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Jury members Prof. David VRYDAGHS (President), UNamurProf. Denis SAINT-AMAND (Promoter, Secretary), FNRS - UNamurProf. Olivier BELIN, Sorbonne UniversitéProf. Anne REVERSEAU, FNRS - UCLouvainProf. Anne-Christine ROYERE, Université de ReimsYou are cordially invited to attend this defense.The proclamation will be followed by a drink at the Salle académique.

Eau-Rêka! Indispensable for life on Earth, water is one of the most essential elements on our planet, which has earned it its nickname: the blue planet. Whatever its form or state, water shapes landscapes and conditions human activities. Dive into the world of blue gold and discover the different facets of water, from its essential role in ecosystems to its sustainable and responsible use.The Printemps des Sciences is a unique opportunity to raise awareness of current environmental and societal challenges and celebrate science and technology in an educational and fun way. Water Spring 2025!In 2025, spring will be under the sign of water! Le Printemps des Sciences and Les Journées Wallonnes de l'Eau are collaborating to offer a multitude of free activities for the general public and schools during the spring.Le Printemps des Sciences: for whom?Schools: welcome school groups and teachers from Monday to Friday. School registration opens on Wednesday, January 29 at 2pm. General public: welcome families, the curious and enthusiasts on weekday evenings, Wednesday afternoons and weekends. The Printemps des Sciences all over Wallonia and BrusselsMany educational, pedagogical and fun activities are offered and hosted free of charge (workshops, laboratories, experiments, public demonstrations, shows, screenings, lectures...). School registration opens on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 2:00 pm! Le Printemps des Sciences is an initiative of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, coordinated by the Sciences.be network, organized by universities and higher education institutions. Program and registration

Depuis son inauguration en 2019, l’observatoire astronomique de l’UNamur a déployé un programme pédagogique et de médiation scientifique ouvert à toutes et à tous, avec l’ambition de faire découvrir les sciences par le prisme de l’observation des merveilles du ciel. 5 ans plus tard, le pari est réussi ! La petite équipe qui anime les lieux multiplie les collaborations et les activités proposées aux étudiantes et aux étudiants, aux écoles et au grand public. Cet automne, l’Observatoire astronomique célébrera l’empreinte durable qu’il a construite dans les yeux et les cœurs de son public en fêtant son 5e anniversaire. Une occasion de rassembler la communauté qui s’est développée autour de ses projets passés, présents et futurs ! The program 11am-4pm: Tours of the observatoryUNamur - Faculté des sciences12pm-6pm: Opportunity to visit the Stellar Scape exhibitionLe Pavillon de la Citadelle de Namur6:30pm: Academic session and receptionUNamur - Faculty of Science (S01) Requested registration via ticketweb: https://www.billetweb.fr/5-ans-de-lobservatoire-antoine-thomas

Workshops with a variety of active pedagogy themes during which your children will develop their sense of observation, analysis and critical thinking through experiments, scientific games and extraordinary discoveries. Practical Who are the workshops for? The workshops are aimed at children aged between 9 and 12. The number of children per workshop is limited to 12 to ensure optimal learning. What are the workshop themes? Workshops enable children to discover science and technology through a variety of themes: water pollution, astronomy, electricity, cinema and history. When do the workshops take place? Wednesday, October 9, 2024 - Stellar ScapeWednesday, November 13, 2024 - Tour of the astronomical observatoryWednesday, December 11, 2024 - Small travelling museum of technologyWednesday, January 15, 2025 - BeesWednesday, February 19, 2025 - Perfumes in historyWednesday, March 26, 2025 - Health of our rivers: in peril?Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - Colors in historyWednesday, May 14, 2025 - Birds and batsWednesday, June 11, 2025 - ElectricityWhat time do the workshops take place?Workshops run from2:00pm to 4:00pm with reception from 1:30pm and childcare until 4:30pm. What are the fees for the workshops? Participation in all workshops costs65€* per child (50€* for children of UNamur staff members). This price includes supervision, materials and a snack for each Wednesday. *Decreasing rate after each workshop passed.Who organizes the workshops? The workshops are organized by the Confluent des Savoirs, UNamur's research outreach and dissemination unit. The team, experts in the transmission of knowledge, works in collaboration with university researchers to offer workshops in which your children question, reflect and experiment while having fun! Workshop registration

