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Today, our planet is undergoing major climatic changes. Particularly in the face of rising temperatures, it is not easy to predict how flora and fauna will react and adapt in disturbed ecosystems. International research, in which Professor Johan Yans' team (Department of Geology and ILEE Institute) is taking part, has found some answers in fossils, which have been the memory of Darwinian evolution for millions of years. Explanations.

JuryDr. Nikolai TUMANOV (UNamur), PresidentProf. Bao-Lian SU (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Yann GARCIA (UCLouvain)Prof. Teng BÊN (Jinhua University)Prof. Guillaume BERIONNI (UNamur)Prof. Alain KRIEF (UNamur)Prof. Alain KRIEF (UNamur)AbstractPorous crystals with structural flexibility are difficult to realize because flexible molecules often rearrange or leave the lattice, leading to pore collapse. Since the early 2000s, it has become clear that combining robust intermolecular interactions with flexible linkers and deformable nodes can stabilize porous crystals during guest removal. Frameworks such as MOFs, COFs, and HOFs benefit from strong noncovalent interactions, yet permanently porous HOFs remain uncommon due to dense molecular packing.Porous organic salts (POSs) offer an alternative strategy, assembling predictable networks from oppositely charged organic ions where electroneutrality and stoichiometry guide structure formation. However, most 3D POSs rely on planar guanidinium or tetrahedral tetraphenylmethane derivatives, resulting in a narrow set of topologies compared with the thousands of 3D nets catalogued in the Reticular Chemistry Structure Resource (RCSR).Here we report triptycene-based ionic frameworks (TIFs) formed via charge-assisted ammonium-sulfonate hydrogen bonding. By tuning triptycene symmetry and functionalization, together with sulfonate linker geometry, we generated diverse supramolecular architectures with tailored porosity, stability, and function.

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..

One foot in the past, the other in the future. From Etruscan granulation to PIXE analysis, Serge Mathot has built a unique career, between scientific heritage and particle accelerators. Portrait of a passionate alumnus at the crossroads of disciplines.

A delegation from the University of Namur traveled to the Philippines in March 2026 for the inaugural symposium of the Global Research Alliance of Jesuit Universities (GRAJU). As a founding member of this new international alliance, UNamur participated in this event, which marks the official launch of a global network of Jesuit universities committed to research addressing major societal challenges.

At the Organic Chemistry Unit (UCO) of the Chemistry Department at UNamur, researchers study organic molecules with high added value.  Lionel-Marie Van Geesbergen has just started a doctoral thesis under the supervision of Professor Steve Lanners.  After only a month and a half of investigation, the PhD student already has a proof of concept.  A very promising research project with numerous potential applications! 

Abstract Since its emergence in 1996, the Asian H5 Goose/Guangdong (Gs/Gd) lineage has circulated widely in poultry in southern China, spilling over to wild birds by 2002. Wild bird infections facilitated global dissemination via migratory waterfowl and repeated spillback into poultry, challenging the view that HPAI primarily arises from LPAI mutation. Subclade 2.3.4.4b emerged in Asia in 2013, reached Europe in 2016, caused recurrent epizootics, diversified into multiple genotypes, became dominant in wild birds, and shows zoonotic potential.This thesis investigates critical knowledge gaps regarding H5Nx subclade 2.3.4.4b in poultry: (1) early within-flock spread after punctual introduction in chickens, particularly during the first European epizootics; (2) influence of pre-existing immunity on silent circulation; (3) limitations in diagnostic throughput during epizootic peaks; (4) potential of environmental surveillance, including air and dust sampling; and (5) impact on egg contamination and the reproductive tract, relevant for food safety and zoonotic risk.Four main objectives were addressed: (1) development of an experimental model simulating punctual introductions and spread, comparing 2017 and 2020 strains and assessing pre-existing immunity; (2) enhancement of diagnostic capacity via alternative sampling, semi-automated RNA extraction, and high-throughput processing; (3) evaluation of air and dust sampling for virus monitoring under experimental and field conditions; and (4) assessment of egg contamination risk. Alternative sampling and environmental monitoring were also applied to Newcastle disease virus as a comparative notifiable pathogen. Jury Prof. Catherine LINARD (UNamur), ChairProf. Benoît MUYLKENS (UNamur), SecretaryDr. Damien COUPEAU (UNamur)Dr. Jean-Luc GUÉRIN (INRAE & ENVT)Dr. Cyril BARBEZANGE (ECDC)Dr. Steven VAN BORM (Sciensano)Dr. Mieke STEENSELS (Sciensano)Dr. Bénédicte LAMBRECHT (Sciensano)

