Annual Research Day
The program
2:00 pm | Keynote lecture on the use of AI in research - Hugues BERSINI, Professor at the Université libre de Bruxelles: "Can science be just data driven?" 3:00 pm | Presentations by UNamur researchers3:00 pm | Catherine Guirkinger: Use of AI in an economic history project3:15 pm | Nicolas Roy (PI: Alexandre Mayer): AI at the service of innovation in photonics and optics: revealing the secrets of scrolls through the classification of animal species15:25 | Nemanja Antonic (PI: Elio Tuci): An in silico representation of C. elegans collective behaviour<15h35 | Nicolas Franco : The benefits and dangers of "predicting the future" with covid-like machine learning models 15h45 | Michel Ajzen : Managerial and human implications of AI in organizations <15h55 | Robin Ghyselinck (PI : Bruno Dumas) : Deep Learning for endoscopy: towards next generation computer-aided diagnosis4:05 pm | Auguste Debroise (PI : Guilhem Cassan) : LLMs to measure the importance of stereotypes within gender representations in Hollywood films16h15 | Gabriel Dias De Carvalho : Learning practices in physics using generative AI16h25 | Sébastien Dujardin (PI : Catherine Linard) : Where Geography meets AI: A case study on mapping online flood conversations16h35 | Jeremy Dodeigne : LLMs in SHS: revolutionary tools in a Wild West Territory? Reflections on costs, transparency and open science16h45 | Antoinette Rouvroy : Governing AI in Democracy17h00 | Keynote lecture on ethics and guidelines to consider when using AI in research projects and writing research articles - Bettina BERENDT, Professor at KU Leuven18h00 | Benoît Frenay and Michaël Lobet : Creation of an IA scientific committee at UNamur18:10 | DrinkA certificate of attendance, worth 0.5 cross-disciplinary doctoral training credits, will be issued on request. Contact: secretariat.adre@unamur.beThis event is free of charge, but registration is required.
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New success for the Vodoun School of Economics in Benin
The Vodoun School of Economics (VoSE) in January 2025 was another success, bringing together participants from four institutions: the University of Namur, the University of Abomey-Calavi, the University of Antwerp and the African School of Economics.
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New impetus for the humanities and social sciences at UNamur
A new platform dedicated to research in the humanities and social sciences (SHS) is being launched at UNamur. The aim? To offer SHS researchers methodological support tailored to their needs and strengthen SHS excellence at UNamur. This platform, SHS Impulse, will provide various services such as financial support for training, consultancy, access to resources, or co-financed software purchases.
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Discover PC², SIAM and the new RAMAN microscope (LOS)
The program
09:30 | Welcome speech and coffee10:00 | Presentation of the platforms11:00 | Group visit of the platforms12:00 | Lunch and networking
Pysico-Chemical Characterization (PC²)The PC² platform comprises a wide range of instruments, including: liquid and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, X-ray diffractometers for single crystals and powders, instruments for analyzing textural properties (nitrogen physisorption, mercury porosimetry, etc.), instruments for analyzing chemical composition (combustion chemical analysis, ICP-OES, etc.), as well as various separation techniques (chromatography, centrifugation, etc.).), instruments for analyzing chemical composition (combustion chemical analysis, ICP-OES, etc.), and various separation techniques (chromatography, centrifugation, etc.). The combination of these techniques with the presence of two research logisticians and a technician dedicated to sample analysis, as well as highly qualified researchers for the development of advanced applications, reflects the strategic intent of this platform. Among these characterization techniques, solid-state NMR and X-ray diffraction are the most advanced and unique characterization tools.Synthesis, Irradiation and Analysis of Materials (SIAM)The SIAM platform specializes in the advanced synthesis and characterization of materials and nanomaterials. It actively contributes to fundamental research in (bio)materials science, particularly in terms of characterizing surfaces, interfaces and ion/material interactions, in collaboration with international university laboratories. SIAM's analytical capabilities enable it to study a wide range of samples from fields as diverse as materials science, life sciences and heritage science. One of SIAM's key assets is its recognized expertise in spectroscopy (XPS and ToF-SIMS), which can be coupled with nuclear analysis (Ion Beam Analysis or IBA). Thanks to state-of-the-art equipment, all support is provided by a highly qualified team in a dynamic of continuous development and innovation. As part of the University of Namur, SIAM is a privileged partner both for academic research projects and for the provision of services to industrial and institutional players.Lasers, Optics and Spectroscopies (LOS)The LOS platform is developing its expertise around optical methods for the study of materials. LOS recently acquired a Raman scattering microscope for the analysis of liquids, powders, solids and thin films, both organic and inorganic. This technique can be used to identify a sample's chemical composition and structure, as well as certain properties of the medium. Raman spectroscopy can be used to characterize polymers, nanomaterials, pharmacological compounds, geological materials, precious stones, heritage objects and food products, to name but a few. In imaging mode, this technique can map the distribution of a compound in a heterogeneous sample, as well as detect traces.
