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The A. Thomas sj celebrates its 5th anniversary

By recreating an astronomical observatory on its campus, UNamur's ambition was to roll out an educational program open to all, enabling people to learn about science through the prism of sky observation. Five years later, the project has lived up to all its promises, and has become the driving force behind several partnerships in the field of scientific mediation.
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Antoine Thomas Observatory: School visits

Dear teachers, We are pleased to invite you to a unique educational experience at the Antoine Thomas Astronomical Observatory. Offer your students the opportunity to discover the Antoine Thomas Astronomical Observatory, an observatory built on the very site where the Jesuit fathers established their own observation, training and research dome in the 19th century. Located in downtown Namur, in the heart of the university, our observatory is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, for both night-time and daytime observation, with one of Belgium's largest solar telescopes. A visit to the observatory allows you to discover how astronomy is practiced today and - weather conditions permitting - to observe the sun in complete safety. Plan your visit today! To organize a school visit, please complete the registration form available on our website. Practical information:Guided tour 1ère to 6ème secondaire 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm or 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Faculty of Medicine - Place du Palais de Justice, Namur Gratuit - Sur inscription The observatory is not accessible to people with reduced mobility Next date:February 11, 2025This activity is organized with the support of Wallonie Recherche. Visit registration
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Event

Antoine Thomas Observatory: School visits

Dear teachers, We are pleased to invite you to a unique educational experience at the Antoine Thomas Astronomical Observatory. Offer your students the opportunity to discover the Antoine Thomas Astronomical Observatory, an observatory built on the very site where the Jesuit fathers established their own observation, training and research dome in the 19th century. Located in downtown Namur, in the heart of the university, our observatory is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, for both night-time and daytime observation, with one of Belgium's largest solar telescopes. A visit to the observatory allows you to discover how astronomy is practiced today and - weather conditions permitting - to observe the sun in complete safety. Plan your visit today! To organize a school visit, please complete the registration form available on our website. Practical information:Guided tour 1ère to 6ème secondaire 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm or 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Faculty of Medicine - Place du Palais de Justice, Namur Free - On registration The observatory is not accessible to people with reduced mobility This activity is organized with the support of Wallonie Recherche. Visit registration
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Festival International Nature de Namur: when passion for nature meets education

On the occasion of the 30th edition of the Festival International Nature de Namur (FINN), the University of Namur, partner of this event, reaffirms its commitment to environmental awareness by combining science and art. With its immersive stand in the nature village set up at the citadel, and the participation of its experts in the Focus Environnement ecological debates, the University of Namur offers an innovative look at nature through teaching. In addition, a jury of students from the Master in Cinematographic Cultures and Thought awarded the Prix de l'Environnement at the Professional Film Gala.
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Our researchers in the World's Top 2% Scientists list

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!
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Father Pedro Opeka - "Work, education and discipline are the way out of poverty".

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.
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MyCoach: personalized support for success in the Faculty of Science

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).
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Let’s Twist (Light) Again: UNamur & Stanford bend beams in photonic crystals

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! 
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The de Bergeyck collection: rare documents studied by the PraME center

As part of a research project on the medieval heritage preserved at the Moretus Plantin University Library (BUMP), the archive entrusted to it by the de Brouchoven de Bergeyck family has been meticulously studied by historian Romain Waroquier. This collection is of undeniable historical and scientific interest: hitherto unknown to researchers, it contains extremely rare documents.
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Public defense of doctoral thesis in physical sciences - Shalini Iyer

Abstract This work demonstrates that polymer-coated gold nanoparticles can function not only as radiosensitizers but also as agents for macrophage reprogramming. Specifically, we show that these nanoparticles can repolarize tumor-associated macrophages from the immunosuppressive M2 phenotype to the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype-a process further enhanced by clinically relevant doses of X-ray radiation. Among the four nanoparticle formulations tested, 50 nm PVP-coated gold nanoparticles were particularly effective in promoting macrophage repolarization and reducing pancreatic cancer cell viability in co-culture, both with and without radiation. These findings highlight a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of cancer radiotherapy. Jury Prof. Julien COLAUX (UNamur), ChairmanProf. Anne-Catherine HEUSKIN (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Carine MICHIELS (UNamur)Prof. Henri-François RENARD (UNamur)Prof. Michel MOUTSCHEN (ULiège)Dr Dimitri STANICKI (UMons)Prof. Devika CHITHRANI (University of Victoria)
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A comic book to help you understand everything about energy: an original project by an illustrator and two scientists from UNamur.

Michaël Lobet, professor in the Department of Physics, and André Fuzfa, astrophysicist and professor in the Department of Mathematics at UNamur, have just been awarded a grant from the Wernaers Fund to develop an original scientific project: the design of a comic strip that will explore all the fascinating facets of energy. Aimed at a "student" audience, it will weave the link between science and science fiction, and will be produced thanks to the invaluable pencil strokes of illustrator Jean-Marc Dubois.
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Jérôme Bouvy, Hospital philosopher

After studying philosophy at UNamur and a few years as a teacher, Jérôme Bouvy became the first hospital philosopher at the Grand Hôpital de Charleroi. His missions: to bring philosophy as a living practice to the heart of his institution's day-to-day operations, and to support workers in their quest for meaning in their work.
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