Electronic Newsletter 16 February 2006
Research
First event of the Brussels International Researchers Platform, 20 February
After the first spontaneous meetings and the postdoc New Year’s reception at our
university, researchers from abroad residing at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, decided to
go on with the initiative of bringing international researchers together. Therefore we
invite all researchers (phd-students, postdoc researchers, visiting scholars…) to
participate at the first international researchers’ night at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. On
Monday 20 February 2006 Michael Gurstein, one of the founding fathers in the discipline
of community informatics, will be our guest. One of the projects he is involved in is using
networking technologies to do community building across the cultural divide between the
anglo and francophone communities in Montreal. Do we need to explicate the strong
parallels to the Belgian situation? That is why we launch a special call to the researchers
of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel also to invite domestic and international researchers of
the ULB, the French speaking sister university of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. This
must end in a splendid network!! Practical information: Monday 20 February 2006, 6 pm-
8 pm + drink afterwards, Campus Etterbeek, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Building D, room
2.01. For practical reasons we ask participants to register using the online form:
http://www.vub.ac.be/international/onlineforms//index.php?sid=2. More information (e.g.
abstract): http://www.vub.ac.be/international/, email: postdoc@vub.ac.be (International
Relations & Mobility Office). Community Informatics:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_informatics; Michael Gurstein:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gurstein
Education
Biomedical Sciences degree gets good grades
The most recent visitation report assessed the "Biomedical Sciences" degree at the Vrije
Universiteit Brussel as good in general and even gave the Master’s test an "Excellent".
The Master’s test (placement + thesis) in Biomedical Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit
Brussel is spread over a full year and the students also have the option of doing it in
English. The placements can be done in laboratories at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel or in
external labs within Belgium or overseas (within and outside of Europe). In addition, to
date an average of 26% of the final theses have resulted in a scientific publication with a
student as co-author in a peer-reviewed journal. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is the only
Flemish university to be awarded an “Excellent” for its Master’s test.
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Universiteit Gent launch joint Master’s
degree in Photonics
From 1 October 2007, the departments of Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
and the Universiteit Gent (Ghent University) will jointly offer a new Master of
Engineering degree: Photonics. A framework agreement will be signed tomorrow, 16
February 2006, by the Vice-Rectors Benjamin Van Camp and Paul Van Cauwenberge
and the Deans of the two Engineering faculties at the Paleis der Academiën in Brussels,
which will serve as a blueprint for this new interuniversity degree. This Master’s
programme is the first of its kind in Flanders.
The degree encompasses an ambitious programme of studies: it is designed to give the
student a thorough knowledge and competence in areas such as lasers, photonic materials,
and components as well as systems such as optical sensors and detectors. The courses
will cover the fundamental physics as well as the design and application of photonic
components. In addition, a wide range of fields will be incorporated into the programme
through the option of taking a significant number of elective courses – thus obtaining
what is known as a minor - in ICT, electronics, materials technology, natural science,
business administration, etc. Thanks to the extensive network of contacts in the industry
developed by faculty members such as Prof. Hugo Thienpont at the Vrije Universiteit
Brussel and Prof. Roel Baets at the UGent, the students will also have the opportunity to
do traineeships at innovation-driven companies.