May 5, 2026 | Registration for Thibaut Septon’s public thesis defense Name First name E-mail address Will attend the reception following the defense Yes ( optional ) No ( optional ) Need a parking sticker Yes ( optional ) No ( optional ) Would like a certificate for defense assistance Yes ( optional ) No ( optional ) In order to process your request, you must complete all fields marked "optional". When you submit this form, the completed data will be transmitted to UNamur and used to process your request. Learn more about your data protection and your rights This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

At UNamur, research is not confined to laboratories. From physics to political science, robotics, biodiversity, law, AI, and health, researchers collaborate daily with numerous stakeholders in society. The goal? To transform ideas into concrete solutions to address current challenges. 

JuryProf. Nicolas DENDONCKER (UNamur), ChairProf. Sabine HENRY (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Frédéric SILVESTRE (UNamur)Dr. Sébastien DUJARDIN (UNamur)Prof. Kara PELLOWE (Stockholm University)Prof. Romain GLELE KAKAI (University of Abomey Calavi)Prof. Patrick KESTEMONT (UNamur)Prof. Eli THORE (UNamur)AbstractMangroves play an important role in environmental conservation and livelihood provision yet remain one of the most threatened ecosystems on earth. This doctoral study assesses pathways to enhance coastal sustainability in the Anthropocene, by promoting the sustainable use of mangroves and strengthening their social-ecological resilience through an interdisciplinary approach. The thesis is structured into four specific objectives: assessing the role of traditional beliefs and local deities in promoting the sustainable use of mangroves, analyzing the synergies between legal frameworks and traditional beliefs in enhancing the social-ecological resilience of mangroves, developing a novel interdisciplinary framework to evaluate the social-ecological resilience of mangroves, and operationalizing the proposed framework in Benin's mangroves, West Africa.  We collected field data using ethnobiological surveys, drone image analysis and document review, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, plant and fish inventories across three coastal communities in Benin. The study draws insights from the seven principles of resilience to analyze mangrove sustainability. The interdisciplinary methodology of this study links plant biology, fisheries sciences, and human geography to analyze mangroves as complex social-ecological systems. Findings of the thesis show that traditional beliefs and local deities play a significant role in regulating the use of mangrove resources, while the overlapping of formal and informal institutions offer opportunities to enhance their social-ecological resilience. The novel proposed framework called Mangrove Social Ecological Resilience Appraisal (MaSERA) outlines variables and indicators tailored to mangroves to assess their social-ecological resilience. Its application in Benin highlights its potential in identifying factors that enable or erode mangrove resilience, for informed decision making. The study argues that promoting the sustainable use of mangroves and enhancing their social-ecological resilience represent dual imperatives for achieving coastal sustainability in the Anthropocene. It contributes to the growing body of knowledge on mangrove conservation and provides actionable insights for integrated coastal zone management.

At UNamur, parchments are much more than objects of curiosity: they are at the heart of an interdisciplinary scientific adventure. Starting with historical sciences and conservation, the research has gradually incorporated the disciplines of physics, biology, chemistry, and archaeology.  This convergence has given rise to research in heritage sciences, driving innovative projects such as Marine Appart's doctoral work, supervised by Professor Olivier Deparis. This research has now been recognized with a publication in the prestigious journal Heritage Science (Nature Publishing Group).

A chemist by training, Véronique Steukers is now the first woman to head the global organization of nickel producers, the Nickel Institute. Her career path has taken her far from the laboratory and into the heart of an industry facing significant environmental, industrial, and social challenges. We meet her.