to my alma mater for instilling in me the importance of the guiding principle of free inquiry.

Today, I am pleased to see VUB also acknowledges the value of learning about the practice of law for law students.

A better understanding of the decision-making process and the day-to-day reality for judges and lawyers will strengthen their knowledge and comprehension of the law. As a Fellow of VUB I will gladly support and contribute to this process.�

KARL DHONT

Proximus: Michel Maus BIO: Karl Dhont is a member of the Ethics and Disciplinary Unit of UEFA in the European fight against match-fixing and sports-fraud. In this capacity he has been involved in many high-profile investigations and court-cases acting as a sports prosecutor and/or advisor. Ethics and Disciplinary inspectors investigate violations of the UEFA Statutes, regulations and decisions, and represent UEFA in all ethical and disciplinary proceedings. From time to time he gives guest lectures on matchfixing and integrity in sports. In 2015 he also became a member of the board of the National Lottery.

Member of Ethics and Disciplinary Unit of UEFA

“I am very honoured to be offered a Fellowship of VUB. ‘Academia meets Society’ could be a perfect bridge between the theory and its practical application within integrity in sports. Therefore I am convinced that through this Fellowship we will find mutual value.”

FACULTY RC | LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY VUB FELLOW 2019 | 17

VINCENT MANNAERT Proximus: Michel Maus

BIO: After studying law at the VUB, Vincent Mannaert began working as a football agent. Later he joined management bureau SEM and worked for a time for KBC, then for AA Gent president Ivan De Witte’s HR management company, De Witte & Morel. In 2007, he was appointed general manager of Zulte Waregem by president Willy Naessens and four years later moved to Club Brugge, where he became CEO. He is also a member of the board of the ProLeague. Vincent Mannaert is an important advocate for the reform of football and the development of a clean sport.

CEO Club Brugge

“Life is all about learning: new skills, new people and the dynamics between them. In the complex balance between thinking and doing, both academia and entrepreneurship are indispensable. Their mix is the oxygen of society.”

18 | FACULTY RC | LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY VUB FELLOW 2019

DIANA WALLIS

Proximi: Kim Van der Borght & Marco Giacalone BIO: Diana Wallis studied history at the university of London. She was member of the European parliament from 1999 till 2012 and vice-president of the European Parliament between 2007 and 2012. She became the first president of the European Law Institute. She has played a leading role in the development of European law, in particular in mediation and dispute resolution, and in European contract law. She strives for a strong Europe and strong regions with their own competences.

Senior lecturer Law School University of Hull

“As an educational and research university in the capital of Europe, VUB can help ensure understanding and exchange of ideas around international and cross-border law-making and democracy in a globalising and increasingly digital context.�

FACULTY RC | LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY VUB FELLOW 2019 | 19

ANDREAS ZIEGLER

Proximus: Kim Van der Borght BIO: After a career in trade diplomacy Andreas Ziegler became a professor in international economic law and environmental law at the universities of Zurich and Lausanne. He is president of the Swiss section of the International Law Association and a member of the Board of the European Law Faculties Association. Apart from his professional activities Andreas Ziegler is an advocate for gender equality and rights. He is also an expert in sexual orientation and gender identity for the Council of Human Rights of the Council of Europe.

Professor at the universities of Zurich and Lausanne

“Being an academic constitutes a unique opportunity to interact with society and to work with future generations. Creating a fairer society, questioning accepted values and working on unsolved problems are noble tasks that deserve our fullest commitment.�

20 | FACULTY RC | LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY VUB FELLOW 2019

MOVEMENT AND REHABILITATION VUB FELLOWS 2019 FACULTY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR:

ERIK CATTRYSSE

Bob Verbeeck

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BOB VERBEECK

Proximi: Romain Meeusen & Inge Derom BIO: Bob Verbeeck gained an MBA at Iowa State University and is a renowned sport manager in Belgium and Europe. He was a successful track and field athlete, making the semi-finals of the 5,000m at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and becoming European indoor champion in the 3,000m in Athens the following year.

