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At a time when misinformation, post-truths and conspiracies are undermining confidence in science, UNamur welcomes SPiN (Science & Philosophy in Namur), a new interdisciplinary research center that questions the place of science in society. Founded last September by Olivier Sartenaer, Professor of Philosophy of Science at UNamur, SPiN brings together philosophers and scientists around a common vision: to develop a critical and accessible reflection on science in all its diversity..

The University of Namur is soon to offer two inaugural lessons for two Francqui Chairs, one in the Faculty of Science and the other in the Faculty of Law. Open to all, the inaugural lectures will be followed by a local drink. These events are free, upon registration.

Program 12:45 | Welcome13:00 - 13:10 | Introduction by the Center's Co-Directors: Stéphanie Wattier and Géraldine Mathieu:Combating sexual violence - Legal approaches13:10 - 14:00 | FIRST ROUND TABLE: SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDRENModerator : Nathalie Colette-Basecqz (professor at UNamur)The sexual self-determination of online minors in the light of their vulnerability | Géraldine Mathieu (professor at UNamur), Emma Bourcelet (assistant at UNamur)Child sexual assault allegations and civil accommodation litigation | Michaël Mallien (lecturer at UNamur), Céline Derclaye (assistant at UNamur) and Pauline Mailleux (assistant at UNamur)Sexual violence committed by members of the Church | Stéphanie Wattier (professor at UNamur) and Romain Mertens (lecturer at UNamur)14:05- 14h55 | SECOND ROUND TABLE: SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST OTHER VULNERABLE PERSONSModerator: Stéphanie Wattier (professor at UNamur)La libération de la parole des personnes en situation de handicap victimes de violences sexuelles | Justine Dehon (coordinatrice et chargée de projets pour le service Handicap & Santé)Les violences sexuelles à l'égard des personnes âgées | Albert Evrard (lecturer at the Institut catholique de Toulouse)The administrative approach to sexual violence on higher education campuses from a disciplinary angle | Marc Nihoul (professor at UNamur)Sexual violence committed during the Rwandan genocide: 30 years later, new convictions by the Brussels Assize Court | Elise Delhaise (lecturer at UNamur)Obstetric violence and the question of consent | Charlotte Lambert (assistant at UNamur) and Margaux Thiry (assistant at UNamur)The assessment of physical injury to victims of sexual violence | Pauline Colson (lecturer at UNamur)3:00 pm | Coffee breakcafé15h20 | THIRD ROUND TABLE: COMBATTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON THE GROUND TESTIMONIALSModerator: Géraldine Mathieu (professor at UNamur)Introduction to psycho-traumatic mechanisms linked to sexual violence | Gwendoline Faravel (project manager and peer-aidante) et Céline Campanella (psychologue)Présentation de la Lawyers Victim assistance | Pascale Poncin (avocate) 17h10 | Conclusions17h25 | Verre de l'amitiéInfos pratiquesLa demande d'intervention pour les frais des magistrats a été introduite auprès de l'IFJ (en cours).- €95.00 incl. VAT: conference registration with book - Free registration for UNamur students and members I want to register

Registration form - Public defense of thesis - Guillaume Maître Name First name Email address Will attend the reception following the defense Yes ( optional ) No ( optional ) Would like a parking sticker Yes ( optional ) No ( optional ) Would like a certificate for defense assistance Yes ( optional ) No ( optional ) In order to process your request, all fields marked as "mandatory" must be completed. When you submit this form, the information you have entered will be sent to UNamur and used to respond to your request. For more information about data protection and your rights, please visit This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

JuryProf. Guillaume BERIONNI (UNamur), PresidentProf. Stéphane VINCENT (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Carmen GALAN (University of Bristol)Dr. Louis FENSTERBANK (Collège de France)Prof. Raphaël ROBIETTE (Université catholique de Louvain)AbstractCarboxylic acids are ubiquitous in nature and inexpensive compounds. Decarboxylation has become a key chemical transformation and has been widely reported in organic chemistry except for carbohydrates. This reaction can be catalyzed by transition metal and can also be induced by light, thermal activation, or photocatalysis. Borylated compounds have stimulated the pharmaceutical industry's interest (Boromycin, Bortezomib or boron neutron capture therapy). Recent methodologies have been developed to transform carboxylic acids to boronate esters by metal-catalyzed or light-promoted or photocatalyzed reactions. In this thesis, we explored the synthesis of borylated carbohydrates through a decarboxylation pathway. More specifically, sialic acids being among the most important carbohydrates in glycobiology, we addressed the problem of the synthesis of borylated sialic acids. On the other hand, organophosphates play an important role in diverse fields: in materials chemistry, in agriculture, in organic chemistry, and in biochemistry. Phosphorylation is a key reaction in biological processes such as signal transduction and cell activity regulation. The formation of phosphorylated carbohydrates has been widely described through two-electron mechanisms. However, radical phosphorylation of carbohydrates remains unexplored. This Ph.D. thesis describes the development of new methodologies for the decarboxylative functionalization of carbohydrates, focusing on borylation and phosphorylation..

On November 18, 2025, the Faculty of Law organized the fourth edition of its traditional criminal law mock trial. Seven students, from the daytime and staggered schedules, donned their gowns to embody the various players in a trial devoted to a case of illegal rave party in the middle of a protected natural area. Pleadings and indictments were the order of the day. It was also an opportunity to recall how environmental criminal law protects nature, and to discover criminal justice a little more closely.

In recent years, public debate has been regularly disrupted by various attempts to distort "information." While this phenomenon is as old as information itself, digital technology, the powerful interactivity offered by online platforms, and recent developments in generative artificial intelligence have given it a whole new dimension. Manipulated online information spreads virally, reaching internet users around the world in a matter of minutes. It poses serious risks to society and threatens democracy and the rule of law. To see this, one need only recall events such as the US and French presidential elections, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the terrorist attack at the Nova festival in 2023, and the war in Gaza.  Faced with this phenomenon, actors from all sectors have been mobilizing for several years. This conference offers a legal perspective on the manipulation of online information in relation to freedom of expression and the right to information from the point of view of European law. It focuses, on the one hand, on the response of the European Union legislator to combat online disinformation and, on the other hand, on mechanisms for protecting "quality" information.Free admission.

Our keynote speakers for 2026 are Professor Roosmarijn Vandenbroucke (Ghent University) and Professor Nelly Litvak (Eindhoven University of Technology). More information on the "Women in Science" website

The F.R.S.-FNRS has just published the results of its various 2025 calls for proposals. These include the "Credits & Projects" and "WelCHANGE" calls, as well as the "FRIA" (Fund for Research Training in Industry and Agriculture) and "FRESH" (Fund for Research in the Humanities) calls, which aim to support doctoral theses. What are the results for UNamur? Twenty-eight projects have been selected, demonstrating the quality and richness of research at UNamur. 

This preregistration would result in an adjustment to the PAE without prejudice to the procedure to be followed to validate this eventual registration.

Terminator to talk about AI? Wall-E to talk about technological dependence? The Truman Show to discuss social media? In a new book, two professors from UNamur, Anthony Simonofski (digital transformation—EMCP Faculty—NaDI Institute) and Benoît Vanderose (software engineering—Faculty of Computer Science—NaDI Institute), take readers on a journey at the crossroads of digital technology and cinematic imagination. 

Can we still speak of democracy when algorithms influence our electoral choices or participate in the drafting of laws? This topic is explored by Aline Nardi, researcher at the Faculty of Law and member of the Namur Digital Institute (NADI).