International Relations
The collective recollections of Erasmus students
Future Erasmus students and accompanying lecturers can find out about former Erasmus
students’ experiences at the university where they stayed temporarily. This is thanks to
IRIS (Integrated Reporting system for International Students), a project supported by the
EU Director General for Education and Culture, that makes possible, centralises and
reports the evaluations by former Erasmus students. Since the 2004-2005 academic year
the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has also obliged its outgoing Erasmus students to compose
their evaluation report via IRIS. The exchange students that come here are also advised to
use this evaluation site. In this way we can build up a picture of the overseas experiences
and the ease with which certain services run or don’t. Where necessary certain
institutions can be avoided or the decision can be made, for example, not to continue a
collaboration with certain overseas partners. The students are asked to give feedback on
their motivation and preparation for the exchange, support and integration,
accommodation and costs, and the academic component. The evaluation reports can be
searched by guest institution, by area of study, by home institution or on the basis of
several of these criteria. Curious? Then go and take a look at the website
http://www.iris.siu.no/iris.nsf/
‘Let’s Talk session’, Thursday 16 February
In the ‘let’s talk’ sessions we discuss the diversity policy of the Vrije Universiteit
Brussel. To what extent can and should the international students play a meaningful role
in the diversity policy of the university? Guest speaker: Lief Vandeperre: Staff employee
for diversity at Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Time: 12.00-14.00h in M-015 (Etterbeek campus)
Info: international.relations@vub.ac.be
Call for participation: debates ‘EU & ME’
The British Council is organizing a series of debates throughout Europe focusing on
Identity and Culture, in order to better understand the factors influencing young
Europeans’ sense of identity. These meetings also aim to create greater mutual
understanding between young people from different socio-cultural backgrounds. The
British Council Brussels, in collaboration with European Movement Belgium, are
organizing a series of three discussions, each lasting approximately 90 minutes, focusing
on: what forges identity; the impact of cultural diversity in Belgium; the relation between
Belgium’s different linguistic communities; and the role of Europe. The first debate will
take place in Brussels on 22 February 2006 at 10.30 am and will be followed by a buffet
lunch. The other two meetings will take place in Liège and Antwerp in March 2006. A
conference will be organized in Brussels during the second half of 2006 where young
people from 10 different countries will participate. If you are a student, professional or
unemployed person, aged between 18 and 26 years old, living in Flanders, Wallonia or
Brussels and you are keen to share your ideas with other young people from different
backgrounds, send your CV and a short text explaining what motivates you. It is
necessary that participants attend the three meetings. Travel expenses will be reimbursed
by the British Council. More information: isabelle.vandegejuchte@britishcouncil.be
Miscellaneous
VubisSmart Library System launched in Nairobi University Library
On 24 January the VubisSmart library system (developed by the Vrije Universiteit
Brussel) was officially switched on in the University of Nairobi (UONBI, Kenya) by the
Vice-Chancellor of the Kenyan University. The ceremony was attended by
representatives from the VLIR (who financed the project), the project’s scientific
directors, a representative from the Belgian Embassy and dignitaries from the University
of Nairobi. This project for automating the library began in 2001. At that time a first
version of Vubis was installed on the library server in Nairobi. The library personnel then
received training in cataloguing and started with the conversion of the manual catalogue.
Now, five years on, the university library in Nairobi is prepared to meet the challenges
that necessarily come with a hybrid library.
Daniel Barenboim guest at the Paleis voor Schone Kunsten
Conductor Daniel Barenboim was recently a guest in Brussels at a concert held in the
Paleis voor Schone Kunsten. The occasion was also used to give him the honorary
doctorate that was awarded to him back in 2003 by the academic authorities. Daniel
Barenboim received the honorary doctorate for his efforts to achieve peace in the Middle
East through music. The concert and the presentation of the honorary doctorate took
place in the presence of, amongst others, the President of the European Commission José
Manuel Barroso, Rector Benjamin Van Camp and the Chairman of the Board Eddy Van
Gelder. Read more about Daniel Barenboim on his website
(http://www.danielbarenboim.com).
Personalia
Prof. Michel Defrise laureate 2005 De Boelpaepe Prize
Prof. Michel Defrise, from the Department of Medical Imaging and Physical Sciences
(BEFY) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, has received the 2005 scientific De Boelpaepe
Prize from the Royal Academy for Science, Humanities and Fine Arts of Belgium. Prof.
Defrise was awarded for his work in the area of three-dimensional image reconstruction
for positron emission tomography.
Prof. Dr. Bart De Schutter re-elected as IES chairman
Appointed by the Rector and unanimously approved by the Board, Prof. Dr. Bart De
Schutter has been re-elected as Chairman of the Institute for European Studies (IES) at
the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, for a period of 2 academic years (until October 2007).
Prof. Dr. Eric Corijn Deputy Chairman of the Regional Development Committee of
the Brussels-Capital Region
By government order Prof. Dr. Eric Corijn (Social Geography - COSMOPOLIS, City,
Culture & Society) has been appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Regional
Development Committee of the Brussels-Capital Region. The committee advises on town
planning and city redevelopment, and, in addition to independent experts, is made up of
representatives from the Economic and Social Board, the Committee for Monuments and
Landscapes, the Council for the Environment, the Mobility Committee and the Districts.
Dr Farid Dahdouh-Guebas laureate of the Dr. Edouard Delcroix Prize
Dr Farid Dahdouh-Guebas of the Biocomplexity Research Team at the Vrije Universiteit
Brussel has won the Dr. Edouard Delcroix Prize. This biennial international scientific
prize champions scientific research in the broad area of “Marine health and
environment”. Farid was lauded for the output of his research career compiled under the
title ‘Mangrove ecosystem degradation and its effects on the quality of life of coastal
subsistence communities in Third World countries’.
