Search results

Five years after its inauguration, the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Namur has been enriched by a new set of instruments unique in Belgium: a Schmidt astrograph of the Rowe-Ackermann type, 28 cm in diameter, equipped with a 62-megapixel full-format color camera. These exceptional instruments will offer the public an immersive educational experience unrivalled in the Walloon Region.

Professor Eli Thoré and Justine Bélik have just been honoured by the Adrien Bauchau Fund (FAB). Created in memory of the founder of the Biology Department at UNamur, the FAB has been promoting excellence in education and research in the life sciences since 1989.

An unusual piece of research recently mobilized teams from UNamur's Biology Department. Genetic analyses carried out by the Environmental and Evolutionary Biology Research Unit (URBE) were able to confirm the protected status of a herd of wild mouflons based in Gesves, and thus highlight the importance of saving them.

An international team of researchers has just published an article in the prestigious journal Light: Science & Applications (LSA) from the Nature group.  The teams led by Professors Michaël Lobet and Alexandre Mayer (University of Namur) collaborated with the team led by Professor Shanhui Fan, one of the leading experts in the field, from the prestigious Stanford University in California (USA).  The result: an article entitled ‘Twist-Induced Beam Steering and Blazing Effects in Photonic Crystal Devices’, or the study of beam deflection by twisting in photonic crystal devices.  Come on, let's twist light again at UNamur! 

Stanford University has published a prestigious ranking that highlights the most influential researchers in a wide range of scientific fields. The list, based on bibliographic criteria, aims to provide a standardized means of identifying the world's scientific leaders. It is one criterion among others for assessing the quality of scientific research. Twelve researchers from the University of Namur are among them!

Animated by a desire to help the most disadvantaged, Father Pedro Opeka, a Lazarist priest, devotes his life to improving the living conditions of Madagascar's marginalized populations. His strong humanitarian commitment has resulted in the creation of Akamasoa, an association that provides shelter, education and healthcare to thousands of Malagasy people. By transforming the lives of an entire community in this way, he has become a symbol of hope in a country beset by poverty.

At the University of Namur, the MyCoach scheme offers invaluable help to support students in their academic career in the sciences. Spearheaded by the Faculty through Aurélie Tacheny, this project, initiated a year ago, aims to boost student success and perseverance by integrating a personalized support approach. The scheme, which is now being assessed, is based on regular meetings and individual follow-up (four key meetings with students, at strategic moments in the academic year).

This is a fine reward for Professor André Füzfa, astrophysicist in the Department of Mathematics and head of the Astronomical Observatory at UNamur. On November 21, he received the "Coup de Coeur" award from the Trophées de Matière Grise, RTBF's popular science program 2024. These trophies aim to reward the country's scientists, who mobilize to disseminate their knowledge and insights to the general public.

The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) is an innovative course format promoted and financed by Erasmus+ funds to promote international mobility and pedagogical innovation. This type of program, combining a virtual component with short-term physical mobility (minimum 5 days), enables teachers and students to explore new teaching and learning methods while gaining international experience. At the University of Namur, the Summer School in Molecular Microbiology, organized from July 1 to 5, 2024, in the form of a BIP, is a successful example.

How does a river work? How do river overflows occur? What can be done to protect our territories from these risks? At UNamur, geography students followed an innovative teaching activity, using a 3D augmented reality sandbox, to learn about this issue. What are the aims of this tool? Simulate and analyze natural phenomena. A unique and immersive experience to better understand environmental dynamics and climate risks, carried out in collaboration with the non-profit organization Contrat de Rivière Ourthe.

Located in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar is an island with a rich natural heritage and multiple cultural influences. For over 15 years, researchers from the University of Namur have been working with a number of Madagascan universities and institutes on a variety of themes, including environmental preservation, water management and institutional capacity building. Focus on some of these projects.