This list, created by Stanford University and published in August 2024 is compiled in collaboration with Elsevier's ICST lab from Scopus data, aims to provide a standardized means of identifying the world's best scientists and recognizing those scientists who have had a significant impact on their respective fields.

While this list has been adopted by many institutions as a reliable measure of research impact, it is not the only way to evaluate research. Based strictly on bibliometric data, it is also subject to criticism.

Since September 2023, the University of Namur has been strengthening its commitment to the implementation of research assessment reform with the signing of the "Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) "agreement.

This agreement commits the institution to a series of principles, including taking into account career diversity and emphasizing qualitative research criteria rather than relying solely on bibliometric (and therefore quantitative) data.

• Charlotte Beaudart - Faculty of Medicine, Narilis Institute
• Benoît Champagne - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
• Alain Decrop - EMCP Faculty, NaDi-CRIDS Institute
• Olivier Deparis - Science Faculty, NISM Institute and PaTHs Institute
• Jonathan Douxfils - Faculty of Medicine, Narilis Institute
• Patrick Kestemont - Faculty of Science, ILEE Institute
• Alexandre Mayer - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute and Institut naXys
• Carine Michiels - Faculty of Science, Institut Narilis
• Antoinette Rouvroy - Faculty of Law, ESPHIN Institutes and NaDi-CRIDS Institute
• Frédéric Silvestre - Faculty of Science, ILEE Institute
• Bao-Lian Su - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
• Johan Wouters - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute

The list is updated every year, with data on the whole career and impacts on a single year, for the sake of transparency and relevance.

A variety of bibliometric measures are taken into account to ensure a fair and balanced representation of researchers' work.

• The C-score: this composite score is based on various bibliometric factors, including the total number of citations.
• The h-index: this impact indicator takes into account the number of a researcher's publications as well as the number of their citations.
• The percentiles of fields and subfields : scientists are classified into 22 major fields and 176 subfields. Only those who rank in the top 2% of their subfield are taken into account.
• Career-wide or single-year impact: rankings are available for both career-wide impact and single-year performance, providing a better understanding of long-term contribution and recent achievements.

Figuring among this top 2% of scientists is therefore a prestigious recognition of an individual's contribution to science and demonstrates the excellence of their research, enhancing their reputation in academia and industry.

The ranking offers visibility across all disciplines, drawing attention to work that might otherwise remain in a niche or be under-appreciated. It also serves as a benchmark for institutions and governments to assess the influence of their research programs.

Many institutions use the ranking to measure the success of their faculty, or other entity, which can also enhance credibility within the academic community.

This list encourages scientists to focus on producing high-quality, impactful research rather than chasing quantity.

By compiling data from all scientific fields and offering a fair, metrics-based approach, this ranking not only celebrates individual achievements, but also highlights the importance of impactful research in advancing knowledge. However, it must be qualified, as it only takes into account quantitative data, which are not necessarily representative of the full diversity of research.

According to another database, that of UNESCO, the number of researchers in the world is increasing by 300,000 per year, reaching 9 million today. The Top 2% comprises 200,000 names, including twelve researchers from the University of Namur.

Congratulations to them for their excellent research and for this prestigious worldwide recognition!

This article is taken from the "Impact" section of the June 2024 issue of Omalius magazine.

When commenting on the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, Géraldine Mathieu doesn't stop at the 12 most frequently cited rights. "As relevant as the selection made by the French Rights Defender is (see box), it is far from covering all children's rights: there's a reason why the Convention has 54 articles!

In other words, the child is a human being in his or her own right and, like all human beings, is entitled to fundamental rights, including the right to know his or her origins, in order to appropriate his or her history and forge his or her identity. "This right is protected by Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention", says Géraldine Mathieu. "And this is where Belgium practices, in my opinion, an inadmissible form of discrimination. In our country, if a child born of natural procreation wants to find out the identity of his biological father, the courts will help him to do so. In the Delphine Boël case, for example, King Albert was ordered to submit to a DNA test. For adopted children, the name of the biological mother is recorded in the birth certificate: to have access to the identity of his or her mother, the child simply needs to request a certified copy of this certificate. But this protection does not extend to children born from anonymous sperm or egg donation, as part of medically assisted procreation (MAP)."

