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Increasingly sophisticated technologies are invading our spheres of activity without our prior consultation as citizens. Shouldn't the new digital tools, artificial intelligence or technologies resulting from progress in neuroscience, which are transforming our identity and social relationships, be the subject of broad and sufficiently informed democratic debates? This question is at the heart of the international "research-action" project "A new humanism in the age of neuroscience and artificial intelligence" in which UNamur is participating.

Success for the interfaith and interdisciplinary colloquium organised by the University Chair Our Lady of Peace and the eponymous research centre, in collaboration with the Abbey of Maredsous.

A delegation from the Université de Namur took part in an exploratory mission to the Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal. The aim: to discover the research carried out in the field, meet UCAD researchers and initiate future collaborations between the two institutions.

From 17 April 2023, UNamur will host two prestigious international Francqui Chairs. Professor Timoteo Carletti (Department of Mathematics - naXys Institute) will host Professor Ginestra Bianconi, one of the leading experts on networks and high-order structures. Professor Romain Houssa (Faculty of Economics, Social Sciences and Management - DeFiPP Institute) will welcome Professor Karel Mertens, an expert in macroeconomics.

Statistics usually focus on anticipating events that fall within the norm. But what about rare events? They are dealt with by a branch of mathematics called extreme value theory, in which Anna Kiriliouk, lecturer in statistics at UNamur, is a specialist. Applied to the climate, this theory enables us to better predict extreme climatic events, at a time when these are multiplying due to climate change.

An astrophysics expert, Professor André Fűzfa (Faculté des sciences, Institut Naxys) also harnesses his scientific knowledge to take everyone on a journey into the world of the imagination, through literature. Finding Ganymede is his new novel, co-created with illustrator Fabrice Rasir, an alumnus of the Mathematics Department. A book that incorporates images generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The novel is thus a skilful blend of graphic AI, physics and fiction that helps stimulate the imagination while providing an instructive dimension.

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science proclaimed on February 11 by the United Nations General Assembly, and as part of the European alliance European Space University for Earth and Humanity (UNIVERSEH) focusing on the theme of space, discover the testimonies of four women scientists from UNamur working on astronomical themes.

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.

On 9 June 2023, the NISM and naXys Institutes, the Physics and Chemistry Departments and the Namur Research College were delighted to welcome Prof. Jean-Luc Brédas from the University of Arizona. A prestigious speaker of international renown, Prof. Brédas completed his doctoral thesis with Prof. Jean-Marie André at the University of Namur.

The European Euclid satellite will be launched into space from Cape Canaveral in the United States at 5.11pm on Saturday 1 July. The telescope is intended to provide a more accurate map of billions of galaxies over a distance of around twelve billion light years. A team of Belgian scientists and engineers from UCLouvain, ULB, ULg, UNamur and Ghent University, as well as the Space center in Liège (CSL), took part in this ten-year project, bringing together more than 3,500 people from 21 countries.

The IPCC warns of the growing impact of global warming on water, with more frequent droughts and floods threatening global supplies. By 2050, 42% of river basins will be severely affected, and flood damage could quadruple in the event of 4°C warming. Although they bear little responsibility, the most vulnerable populations suffer the worst consequences. In Wallonia, recent climatic disasters and water pollution illustrate the stakes. To raise public awareness, an event is being organized in Charleroi with debates and screenings.Program17:00 | Introductory session Head of UNESCO Belgium Mr Aurélien Dumont, Secretariat of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, World Water Situation17:40 | Screening of the film "H2O, water, life and us: the Emergency"18:30 | Break18:45 | Lectures and debate Prof. Dr. Marnik Vanclooster (U.K.). Marnik Vanclooster (UCLouvain), "Situation en Wallonnie" Prof. Alfred Bernard (UCLouvain), "Normes et toxicologie" Debate Moderated by Prof. Karim ZouaouiBouin (UCLouvain). Karim ZouaouiBoudjeltia (ULB), with the participation of Aurélien Dumont, Marnik Vanclooster, Alfred Bernard.20:30 | Cocktail dinnerGRATULAR : Registration required: f.amer@wbi.beThe members of the "exact and natural sciences" Sub-CommissionBernard Feltz (UCLouvain, Chairman), Bertrand Hespel (UNamur), Marie-Geneviève Pinsart (ULB, CIGB), René Rezsohazy (UCLouvain), Frédéric Rychter (Secrétaire général), Olivier Sartenaer (UNamur), Didier Serteyn (ULiège), Anne Staquet (UMons), Marnik Vanclooster (UCLouvain), Karim Zouaoui Boudjeltia (ULB)

Maxime Lucas is an FNRS Research Fellow in the Department of Mathematics and a member of the naXys Institute. He works on complex systems within the "Network Dynamics" cluster headed by Professor Timoteo Carletti. He is co-author of two papers on complex systems, recently published in prestigious journals Nature Physics and Physical Reviews Letters.