Over 3 days, Governance Bodies meetings, Work Package meetings and social activities will be organised by Université de Namur, allowing time for networking and informal discussions to encourage "crew building". General info Where: University of Namur, Namur, Belgium Who: UNIVERSEH Community (partner universities, universities staff, students, stakeholders) and beyond (the space community) When: 18, 19 & 20 November 2024 Program Day 1: Governance sessions, workshops & side events Day 2: Keynotes, governance & work package sessions Day 3: Workshops, governance & work package sessions For any questions : universeh@unamur.be Registration details and dedicated webpage

Presentations Romain Deleu (Geology): Hydrodynamics of solute transport in karst conduits: assessment by multi-point dye tracing and numerical modellingJustine Bélik (Biology): Can DNA methylation predict the age of a self-fertilizing vertebrate species?

Characterization of trehalase from Acyrthosiphon pisum for the design of new insecticides SummaryAphids are major pests in agriculture, causing direct damage to plants and acting as vectors for phytopathogenic viruses. Conventional insecticides are widely used to control them, but their toxicity and efficacy pose problems in terms of the environment, human health and the emergence of resistance to these compounds. New alternatives are therefore needed, such as biological control using predators or parasitoids. However, these methods are not always economically viable on a large scale. As part of this thesis, another approach is being explored which involves developing new insecticides targeting the biochemical functions of aphids.The project aims to discover new inhibitors of trehalase, an enzyme essential for insect energy metabolism. Inhibition of this enzyme could disrupt vital insect functions without affecting mammals. This research involved several stages: the purification and complete characterization of trehalase from Acyrthosiphon pisum (the model for this study), the in vivo, in vitro and in silico analysis of commercial inhibitors on this enzyme, before moving on to the search for new inhibitors. Two points of integrated insect management were explored, biological and chemical control.The biological side saw the study of a strain of Streptomyces naturally producing trehalase-inhibiting metabolites, notably validamycin A, a molecule recognized in the literature as one of the best inhibitors, but not applicable as an insecticide. Other molecules appear to have interesting features, but we have not been able to isolate and characterize them.The chemical side has enabled us to create a pharmacophore hypothesis based on experimental results on molecules obtained by virtual screening. Although these molecules are not usable as insecticides as they stand, this hypothesis provides a better understanding of trehalase inhibitors in general and can be used to refine future analyses. JuryProf. Jean-Yves MATROULE (UNamur), presidentDr Catherine MICHAUX (UNamur), promoter and secretaryProf. Frédéric FRANCIS (ULiège), co-promoterProf. André MATAGNE (ULiège)Dr Rudy CAPARROS (ULiège)Dr Morgan HANS (Biocidal)

Colors - where do they come from? Did you know that the color of your favorite red candies was made from little caterpillars? Accompanied by an archaeologist, your children plunge into history as they discover the different materials behind the colors used in paint. They'll be able to try out centuries-old recipes and paint their own illuminations.Fun workshops for kids Workshops with a variety of active pedagogy themes during which your children will develop their sense of observation, analysis and critical thinking through experiments, scientific games and extraordinary discoveries. In practiceWho are the workshops for? The workshops are aimed at children aged between 9 and 12. The number of children per workshop is limited to ensure optimal learning (12 children). The workshop runs if a minimum of 5 children are registered. How do the workshops work? The workshops are held one Wednesday afternoon a month from 2pm to 4pm at the University of Namur. Participation in a workshop costs €5 per child. This price includes supervision, materials and a snack. It is possible to register your children for several or all workshops and thus benefit from an advantageous rate. Reservations close 15 days before the activity date. Please note: preferential rate for children of UNamur staff (discount code: PromoUNamur).Your children are looked after and accompanied by a team of activity leaders. Who organizes the workshops? The workshops are organized by Confluent des Savoirs, UNamur's research outreach and dissemination unit. The team, experts in the transmission of knowledge, works in collaboration with university researchers to offer workshops in which your children question, reflect and experiment while having fun! Sign up