After working at Procter & Gamble’s European Technical Center, where he was responsible for industrial purchases in Europe, North Africa and Middle East, he went on to set up a number of sports marketing agencies in Belgium and elsewhere.

He then became president of global event management at Octagon Worldwide, which later became Golazo Sports. He combines his interest in sports with an interest in marketing and management, and his ambition is to encourage everybody to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

Founder and CEO Golazo Group

“It is a tremendous honour to be able to work with VUB on the mission of a healthier and happier world.

Let’s move!”

22 | FACULTY LK | MOVEMENT AND REHABILITATION VUB FELLOW 2019

SCIENCE VUB FELLOWS 2019 FACULTY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR:

DOMINIQUE MAES

Isabelle Van der Haegen

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ISABELLE VAN DER HAEGEN Proxima: Dominique Maes

BIO: Isabelle Van der Haegen has a degree in nursing and obstetrics and postgraduated in education. She is Country Head Clinical Operations at Hoffman-La Roche Belgium where she oversees all activities concerning clinical trials in Belgium and 10 other European countries. She is one of the leaders of the EU Clincial Trial Regulation project that will be implemented in 2020. Since 1990, Isabelle Van der Haegen has been involved in the planning and execution of clinical trials in a wide range of therapeutic areas – oncology, immunology, haematology, cardiology, nephrology, infectious disease and neurology – within Europe.

Country Head Clinical Operations Hoffman-La Roche Belgium

24 | FACULTY WE | SCIENCE VUB FELLOW 2019

“I’m truly honoured to receive the VUB Fellowship recognition. I see it as a great opportunity to collaborate with young scientists and academics and share my passion to look for new and innovative ways to improve people’s health and quality of life. It is my aspiration to contribute to better knowledge of the complex environment of clinical research.”

SOLVAY VUB FELLOWS 2019 FACULTY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR:

LUK VAN LANGENHOVE

Guido Herman Emmy Oost Saïda Sakali Gilles Samyn Petra Van Zand | 25

GUIDO HERMAN

Proximus: Didier Caluwaerts BIO: Guido Herman gained his master’s in applied economic science at VUB. After his studies, he worked as an assistant at the university and carried out research abroad. He then made the move to European administration, was a hospital director and then the rail passenger ombudsman.

He is currently the federal ombudsman and chairs the Belgian network of ombudsmen. Guido Hermans has a very large network of Belgian and international senior government officials.

Federal Ombudsman

26 | FACULTY ES | SOLVAY VUB FELLOW 2019

“Our rapidly changing world, driven by science, has a clear need for the transfer of well-founded research that can give a real chance to adult, nuanced and open societal debate. Scientists who can frame signals from society provide insight and perspective, which are conditions for fairness and hope.”

EMMY OOST

Proximus: Tim Raats BIO: Emmy Oost studied language and literature at the University of Ghent and started working as a film producer for renowned Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonpez.

With her own company ‘Cassette for Timescapes’, she focuses on documentary and cross-media projects with a social or political dimension. She is also the co-founder of iDROPS, a platform for digital innovation in the cultural and creative industries and the social sector. She developed the app ‘Find Me in Kakuma’ to reunite refugee children with their parents, with research centre imec and director Lieven Corthouts, as part of their documentary The Invisible City: Kakuma, which won the Flanders Cultural Prize in 2016. Her projects have won prizes at festivals including Berlinale, Hot Docs, IDFA and Cannes, she has established international collaborations with eminent producers, and she is part of several producers networks.

“In the film industry, new ways of storytelling and distribution are opening new perspectives. Virtual reality projects and interactive web series claim their places alongside classical film, which itself is becoming more genre-fluid. Furthermore, impact producing in Belgium is a new way for film, academia and civil society organisations to work together towards societal change.”

