Why do certain infectious diseases pose a greater risk in some regions than in others? What role do urbanization, climate change, and population movements play in their spread? These are the kinds of questions that interest Catherine Linard, a researcher in the Department of Geography at UNamur. 

A geographer by training, she works in the field of health geography, which studies the relationship between health and place. “I study health, but through the eyes of a geographer. I’m primarily interested in the landscape, and I try to understand the natural and social processes that shape health in a given place.”

Her research focuses specifically on vector-borne diseases—that is, diseases transmitted by organisms such as mosquitoes. These include, in particular, malaria and dengue fever. To better understand their geographic distribution, the researcher analyzes various factors that may influence their transmission. The environment obviously plays a role, since it determines, in particular, where mosquitoes can breed, but it is not enough on its own to explain the spread of a disease. 

 “I take a fairly systemic approach. We’ll look at the environment, but also at human behavior, mobility, and so on.” Part of her research thus focuses on the impact of rapid changes in our environments—such as the rapid urbanization of the African continent—on mosquito-borne diseases. 

 This work has now received significant recognition. Starting in September, Catherine Linard will hold a three-year grant from the Francqui Foundation. Her proposal was first selected by the UNamur Research Council before being approved by the Foundation. 

This appointment will allow the researcher to be relieved of most of her teaching duties so she can devote more time to her research. This is a particularly valuable opportunity given that her daily academic life is divided between teaching, supervising researchers and doctoral students, conducting research, and handling administrative tasks. 

However, there are no plans yet to establish a specific schedule for the next three years. Catherine Linard first wants to take advantage of this newfound availability to devote more time to her ongoing projects and to mentor several doctoral students who are nearing the completion of their dissertations.

The appointment should also enable her to strengthen her international collaborations. In particular, the researcher works with Cheick Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, and plans to use these three years to deepen these exchanges and organize new fieldwork trips. In the longer term, she hopes above all to find time to explore new avenues and determine the future direction of her research. “Research is advancing at a breakneck pace. To stay abreast of everything happening in our field, we need to keep reading and following the work of other teams.” 

Catherine Linard also sees the Francqui Prize as recognition of the work she has carried out with her team and her many collaborators. She also sees it as recognition for the field of health geography, a discipline long overlooked by the general public, but whose importance was particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when understanding the geographic spread of an epidemic became a particularly critical issue. “I believe it is also recognition of the relevance of this research to society, of its ability to shed light on major and highly topical societal issues, as well as of the value of a resolutely interdisciplinary project.” 

This article is excerpted from Omalius magazine #40 (March 2026)

Launched in November 2024, the Interreg France-Wallonia-Flanders cross-border project ORION aims to develop assessment tools based on predictive modeling to better understand and manage water quality in the context of global climate change. Through a comprehensive approach, it will enable the assessment, monitoring, and even prediction of the water quality of the Meuse River and the health of its ecosystems.

The ORION consortium, led by the University of Reims Champagne-Ardennes (URCA), brings together six operators and nine partners, including universities, research laboratories, and water management agencies in France, Wallonia, and Flanders. They work within the framework of a multidisciplinary collaboration involving biology, microbiology, parasitology, ecology, ecotoxicology, chemistry, and modeling.

At UNamur, one of the consortium’s six partners, the expertise being leveraged is that of Professor Eli Thoré, a member of the Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE) within the Department of Biology and a researcher at the Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment (ILEE). Eli Thoré and his colleagues contribute in particular to the assessment of ecotoxicological risks and environmental diagnostics under real-world conditions, including in degraded environments.

This phase, which involves exposing the animals to their natural environment, makes it possible to assess the concentrations of bioaccumulated pollutants and their impact on the animals’ health. Combined with concentration measurements taken directly from the water, these innovative tools enable a reliable assessment of water quality in the Meuse River basin. 

The process begins with an assessment of potential sites using pressure maps (Meuse, Sambre, Chiers) established during the previous phase of the project. This is followed by on-site validation, which takes into account parameters such as depth, current, temperature, pH, oxygenation, and sunlight exposure. 

Throughout the process, researchers pay particular attention to ensuring the well-being of the caged animals. To reduce their stress during the three-week experiment, researchers check the stability of the riverbed and the ability to securely anchor the cages to prevent any movement. Logistical and safety criteria are also taken into account, such as site accessibility, the tranquility of the location to minimize the risk of damage, and compatibility with other sentinel species, ideally located nearby. The objective of the field survey is therefore to confirm that the sites proposed by the maps are truly suitable, safe, and respectful of animal welfare.

Once the animals have been caged and placed in their natural environment, the research moves into a diagnostic and integrative phase. The animals are collected and analyzed to determine which contaminants they have bioaccumulated and how this exposure has affected their physiological condition and health. By linking measured contaminant concentrations to biological responses, the study allows for an assessment of the actual ecotoxicological pressure exerted by the aquatic environment, rather than relying solely on chemical measurements of the water itself.