Essay topic Essays on women's (dis)advantages in access to resources.Composition of the Jury:Prof. Catherine Guirkinger - Promoter (UNamur)Prof. Lorenzo Trimarchi - President of the Jury (UNamur)Prof. Jean-Marie Baland (UNamur)Prof. Jordan Loper (University of Clermont-Ferrand)Prof. Julia Vaillant (World Bank)

The Fête de la Musique à Namur , is just over twenty free concerts from June 20 to 23, all styles of music combined, inviting the public to wander, open-minded and curious, from a cultural venue to a garden, a courtyard, a café terrace or a store, in search of a variety of musical universes, sometimes festive, sometimes more hushed, even singular. It's a grassroots project that aims to recapture the original spirit of the Fête de la Musique: a warm atmosphere, great encounters and spontaneous sharing between musicians and audiences.On June 22, come and discover the Namur-based project Orphée.Freely inspired by the eponymous myth, this Namur-based project reappropriates the story to create an original musical form: halfway between techno, classical, ambient and field recording. It draws its inspiration from both primitive and contemporary electronic music. Electrodes that capture variations in the electrical potential of plants generate experimental, improvised music. Electricity ignites the electronic circuits of the modules, energy exalts the plants and love electrifies Orpheus. The result is unique music, powerfully organic and adventurous.Mix & Live analog visuals by Analog Memory aka François Gustin - Myth of Orpheus adapted by Julie Csik & Benoît VermerThe event is free!More information here.

Thesis subject Use of BioID within mitochondria: examples with the study of human mitochondrial co-translational import process and with the identification of MPV17 function Summary This thesis was divided into two different parts dedicated to the study of a mitochondrial process and of a mitochondrial protein using a proximity labelling assay called BioID. The first project was dedicated to the study of a poorly characterized process, the mitochondrial co-translational import. In this process, translation is coupled to the translocation of the mitochondrial proteins, alleviating the energy cost typically associated with the post-translational import relying on chaperone systems. However, the mechanisms are still unclear with only few actors identified but none that have been described in mammals yet. We thus profiled endogenously the TOM20 proxisome using BioID. Despite the enrichment of RNA binding proteins in the TOM20 proxisome, we could not demonstrate a role for a selected candidate, LARP4, in the mitochondrial co-translational import process. Nonetheless, additional uses of this BioID cell line were highlighted such as the monitoring of protein entry inside mitochondria and a potential application in the prediction of mitochondrial protein half-life.The second project was dedicated to the study of MPV17, a protein of the inner mitochondrial membrane whose gene is associated with mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. However, the exact molecular function of the protein is still unclear. The approach used in this project was to identify the interacting partners of MPV17, using BioID, to get additional clues about the protein function. In this project we demonstrated an interaction of MPV17 with the MICOS complex but the KO of MPV17 didn't impact mitochondria ultrastructure. However, the depletion of MPV17 protein led to increased mitochondria-derived vesicle formation. Therefore, we investigated a potential degradation of the mtDNA as the cause of the mtDNA depletion observed in MPV17 KO cells but, despite a higher mitophagy level in KO cells, the blockade of the lysosomal activity didn't prevent the depletion. Additional in silico analyses suggested a channel activity of MPV17 further supported by its direct interaction with the Cyclophilin D, a protein of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Interestingly, MPV17 KO cells also display higher level of mitochondrial calcium which would be related to the degradation of the mtDNA since the blockade of mitochondrial calcium entry prevents the depletion. We thus propose a role of MPV17 as a potential new member of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore whereas in the absence of the protein, the build-up of calcium inside the mitochondria would lead to the observed mtDNA degradation. Jury Prof. Benoît MUYLKENS (UNamur), ChairmanProf. Patsy RENARD (UNamur), Promoter and SecretaryProf. Thierry ARNOULD (UNamur), Co-PromoterProf. Dr. David PLA-MARTIN (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany)Dr. Timothy WAI (Institut Pasteur Paris, France)Prof. David PLA-MARTIN (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany)Dr. Timothy WAI (Institut Pasteur de Paris, France)Prof. Guy LENAERS (Université d'Angers, France)Prof. Sven EYCKERMAN (Universiteit Gent)