Search results

Practical information:💶 Admission: Free🧑 Target audience: All ages📅 Date: Friday, May 22🕙 Hours: 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM (continuous) (Except for Observatory tours by reservation)📍 Location: Cour de médecine - 3 Rue Joseph Grafé, NamurOn the programLe Confluent des Savoirs, UNamur’s research outreach and public engagement service, invites you to experience an exceptional evening at the heart of the university. Step inside spaces usually off-limits to the public and be amazed by the wealth of activities on offer.Explore the zoology collections and discover the animal world through fascinating specimens and observations. Then take to the skies with tours of the Antoine Thomas Astronomical Observatory—available by reservation only—for a deep dive into the mysteries of the heavens.At the Moretus Plantin University Library (BUMP), let yourself be swept up in a captivating scavenger hunt, following in the footsteps of two iconic figures from Namur folklore: a fun adventure blending puzzles and exploration.Also travel back in time by meeting researchers who reveal the secrets of medieval parchments. Between history and the exact sciences, discover how scientific analysis today makes it possible to identify the animal origin of these precious writing materials.Finally, delve into the heart of today’s environmental challenges with the exhibition “Sentinels in Troubled Waters.” This cross-border research project (ORION) highlights the study and modeling of water quality in the Meuse River basin in the face of human pressures and the challenges of climate change.A unique evening to explore, understand, and marvel… to the rhythm of science.Whether you’re curious, passionate, or simply looking for a unique experience, the Nuit Blanche at UNamur promises a journey rich in discoveries, accessible to all. 

Catherine Linard, a researcher in the Department of Geography at UNamur, was recognized for her work at the intersection of geography and epidemiology. This Francqui-Collen fellowship will allow her, starting in September and for the next three years, to be relieved of most of her teaching duties so she can devote more time to her research on the influence of environmental changes on the spread of infectious diseases. 

AbstractThe development of efficient heterogeneous acid catalysts is essential for the sustainable valorization of biomass-derived platform molecules. This Ph.D. thesis focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization, and catalytic evaluation of novel acidic materials for two representative biomass upgrading reactions: the ketalization of glycerol to solketal and the conversion of ethyl levulinate to γ-valerolactone. Several classes of catalysts were investigated, including Group IV metal-doped mesoporous silica nanotubes and hollow nanospheres, sulfonic acid-functionalized silica materials, and porous metal phosphonates. The aim was to establish relationships between the properties of the catalysts—in particular their acidity—and their catalytic performance.The results demonstrated that the nature of the metal cation in metal-doped nanostructured silica strongly influences catalyst acidity and reactivity. Furthermore, synthesis parameters such as the loading of the metal cation and the preparation method were shown to control the Lewis/Brønsted ratio and the strength of Lewis acid sites, allowing the tuning of catalytic performance. Materials rich in Lewis acidity preferentially promoted the conversion of ethyl levulinate, while catalysts with higher Brønsted acidity were more effective in glycerol ketalization.The introduction of sulfonic acid groups significantly enhanced Brønsted acidity and led to extremely active catalysts for solketal production. At the same time, studies on layered phosphonates highlighted the crucial role of the phosphoric spacer in ensuring material stability and enabling their reuse over multiple catalytic cycles. For amorphous porous metal phosphonates, key synthetic parameters—including acid concentration, solvent choice, and the use of a templating agent—were found to significantly influence the acidity of the materials and, consequently, their catalytic activity.Overall, this work provides valuable insights into structure-acidity-reactivity relationships and offers guidelines for the rational design of heterogeneous acid catalysts for biomass valorization.JuryProf. Jérémy DEHON (UNamur), ChairProf. Carmela APRILE (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Sophie HERMANS (UCLouvain)Prof. Damien DEBECKER (UCLouvain)Prof. Vera MEYNEN (UAntwerpen)Prof. Tatjana PARAC-VOGT (KULeuven)