In 2017, Professor (now Emeritus) Patrick Kestemont was part of the DIADeM consortium, another cross-border project that had set itself two major objectives: 

1. To measure the effect of a cocktail of pharmaceuticals on the populations of ecosystems in the Meuse River and its tributaries 
2. To develop methodological tools for watercourse managers to improve water quality assessment.

The project was a success, as evidenced by its results: 

• Six methodological guides and a multi-species caging approach.
• A dozen scientific articles and a public exhibition featuring more than 20 panels: “The Health of Our Rivers: In Danger?”
• Strengthened collaboration between URCA, the University of Namur, the University of Liège, and various stakeholders in the water sector in France and Wallonia.

By bringing together various stakeholders and developing innovative tools, the ORION project helps protect water quality and ensure a healthy environment for everyone: local governments, public authorities, higher education and research institutions, and the general public. 

For the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2025 call, 1,616 proposals were submitted and 141 were selected, representing a success rate of 9.6%. In this highly competitive environment, the selection of three projects involving UNamur sends a strong signal: it confirms the scientific excellence of Namur’s teams and their ability to build high-level international partnerships in support of doctoral training and innovation. Six doctoral dissertations will be eligible for funding.

In many neurological diseases, both inflammation of the nervous system and imbalances in the gut microbiota are observed. GlycoAxis aims to go beyond simple correlations by identifying the molecular “messengers” that link the gut, the immune system, and the brain. The project focuses on complex sugars found on the surface of certain bacteria (glycans), which are suspected of playing a key role in immune activation and neuroinflammation. The goal: to better understand these mechanisms and pave the way for new diagnostic tools, imaging techniques, or biomarkers for brain health.

In the face of climate change, pollution, and habitat fragmentation, some ecosystems weather the shocks… while others collapse. ReDiLeep focuses on a key driver of this resilience: response diversity—that is, the fact that different species (or ecological functions) do not all react in the same way to a disturbance. The project aims to better measure and model this mechanism in order to link research more directly to the needs of conservation, restoration, and public policy regarding biodiversity.

Our digital communications rely on light: optical fibers, sensors, and photonic circuits capable of processing information. But with the explosion of data, the rise of AI, and the advent of ever-faster networks, it is becoming crucial to control light dynamically—much faster than is possible with current components, which are often “static.” SPARK is exploring a new approach: combining spatiotemporal metamaterials (nanoscale structures designed to shape light) with light that is itself “structured” in space and time. The result: reconfigurable photonic technologies for computing, imaging, and ultra-fast communications.

With a beekeeping tradition dating back several centuries, Wallonia boasts a unique network of beekeepers, educational apiaries, and local chapters that preserve a true living heritage. It is largely thanks to this strong connection between the product and its terroir that Walloon honey has joined the prestigious list of Walloon products bearing the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) label. 

“Starting in the early 20th century, the sector became more professional and dynamic, largely thanks to improvements in apiary management and honey quality,” explains Natacha Aucuit, a food history researcher who contributed to this recognition of Walloon honey.

This method, now widely used in Wallonia, produces a spreadable, creamy, uniform honey that retains its natural properties.

“What struck me as I traced the history of this product was its deeply human aspect: knowledge is passed down within beekeeping communities, from master beekeepers to apprentices, embodying the strength of a regional tradition,” notes Natacha Aucuit.

This white sausage has deep roots in the city of Liège, but it is produced throughout the province. It is at the heart of Liège’s folk traditions: “This product is usually eaten cold, sliced. It is sometimes included in the drèssêye, a typical Liège assortment of cold cuts,” explains Natacha Aucuit. 

In addition to Walloon Honey PGI and Liège White Sausage PGI, other Walloon products are the focus of the Agrilabel unit, which is responsible for the recognition process. Currently, two applications are in progress: 

• The revision of the specifications for Ardennes Ham PGI
• The Wépion Strawberry

• Florenville IGP Sausage
• Ardennes Sausage IGP
• Ardenne Collier IGP
• Ardennes Pipe IGP
• Chimay Escavèche PGI
• Gaume Sausage PGI

Founded in 2011 at the initiative of the Wallonia Public Service and supported by the Office of the Walloon Minister of Agriculture, AgriLabel assists producers in obtaining European quality labels (PDO, PGI, and TSG) or regional labels (Label Qualité Plus). This work is based on a partnership between the University of Liège – Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech and UNamur.

In this context, the University of Liège-Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech focuses primarily on product characterization and producers’ expertise, as well as the delineation of the geographical production area. For its part, UNamur is responsible for demonstrating the socio-historical link between the product and its terroir, the designation’s historical recognition, and its reputation—essential elements for the recognition of a designation as a PDO or PGI.

Natacha Aucuit, a researcher specializing in food history at UNamur and a member of ILEE and Transitions, makes a key contribution to the AgriLabel unit under the supervision of Professor Isabelle Parmentier. Since 2013, she has been working on drafting applications for the registration of designations or modifications for products such as the Wépion Strawberry or the Ardennes Ham PGI. Her role consists primarily of establishing a documented historical link between the product and its terroir, based on rigorous research and a scientific approach.