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Abstract Estrogens originating from human and animal excretion, as well as from anthropogenic sources such as cosmetics, plastics, pesticides, detergents, and pharmaceuticals, are among the most concerning endocrine-disrupting compounds in aquatic environments due to their potent estrogenic activity. While their effects on fish reproduction are well documented, their impact on development, particularly metamorphosis, remains poorly studied. This hormonal transition, mainly controlled by the thyroid axis, is essential for the shift from the larval to the juvenile stage in teleosts.The effects of two contraceptive estrogens on zebrafish (Danio rerio) metamorphosis were evaluated: 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), a synthetic reference estrogen, and estetrol (E4), a natural estrogen recently introduced in a new combined oral contraceptive formulation. Continuous exposure from fertilization to the end of metamorphosis allowed the assessment of morphological changes, disruptions of the thyroid axis, and modifications of additional molecular pathways potentially involved in metamorphic regulation.EE2 induced significant delays and disturbances in metamorphosis, affecting both internal and external morphological traits, confirming its role as an endocrine disruptor of concern. In contrast, E4 did not cause any detectable morphological alterations even at concentrations far exceeding those expected in the environment, indicating a limited ecotoxicological risk. Molecular analyses showed that EE2 strongly affected thyroid signaling and energy metabolism during metamorphosis, whereas E4 induced only minor transcriptional and proteomic changes.This study provides the first evidence that EE2 can disrupt zebrafish metamorphosis and highlights the importance of including this developmental stage in ecotoxicological assessments. The results also suggest a larger environmental safety margin for E4, although further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms linking estrogen exposure to metamorphic regulation.JuryProf. Frederik DE LAENDER (UNamur), PresidentProf. Patrick KESTEMONT (UNamur), SecretaryDr. Sébastien BAEKELANDT (UNamur)Dr. Valérie CORNET (UNamur)Prof. Jean-Baptiste FINI (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris)Dr. Marc MULLER (ULiège)Prof. Veerle DARRAS (KULeuven)

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver cancer. Unfortunately, this tumor still has a high mortality rate due to the lack of effective treatments for its most advanced or poorly localized forms. As part of a partnership with the CHU UCL Namur - site de Godinne and with the support of Roche Belgium, researchers in the Department of Biomedical Sciences are trying to understand why liver tumor cells are so resistant to treatment, and to identify therapeutic alternatives to better target them.

Trust of traditional political institutions and elected representatives, rise of authoritarian logics, definition of public services... Democracy today seems to be going through a turbulent zone. What role does the university play in this context? To shed light on this question, we interviewed four researchers from different disciplines: educationalist Sephora Boucenna, philosopher Louis Carré, political scientist Vincent Jacquet and legal scholar Aline Nardi. Their contrasting views sketch out the contours of an issue that is more topical than ever: thinking about and defending the link between university and democracy.

This is a significant honor for two members of the UNamur School of Medicine: Professor Charlotte Beaudart, who heads the "clinical research" track of the Master’s program in biomedical sciences, and Professor Jonathan Douxfils (School of Medicine, URPC – NARILIS) have just joined the College of Young Researchers of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium.

This is a great recognition of research at UNamur: three Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks (DN) projects have just been awarded, with a key contribution from researchers in Namur! The first, in chemistry, involves Professor Stéphane Vincent; the second, focused on ecosystem resilience, involves Professor Frédérik de Laender; and the third, in the field of photonics, benefits from the expertise of FNRS-qualified researcher Michaël Lobet.

The IRDENa institute invites its members and guests to present the status of their research in teaching and education on topical issues throughout the year.These seminars are held once a month, usually during lunchtime. We look forward to seeing many of you at these events, which provide an opportunity for discussion, debate, and sharing in a friendly atmosphere.

On May 12, the Institute for Research in Didactics and Education (IRDENa) at the University of Namur is organizing a seminar dedicated to a topic at the heart of current concerns in initial and continuing teacher education: training through professional practice.In a context where expectations of the teaching profession and the realities on the ground are evolving rapidly, and where policymakers are entrusting the field with a significant portion of the training of future teachers through the requirement for extended teaching placements, practical experience plays a decisive role in the development of professional competencies, professional skills, and educational approaches. This essential practice also raises numerous questions:What challenges does training in (with and through) professional practice face today?What obstacles still hinder its implementation or quality?What challenges must training institutions, partner schools, and trainers address?What concrete benefits does professional immersion offer for both aspiring and experienced teachers?To shed light on these questions, the event will feature two speakers:Catherine Van Nieuwenhoven, professor and international expert on teacher education and work-study programs;Sephora Boucenna, a researcher at IRDENa, whose work focuses on professional development through practice and the analysis of field experiences.Their combined perspectives, blending scientific expertise, institutional analysis, and a nuanced understanding of the field, will fuel a collective discussion on the levers to strengthen and the avenues to explore in order to support an ambitious, coherent, and efficient practical training program in light of current policy challenges.The program will continue with a roundtable bringing together colleagues from various universities, who will compare their perspectives on the training of internship supervisors. Their discussion will focus in particular on training needs, support models, institutional challenges, and the conditions necessary to organize this training effectively.Finally, the day will give significant attention to real-world practice through testimonials from several student teachers, who have been invited to share their experiences, their mentoring practices, as well as the tensions that arise in their daily professional lives. These accounts will help ground the discussion in the concrete realities of schools and highlight the importance of the partnership between academic institutions and K-12 education.This study day is intended for researchers, trainers, teachers, as well as anyone involved in teacher education who wishes to contribute to a shared reflection on the future of the profession. Program 8:30–9:00 a.m. – Welcome9:00 AM to 10:00 AM – Catherine Van Niewenhoven (UCLouvain) - The Role of Fieldwork in Teacher Education: Support and Professional Development10:00 AM to 10:20 AM - Coffee break10:20 AM to 11:20 AM – Research findings (Call for papers)11:20 AM to 12:20 PM - Presentation of mentor programs12:30 PM to 1:30 PM – Lunch1:30 PM to 2:00 PM - Research Incubator2:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Sephora Boucenna (UNamur) - Training through and within professional practice: what are the specific features?3:00 PM to 4:00 PM - RoundtableStarting at 4:00 PM - Closing reception