For this season’s second Namur Grand Lecture Series, we are pleased to welcome Johan Yans, professor of geology at UNamur, and Tanguy Dumortier, journalist and host of *Le Jardin Extraordinaire*. The lecture will be moderated by Frédéric Sylvestre, a biology professor, as part of the department’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.

How can we better protect nature and inspire people to care for it? This lecture explores two approaches to this question. On the one hand, a sense of wonder and increased awareness can help us see our surroundings in a new light. On the other hand, scientific research allows us to better understand natural environments, their evolution, and the changes affecting them. 

Tanguy Dumortier, journalist, director, and host of *Le Jardin Extraordinaire* on RTBF, will share his experience in popularizing science and raising awareness about nature. Johan Yans, professor of geology at UNamur and president of the ILEE Institute, will discuss how research, teaching, and the dissemination of knowledge can contribute to a better understanding of our environment. These are two complementary approaches to better understanding and protecting nature. They will engage in a discussion with Frédéric Silvestre, a professor in the Department of Biology at UNamur.

The conference will take place from 8:00 p.m. to approximately 9:30 p.m.

Practical information: 

  • Monday, November 30, 2026
  • Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; lecture begins at 8:00 p.m.
  • Pedro Arrupe Auditorium (PA01), Rue de Bruxelles 65–67, Namur
  • The event will be followed by a reception

In partnership with the Point Virgule bookstore.

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