The program includes presentations by experts on Raman microscopy and its applications, hands-on sessions, and a tour of the facilities.Participants will have the opportunity to interact with specialists from ST Instruments and the Lasers, Optics & Spectroscopies platform during hands-on workshops and networking sessions.This event allows doctoral students to earn 1 ECTS credit; a certificate of participation can also be issued upon request.The morning will conclude with a networking lunch, and the afternoon will end with drinks. This event is free, but registration is required.  Sign me up Download the programme

Veterinary medicine is a discipline at the intersection of medicine, biology, agronomy, and pharmacy. It focuses on the collective and individual health of farm animals and companion animals, as well as its implications for the environment, human health, and society. At the forefront of managing public health issues and monitoring infectious diseases, veterinarians are also a driving force in biomedical research involving both humans and animals. In this sense, veterinary medicine is an indispensable link in global health. 

Fostering curiosity about the Earth and the natural world: a key to meeting the challenges of tomorrow.

Mathematics, which has been developing since the dawn of time, shapes our daily lives and provides tools for the future. At the heart of the hard sciences—such as physics, chemistry, and biology—mathematics plays a vital role in a wide range of applied problems, whether in computer science and telecommunications, through discrete mathematics and algorithmics, in meteorology and space science, through the theory of dynamical systems, or in finance and actuarial science, through probability and stochastic processes. 

Learn how to address the social and environmental challenges facing our society to develop a scientific approach focused on the future and on solving societal issues!

Ever since the discovery of fire in prehistoric times, human beings have been fascinated by matter, its properties, and the changes it undergoes—whether naturally or as a result of human intervention. Now known as “chemists,” specialists in the reactivity of matter continue to pursue the art of experimentation and discovery. The products of their essential knowledge are applied in the fields of nutrition, health, hygiene, transportation, sports, construction, and environmental protection. 

Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous malignancy in which human papillomavirus (HPV) status strongly influences therapeutic response. HPV-positive tumors generally show greater sensitivity to treatment, whereas HPV-negative tumors are associated with a poorer prognosis and increased resistance. This thesis investigated how HPV status shapes cellular adaptation to therapeutic stress, with a particular focus on therapy-induced senescence (TIS), autophagy, and MMS19.HPV- HNSCC cells developed a senescence-like phenotype following cisplatin or X-ray irradiation, whereas HPV+ cells showed limited induction. Silencing of the viral oncogenes E6 and E7 in HPV-positive cells enhanced this phenotype, indicating that HPV actively modulates treatment-induced cellular responses. Proteomic analyses further identified autophagy- and lysosome-related pathways as major features distinguishing HPV- from HPV+ cells. Autophagy inhibition predominantly impaired proliferation and clonogenic survival in HPV- cells, supporting an HPV-dependent autophagy–senescence axis involved in treatment adaptation.The second part of this thesis identified MMS19, a component of the cytosolic iron–sulfur cluster assembly machinery, as a potential determinant of HPV- HNSCC resistance. MMS19 was associated with poorer clinical outcomes, while its silencing impaired proliferation and clonogenic survival, particularly in HPV- cells.Together, these findings identify autophagy-dependent remodeling and MMS19-associated genome maintenance as potential vulnerabilities contributing to therapeutic resistance in HPV- HNSCC. Jury Prof. Anne-Catherine HEUSKIN (UNamur), ChairProf. Carine MICHIELS (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Francis RODIER (UMontreal)Prof. Yves POUMAY (UNamur)Prof. Anabelle DECOTTIGNIES (UCLouvain)Prof. Marc THERRIEN (University of Montreal)Prof. Sue YOM (UCSF)

Biology is the science of life.  From the cell to the ecosystem, it studies all forms of life. It is essential for understanding complex societal issues related to the environment, health, and sustainable development. 

Physics: An Adventure of the Mind. From the infinitely small to the infinitely large, from elementary particles to galaxies, are you eager to understand the why and how of the natural phenomena you observe?  Why is the sky blue? How does an airplane take off? How does radiation therapy work? What are the effects of global warming? How can nanotechnology revolutionize telecommunications? How can we produce energy without depleting the planet?Physics answers all your questions.