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Title of the dissertation: Ion implantation in Low-E coatings Low-emissivity (Low-E) coating technology revolutionizes glass applications for windows, offering high optical transparency while reducing heat transfer. They consist of a silver-based thin film deposited on a glass panel by physical vapor deposition. However, these coatings are fragile and must be placed inside a double-glazing cavity where an inert gas resides. Otherwise, they can be easily degraded by bad atmospheric conditions.The thesis approach is to combine low-E technology with a post-treatment of ion implantation. The research question driving this thesis is: how does ion implantation enhance the durability of low-E coatings containing silver?The experiments conducted during the thesis show that implantation indeed increases the coating resistance while having a small impact on its color. However, the treatment degrades the thermal insulation properties. Hence, a series of hypotheses are formulated based on the literature to explain and control this behavior.A deeper investigation shows that implantation impacts the silver nanostructure. First by dewetting the film which allows reorganization into larger crystallites, second by forcing silver mixing at its interface through ballistic ejections. These two phenomena increase the toughness of the silver interface by interlocking effects. However, dewetting has also been linked to thermal insulation properties degradation. Nonetheless, it was shown that using light gas implantation limits the destructive effect (dewetting) while still inducing good durability (due to interface mixing).. Jury Prof. Julien COLAUX (UNamur), presidentProf. Stéphane LUCAS (UNamur), promoter and secretaryDr Amory JACQUES (Service Public de Wallonie)Dr Philippe ROQUINY (AGC Glass Europe)Prof. Rony SNYDERS (University of Mons)

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What environmental impact can a contraceptive molecule have? Recent work by Professor Patrick Kestemont, Director of UNamur's Environmental and Evolutionary Biology Research Unit (URBE) and his team answers this question, and has just been published in the journal Environment International. The article's lead author is Sébastien Baekelandt, postdoctoral researcher at URBE.

In a new publication, the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) announces the success of its pilot project. This pioneering initiative has brought together a vast collaborative network of researchers and institutions in 33 countries to produce high-quality reference genomes of 98 European species. This continental effort paves the way for a new, inclusive and equitable model of biodiversity genomics.

A 3rd-year veterinary medicine student with a passion for drawing, Élise Hottois has transformed one of the walls of the Faculty of Science into a veritable work of art.

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.

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

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

Researchers from UNamur's Departments of Biology and Physics have conducted a scientific experiment to assess the radioresistance of the common black ant Lasius niger. The results of their work have just been published in the Belgian scientific journal Belgian Journal of Zoology. The Namur-based scientists demonstrate a level of resistance far superior to that of humans. Their spontaneous approach also demonstrates a lesser-known approach to scientific research.

While still only a dream, the quantum computer is the subject of intense research. The Artemis project, funded by the European Union (EU) and involving UNamur, aims to develop new sources of single photons, and thus lay the technological foundations. A member of the project, physicist Yves Caudano hopes, at the same time, to further explore the foundations of quantum physics.

ECOBAT is an EOS project (FNRS/FWO) that brings together four universities: UCLouvain, KULeuven, the University of Bonn (Germany), and the University of Namur. This consortium currently mobilizes some twenty researchers at all levels (Masters, PhD students, post-docs, promoters), including Dr. Pierre Beaujean, under the supervision of Professor Benoît Champagne..

JuryProf. Nicolas DENDONCKER (UNamur), PresidentProf. Sabine HENRY (UNamur), SecretaryDr. Sébastien DUJARDIN (UNamur)Prof. Pierre OZER (ULiège)Prof. Emmanuel TWARABAMENYE (University of Rwanda)Prof. Caroline MICHELLIER (MRAC and UCLouvain)AbstractThis research investigates community vulnerability to landslides and floods in Northwestern Rwanda, hazards that frequently interact to produce compound disasters. The research focused on understanding the institutional, social, and structural factors that shape vulnerability and adaptive capacity in this disaster-prone region. Using a mixed-methods approach at local-scale, including institutional analysis, household surveys (n = 904), and field observations, the research highlights how vulnerability is shaped by socio-economic conditions, weak institutional coordination, and limited adaptive capacity. A Contextualized Vulnerability Index (CoVI) was developed to map vulnerability patterns, revealing particularly high vulnerability in landslide-prone and dual-hazard zones. The analysis of adaptive capacity showed that while awareness of hazards is high due to lived experiences, financial constraints, and limited technical knowledge hinder communities' ability to adapt effectively. The study contributes to the literature on social vulnerability and disaster risk reduction by emphasizing the importance of locally grounded, evidence-based strategies to strengthen community resilience in hazard-prone regions.