Isabelle Baele voted Advertiser Personality of 2005
The Union of Belgian Advertisers and the publicity journal Pub have hailed Isabelle
Baele as Advertiser Personality of 2005. Isabelle, former student in Communication
Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, started her career in the advertising world at
the media agency Mediateam (VVL/BBDO) and applied to VRT in 1992 for the job of
PR coordinator for Studio Brussel, where she’s been the net manager since the spring of
2005.
Agenda
Academics
Set of classes: ‘Radio Frequency identification’
February 16th, 8.30AM-5.30 PM- building D- room D.2.01- campus Etterbeek
Info: Instituut voor PostAcademische vorming (ipavub) – grietje.goris@vub.ac.be
0494/12.16.88
Open Session: Communities and Divides: The Dynamic of participation. Ph.D. Michael
Gurstein
February 20th, 6-8 PM, -building D –Room 2.01 (promotiezaal)- campus Etterbeek
Info: International Relations and Mobility, postdoc@vub.ac.be
PHD- defense by Charlotte Soens: ‘Modeling of substrate noise impact on CMOS VCOs
on a lightly-doped substrate’
February 24th; 4.00 PM- building D- Room D.2.01- campus Etterbeek
Info: engineering faculty- 02/629.29.01
Lecture session leerstoel Pierre-Théodore Verhaegen 2006 ‘Freemasonry and British
Radical Traditions from Carlile to Besant’
March 1st; 6 PM-9 PM - Auditorium QC - campus Etterbeek
Info: Dienst Ceremoniën - ceremonien@vub.ac.be - 02/629.22.34
Cultural activities
Talks during lunch: Lets talk about diversity. Discussion about the diversity policy of the
university.
February 16th; 12.00-2.00 PM- building M, room M.015
Info: international.relations@vub.ac.be, 02/629.23.69
Free concert: The rockweilers (band from Argentina)
February 16th ; 10 PM building Y’-Kultuurkaffee- campus Etterbeek
Info: Cultural Service- www.vub.ac.be/cultuur- nvdabeel@vub.ac.be- 02/629.23.26
Free: Open Mike with Blind alley www.blindalley.be, Static Xindow
www.fluppe.com/staticwindow en mammoeten op Kousevoeten www.mammoeten.tk
February 20th; 9 PM; building Y’-Kultuurkaffee- campus Etterbeek
Info: Cultural Service cultuur@vub.ac.be - 02/629.23.25
Free: Movies @lunch: Focus on Asia
February 21st; 12- 2.00 PM -Stoa, next to restaurant
Info: International.relations@vub.ac.be; ucos@vub.ac.be
Free concert: Tripoli (Belgium)
February 23rd : 10 PM building Y’-Kultuurkaffee- campus Etterbeek
Info: Cultural Service- www.vub.ac.be/cultuur- nvdabeel@vub.ac.be- 02/629.23.26
Free: Open Mike with ‘Les biches qui bouchent
February 27th: 9 PM - kultuurkaffee - campus Etterbeek
http://users.skynet.be/lesbichesquibougent, Prowler www.prowler.be and hume
www.geocities.com/humepage
Info: Cultural Service- cultuur@vub.ac.be - 02/629.23.25
Free concert: Dijf Sanders (Belgium)
March 1st 10 PM building Y’-Kultuurkaffee- campus Etterbeek
Info: Cultural Service- www.vub.ac.be/cultuur- nvdabeel@vub.ac.be- 02/629.23.26
Talks during lunch: Lets talk (discussions during lunch in an international atmosphere)
March 2nd; 12-2 PM: building M, room M.015- campus Etterbeek
Info: International.relations@vub.ac.be
Rock race with The Shelter Tapes http://www.thesheltertapes.be, Months Goodbye and
Minus One http://www.myspace.com/ellenacy
March 6th; 9 Pm; building Y’-Kultuurkaffee- campus Etterbeek
Info: Cultural Service -cultuur@vub.ac.be - 02/629.23.25
Varia
International Volleyball and netball competition for students at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
February 25th: 2PM-5PM: sportcenter Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Info: international.relations@vub.ac.be; esn@vub.ac.be
To do in Brussels
Einstein: A different look, interactive exhibition on the scientist and his theories from
relativity to the nature of light. Till Mai 1st
Tour et Taxis, 86 C Ave du Port (070.25.20.20)
For more information related to cultural activities in Brussels check the website:
http://www.bruxelles.irisnet.be/en/tourismeloisirs/tourisme_et_loisirs/vie_culturelle/agen
das_culturels.shtml
You can have a look in the Bulletin magazine (available at the International Relations
Office)