Practical information
Registration required before November 4, 2025.
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Find out more about UNamur's technology platforms
Contact
Research Administration | Business Developer - Joël Marinozzi : joel.marinozzi@unamur.be
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Methods" seminar | Computational approaches to meaning change
Semantic change, i.e. the evolution of word meanings over time, offers crucial information about historical, cultural and linguistic processes. Language acts as a mirror of societal change, reflecting evolving values, norms and technological advances. Understanding how the meaning of words evolves enables us to trace these transformations and gain a deeper understanding of our distant and recent past.This seminar explores how computational methods are revolutionizing our ability to analyze semantic change in historical texts, addressing a major challenge in the field of digital humanities. While advanced computational methods enable us to analyze vast datasets and uncover previously inaccessible patterns, few natural language processing algorithms fully take into account the dynamic nature of language, particularly semantics, which is essential for research in the humanities. As AI systems develop to better understand the historical context and dynamics of language, human annotation and interpretation remain essential to capture the nuances of language and its cultural context.In this presentation, I will show how computational and human-centered approaches can be effectively combined to examine semantic change and its links to cultural and technological developments. I will present examples illustrating how semantic change can be analyzed across temporal, cultural and textual dimensions."Methods "seminarsThe Methods Seminar is a series of seminars organized at the University of Namur with the aim of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. All seminars take place in a hybrid format.This seminar series focuses on advanced methodological approaches, particularly in the fields of natural language processing (NLP), artificial intelligence (AI), video and image analysis, and multimodal analysis.To stay informed about details of upcoming seminars, please subscribe to our mailing list below.
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Methods" seminar | Philine Widmer
More info to come."Methods "seminarsThe Methods Seminar is a series of seminars organized at the University of Namur with the aim of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. All seminars take place in a hybrid format.This seminar series focuses on advanced methodological approaches, particularly in the fields of natural language processing (NLP), artificial intelligence (AI), video and image analysis, and multimodal analysis.To stay informed about details of upcoming seminars, please subscribe to our mailing list below.
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TRANSDEM Seminar | Markus Hermann Meckl
Victimization and identity: the post-heroic society
More info to come
All TRANSDEM seminars
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Conference on Organizations in Developing Countries
Invited speakers: Manuel GARCÍA-SANTANA (Pompeu Fabra University) and Eric VERHOOGEN (Columbia University)Audience: PhD studentsCall for papers: PhD students and postdocs are invited to submit a paper by April 15, 2026. Applicants will be notified by May 15, 2026. Accepted contributions will be presented in a poster session, with a subset selected for seminar-style presentations. Please send your paper to this address: nathan.jespere@unamur.be
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Fighting disease with digital simulations
Lately, and thanks to LUMI, one of Europe's largest supercomputers, the limits of our knowledge of cell lipid membranes have been pushed back. A team of Namur researchers, including Professor Benoît Champagne and Drs. Pierre Beaujean and Charlotte Bouquiaux, has just published in the Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling. The results of this study pave the way for new approaches in the field of membrane lipid therapy.
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Guillaume Berionni Belgian representative at the European Chemical Society
One year after receiving funding from the European Research Council (ERC) for his B-Yond project, Prof Guillaume Berionni has just been named a Fellow of the prestigious European chemistry society Chemistry Europe. This distinction makes him the new representative for Belgium for a period of 2 years.
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Drawing inspiration from nature to innovate
Prof. Olivier Deparis and Dr Sébastien Mouchet (University of Namur, NISM Institute, Department of Physics) have published a book on the theme of physical optics and environmental biology. On the path of Jean-Pol Vigneron’s research, this “avant-garde” book according to Artech House, opens the door to bioinspired applications in the fields of optics, energy and the environment. Explanation.
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An innovative and multifunctional coating developed at the UNamur
This is a technical and scientific feat that has just been patented at the UNamur. Researchers from the Laboratory of Analysis by Nuclear Reactions (LARN), the Department of Physics of UNamur (NISM Institute) and the spin-off Innovative Coating Solutions (ICS) have succeeded in developing a carbon-based coating with innovative properties that can be used in a wide range of fields, including fuel cells, decoration, and mechanical parts for automobiles.
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