Film producer

FACULTY ES | SOLVAY VUB FELLOW 2019 | 27

SAÏDA SAKALI

Proxima: Karen Celis BIO: Saïda Sakali has a Master’s degree in Political and Social Sciences from VUB. She works for the King Baudouin Foundation as a senior project coordinator and is also active in the cultural sector. She is a member of the board of several cultural institutions including De Buren and the AB in Brussels and De Singel in Antwerp.

Based on the motto ‘culture is everywhere’, she works on various initiatives to strengthen diversity and participation in culture.

© Photo Ahmed Bahhodh

Saïda Sakali is also co-founder of the VUB Fatima Mernissi chair.

Senior project coordinator at King Baudouin Foundation

28 | FACULTY ES | SOLVAY VUB FELLOW 2019

“For me, VUB stands for excellence in emerging topics in research linked with emerging societal issues. It stands for diversity and inclusion, adaptability and creativity, and is definitely open to innovation and ready to shape an inclusive environment in our society. The Fatima Mernissi Chair at VUB is an example of achieving an open dialogue, starting from research and achieving an open platform at a time where these spaces are very much needed.”

GILLES SAMYN

Proxima: Elvira Haezendonck BIO: Gilles Samyn is an engineering graduate of the Solvay Business School, ULB, where he has held research and teaching positions since 1969. He began his career as an advisor to the Mouvement Coopératif Belge, after which he moved to Groupe Bruxelles Lambert in 1974. He joined the Frère-Bourgeois Group in 1983, where he was managing director. He was also managing director of CNP, which for many years was listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange’s BEL20 index. He is on the Board of several quoted and non-quoted companies.

“The VUB is very close to my alma mater, ULB. As chair of Solvay Schools Alumni, I organised a merger between the alumni associations of Solvay, ULB and VUB and will help the universities to work together more. I taught at Solvay Business School for 47 years in parallel to my full-time job in the private sector. Giving back is the obvious thing to do. When you have a lot of experience, it’s normal to share it with the students.”

Former managing director Group Frère-Bourgeois

FACULTY ES | SOLVAY VUB FELLOW 2019 | 29

PETRA VAN ZAND

Proximus: Wouter Verbeke BIO: Petra Van Zand gained her master’s in applied economic science at VUB and has enjoyed a long career in the finance industry. She also took the initiative to sponsor a VUB chair Value-centric analytics for sustainable risk management with Argenta.

Before becoming Chief Data & Analytics at Argenta, she was the company’s director of credit risk policy, and before that she worked in various roles at Dexia.

Chief Data & Analytics Officer Argenta

30 | FACULTY ES | SOLVAY VUB FELLOW 2019

“To me ‘Academia meets Society’ means reflecting, inventing and working together on the topic of data science. Teaching students the endless possibilities within this field of expertise while helping them to develop their individual ethical compass. Empowering them to make conscious choices while implementing current and future technologies to the benefit of society.”

UMC VUB FELLOWS 2019 FACULTY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR:

DIRK DEVROEY

Bernward Garthoff Annemie Maes

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BERNWARD GARTHOFF Proximus: Tamara Vanhaecke

BIO: Dr Bernward Garthoff is the managing director of the biotech cluster BIO.NRW for North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He studied veterinary medicine at Hannover University and joined Bayer AG in 1976. He held a variety of major positions in research and development in the Pharmaceuticals business group, in Germany and in the US, in particular concerning the cardiovascular and biotechnology area.

In 1994, he joined the top management of Bayer’s Crop Protection business group.

He managed the integration process associated with the acquisition of Aventis CropScience and was until recently a member of the board of management of Bayer CropScience AG. He has been chair of the German Association of Biotechnology Industries, as well as a member of the private sector committee of CGIAR (World Bank) and a member of the EuropaBio board, and chair of the AgriFood Council of EuropaBio.

Managing director of the Biotech Cluster BIO.NRW

“The societal impact of intense cooperation between academia and the industrial sector, especially in the world of healthcare, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, cannot be overestimated. Areas of concern to the public can only be addressed in a joint approach. I am glad to have a chance to contribute to this process as a VUB Fellow.”

32 | FACULTY GF | UMC VUB FELLOW 2019

ANNEMIE MAES

Proximus: Marc Noppen BIO: Annemie Maes studied archaeology and art history at KU Leuven. She has worked for over 10 years in the authors right organisations Auvibel and Reprobel. She was management assistant for the distribution of private copy rights (authors, artists and editors) and then head of department distribution of reprographic rights of the right holders (authors and publishers). From 2009 till 2019 she was member of the Brussels Parliament for the Flemish Green party including 3 years as a senator. Her political interests include environment, air quality, waste management, animal welfare, mobility, cycling infrastructure, art and culture, security and police affairs.

From June 2019 she will be a honorary member of the Brussels Parliament.

“The connections between academia, policymakers and civil society are very important to me. The best decisions are made when science, knowledge and stakeholder participation are all taken into account, for the benefit of all. As a politician working on environmental issues – air quality, plastic pollution, climate change, biodiversity, animal welfare – to me the link with health and VUB’s medical department is obvious.

I am honoured by the Fellowship and will strive to further foster collaboration between academia, decision-makers and civil society.”

Former member of Brussels Parliament - Senator

FACULTY GF | UMC VUB FELLOW 2019 | 33

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VUB FELLOWS 2019 UNIVERSITY FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR:

HUGO THIENPONT

Christophe Busch Dalilla Hermans Pascale Van Damme Paul Van Gysegem

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CHRISTOPHE BUSCH Proximus: Romain Meeusen

BIO: Christophe Busch studied criminology at the University of Ghent and gained his master’s in Holocaust and genocide studies at the University of Amsterdam. He is currently finishing his PhD research into offender behaviour in collective violence.

In 2001, he began working as a criminologist in the newly created forensic psychiatric unit for the treatment of medium-risk detained persons and was later responsible for developing the forensic care circuit in Zelzate. In 2012 he moved to Kazerne Dossin, where he became operational director and then general director.

He founded the non-profit Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Education in 2007 and started in 2015 to establish a network of experts in radicalisation and extremism. He gives training courses for professionals in the police, judiciary and prison system on violent extremism and collective violence.

General director Kazerne Dossin

36 | VUB FELLOW 2019

“The human search for meaning, identity and belonging has become more difficult in the multipolar and fluid world in which we live. All our efforts should be focused on helping people to better understand this complex world, using history as an important framework of reference, and providing guidance on finding common ground and shared goals. The success of this undertaking depends on the connections we make. One of the most important connections is the bridge between the academic world and society.�

DALILLA HERMANS

Proxima: Caroline Pauwels BIO: Dalilla Hermans is a Flemish journalist, columnist and public speaker with Rwandan roots. In 2014, she rose to prominence after writing an open letter that was published in De Wereld Morgen, about her experiences of racism in Flanders. Since then she has immersed herself in the subject, making it her mission to overcome polarisation and create dialogue between people. In 2017, she published the book ‘Letter to Cooper and the World’, in which she tells her life story to her eldest son. In the same year, she became more widely known when she reached the final of the TV quiz show ‘De Slimste Mens ter Wereld’. In 2018, she contributed to the book Black, edited by Vamba Sherif and Ebissé Rouw, and published a children’s book, ‘Brown Girl Magic’, illustrated by Fatinha Ramos. She is a regular columnist in De Standaard and an editor at Charlie Magazine.

“We are living in a country with some of the most diverse cities in the world. A lot of my work is based on finding ways to navigate this new reality, by putting the needs of minorities on a par with those of the majority. VUB can be a partner in this search, by leading the way in decolonisation, anti-racism and intersectional thinking.”

Author, columnist, public speaker

VUB FELLOW 2019 | 37

PASCALE VAN DAMME Proxima: Karin Vanderkerken

BIO: Pascale Van Damme joined Dell EMC Belux in 2004 as sales director and worked her way up to become vice-president and managing director. In 2017 she was named Digital Woman of the Year during the European Ada Awards, which honours women who have distinguished themselves through their leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship, social focus and innovative discoveries and who have a positive influence on the number of women and girls in a digitally driven environment. In 2018 she won the Wo.Men@Work Award for her commitment to achieving diverse teams at all levels in the IT sector.

Vice-president and managing director Dell EMC Belux

38 | VUB FELLOW 2019

“A university like VUB acting as a hub for academia and society is a great act of responsibility that benefits our communities and future business leaders. If we want to remain successful and competitive across the many areas of opportunity we have, we need a platform to share our common challenges and best practices.�

PAUL VAN GYSEGEM

Proximus: Hugo Thienpont

BIO: Paul van Gysegem is a musician and a plastic artist. He studied painting, sculpture and graphic arts at the Royal Academy for Fine Arts in Ghent (now K.A.S.K) where he later taught sculpture and is now an honorary professor. Then he studied at the National Higher Institute of Antwerp, where he has also given guest lectures. In 1982 he became a member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts. He has been honoured with a number of prizes and awards for his painting, sculpture and graphic art, including the Flemish Community’s top culture award in 1989. Today his work can be seen in the public spaces of many cities and towns and in important museums. A remarkable facet of his personality is the way he is able to intertwine his experimental jazz compositions with his work as a visual artist.

“My engagement with VUB dates back to the 1980’s. In 1985 I made the bronze statue Enkidu that now stands in front of the rectorate building.

I made a smaller version of the statue a few years ago and gifted the reproduction rights to VUB. It’s this statue that is handed out each year to the Fellows. In the ancient Gilgamesh Epic, Enkidu is Gilgamesh’s trusted companion. Together, with almost superhuman efforts, they can perform heroic deeds, to the infuriation of the gods. Perhaps the most important theme in the story is the gradual realisation that our time and energy are limited. The two heroes continue to inspire us on our own journeys to knowledge and self-knowledge.”

Artist and musician

VUB FELLOW 2019 | 39

88 VUB FELLOWS ARTS AND HUMANITIES VUB FELLOWS

2019

Eva Smets

2018

Kader Abdolah Dirk Brossé Ilke Froyen Claire Tillekaerts (also VUB Fellow)

2017

Yves Goldstein Nic Van der Marliere (also Law and Criminology VUB Fellow) ENGINEERING VUB FELLOWS

2019

Philippe Block Véronique Wendrix

2018

Hilde Crevits (also Psychology and Educational Sciences VUB Fellow) Marc Demarche Steven Dewitte Anneke Hunninck Fauzaya Talhaoui Sven Vandeputte 40 |

2017

Marc De Groote Muzaffer Güler Ali Mohammadi Michael Peeters PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES VUB FELLOWS

2019

Erhan Demirci

2018

Hilde Crevits (also Engineering VUB Fellow) Piet Goddaer Fons Leroy Goedele Liekens

2017

Karl Dhont Vincent Mannaert Diana Wallis Andreas Ziegler

2018

Bruno Luyten Paul Friedrich Nemitz Ricardo Ramírez-Hernández Anne Vanderstappen Brigitte Vermeersch

2017

Michel De Gols Erik Derycke Chris Reniers Nic Van der Marliere (also Arts and Humanities VUB Fellow) MOVEMENT AND REHABILITATION VUB FELLOWS

Chantal Cooreman Sven Gatz Jacky Goris Patrick Van Kerckhove

2019

LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY VUB FELLOWS

2018

2019

Lola Boeykens

Bob Verbeeck

Harriët Jager-Wittenaar Jo Vander Schueren

2017

Veronique Feipel SCIENCE VUB FELLOWS

2019

Isabelle Van der Haegen

2018

2018

2017

2017

2019

Lars Bové Ann Caluwaerts An De Pauw Shada Islam Daniëlle Jacobs

Marc Ceusters Françoise Chombar Aglaée Degros James Gitundu Kairo

André Céron Tamara De Bruecker Ann Peuteman Frank Van Massenhove Vincent Verouden

2017

UMC VUB FELLOWS

Ghislain Decadt Frank De Winne Frank Vandendriessche SOLVAY VUB FELLOWS

2019

Guido Herman Emmy Oost Saïda Sakali Gilles Samyn Petra Van Zand

2019

Bernward Garthoff Annemie Maes

2018

Margot Cloet Pedro Facon Martine Huybrechts Leo Neels Frank Robben

Lutgarde Buydens Paul Callewaert Pim Drinkenburg Karine Moykens VUB FELLOWS Christophe Busch Dalilla Hermans Pascale Van Damme Paul Van Gysegem

2018

Bob Elsen Farida Lamkanfi Claire Tillekaerts (also Arts and Humanities VUB Fellow) Guy Vanhengel

2017

Bilal Benyaich Sihame El Kaouakibi Lieve Wierinck

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90 HONORARY VUB FELLOWS HONORARY ARTS AND HUMANITIES VUB FELLOWS Hans Alma Stefaan Blommaert Frans Boenders Kristine De Mulder Sophie De Schaepdrijver Paul Dujardin Faroek Özgünes Hendrik Pinxten Katleen Van Langendonck Christina von Wackerbarth HONORARY ENGINEERING VUB FELLOWS Line Alderweireldt Dirk Boogmans Marco Croon René De Keyzer Kathleen Dupont Peter Grognard Philip Hermans Pol Hoorelbeke Christ’l Joris Lieve Paternoster Yves Pianet Martine Tempels Ingrid Van de Voorde Jan Vliegen 42 |

Jan Watté Chris Wuytens HONORARY PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES VUB FELLOWS Patrick Coulier Johan De Muynck Telidja Klaï Ingrid Lieten Koen Maertens Godelieve Van den Brande HONORARY LAW AND LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY VUB FELLOWS Michèle Coninsx Patrick Hofströssler Véronique Pertry Gunther Sleeuwagen Lutgarde Sommerijns Stefan Yee HONORARY MOVEMENT AND REHABILITATION VUB FELLOWS Constantino Balestra Alain De Greef Eddy Desmedt Marc Frederix Yves Geysels

Willy Smeets David Steegen Sonia Van Den Broeck HONORARY SCIENCE VUB FELLOWS Jan Bogaerts Ingrid Daubechies Bart Degeest Patrick Roggemans Marc Schepers Jean-Marie Solvay Els Torreele Guy Van Lommen HONORARY SOLVAY VUB FELLOWS Luc Bontemps Willem Debeuckelaere Karsten De Clercq Lieven Deketele Thierry Geerts Anouk Lagae Luc Lallemand Isabelle Meunier Chantal Pattyn Nico Reeskens Micheline Scheys Michel Van den Broeck Joséphine Rebecca Vanden Broucke

Olivier Vanden Eynde Ludo Vandervelden Wim van Hees Dominique Vercraeye Xavier Verhaeghe HONORARY UMC VUB FELLOWS Luc Adriaenssens Yolande Avontroodt Maggie De Block Jo De Cock Peter Degadt Yves Desmet Dirk Dewolf Patricia Lanssiers Raf Mertens Martin Paul Johan Uvin Caroline Verlinde Ilse Weeghmans HONORARY VUB FELLOWS Els Ampe Pamela Peeters Ajit Baron Shetty Koenraad Van Loo Raymonda Verdyck

CONTACT

At the university level, the general management and common activities of the Fellowship programme are coordinated by the Fellowship Office.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel Pleinlaan 2 – 1050 Brussel +32 (0)2 629 11 83 fellows@vub.be www.vub.be/fellowship/

VUB FELLOWSHIP OFFICE Isabelle Marneffe University Fellowship manager isabelle.marneffe@vub.be +32 (0)2 629 15 42

gedrukt op FSC-papier

Hanan Belaraj Fellowship coordinator hanan.belaraj@vub.be +32 (0)2 629 11 83 | 43

VU: Marketing, Communicatie & Evenementen, Pleinlaan 2 - 1050 Brussel