In this respect, Belgium is marking time compared with many European countries, notably France, which has just lifted donor anonymity. "Obviously, the lifting of anonymity must not be confused with the establishment of legal filiation," Géraldine Mathieu points out. "In fact, almost all countries that have lifted donation anonymity have blocked all effects at the level of filiation. But children who wish to do so must be able to obtain information about their donor, at least non-identifying - what he looked like, his occupation, his personality, why he made the donation - but ideally also identifying, if only to counter the fear of an incestuous encounter with another child from the same donor... Recently, the Netherlands revealed the existence of a serial donor, who fathered over 500 children!"

In Belgium, sperm from the same donor cannot lead to the birth of children to more than six different women. "But, when the 2007 law on PMA was passed, the right to identity of children born from this technique was completely neglected", insists Géraldine Mathieu. "In fact, they have grouped together, in Belgium, within the association Donor Kinderen. These children have the right to be given back everything that makes them who they are today - their parents' wishes, of course, but also their biological origins. In the quest for identity, biology should be neither overestimated nor underestimated."

For children born of surrogate motherhood (GPA), it's not easy either to get their rights respected in general, and their right to identity in particular. "In Belgium, GPA is not prohibited as it is in France, but neither is it regulated," explains Géraldine Mathieu. "So, we tinker with common law..."Although the centers that practice GPA refuse any genetic link between the surrogate mother and the child (so she doesn't provide her oocytes), it's her name that appears on the birth certificate, and she is therefore its mother in the eyes of the law. The intended parents must then resort to adoption to formalize their relationship with their child. It is also possible for the father of intention to recognize the child, and then for the mother of intention to adopt the child. Provided the surrogate mother doesn't change her mind...

"This is why many couples tempted by GPA go abroad, particularly to the United States, where the surrogate mother undertakes by contract to give up the baby at birth, the intended parents being legally considered the parents," details Géraldine Mathieu. "But this is obviously a commercial relationship, with surrogacy agencies and surrogate mothers being paid. Yet a child can neither be bought nor sold: it's off the market! "In Belgium, several bills aimed at framing GPA have already been tabled. "But none of them mention the rights of the child", notes Géraldine Mathieu. "Yet, unlike adoption, whose aim is to find a family for a child who is deprived of one, GPA consists in manufacturing a child for a couple who wants one. The day we legislate to regulate it, we mustn't forget that there is no right to a child, only children's rights, and that every child has the right to know where he or she comes from."

Marie-Françoise Dispa

This theme, proposed by the students, encompasses harassment at school, at work, sexually, towards minorities... whether of a physical and/or moral nature, whether it manifests itself in person, online or otherwise. Over the course of the two terms, various courses, practical work, conferences and cultural events were organized, and several outside speakers enlightened students in various fields (cyberbullying, harassment of the elderly...). This innovative pedagogical approach bore fruit, bringing together all the students (daytime and staggered timetable) and the teaching team throughout the academic year.

A look back at some of these activities.

As part of the University of Namur's PHARE program, students had the opportunity to visit the immersive "Poésie masculine" exhibition, in collaboration with the Delta. They were confronted with the experience of street harassment, in the shoes of a victim. The day continued with a screening of Caroline Pierret Pirson's film "Plus jamais silencieuse", followed by a meeting with the artist, and a conference led by Nathalie Grandjean and Stéphanie Wattier, professors at UNamur.

For over 20 years, the Faculty of Law has organized its traditional Tournoi d'éloquence. A perilous exercise for students, who must write a high-quality text on an imposed subject, then express themselves with ease in public for around ten minutes. Their challenge: capture the attention of the audience and the jury, express emotion with accuracy and dare to reveal themselves.

This year, students were asked to comment on Sartre's quote "L'enfer, c'est les autres" ("Hell is other people"). A quote chosen in connection with the red thread.

Six students, four in daytime and two in staggered hours, took part and were coached by Professor Benoît Michaux. At the end of their performances, three students received awards:

• Delphine Blouard - 1st prize and audience prize
• Eléonore Deplasse - 2nd prize
• Eric Dufer (HD bac) - 3rd prize

In mid-March, a pre-event dedicated to street harassment was organized by and for students, at the initiative of the "Les Bras Droit" kot-à-projet. On the program: screening of the documentary "Femmes de la Rue" by Sofie Peeters and a discussion on the subject led by various speakers: Bertrand de Buisseret, former UNamur student and sanctioning official for the commune of Ixelles; Noémie Blaise, also a former student and now substitute for the Namur Public Prosecutor; Margot Lamy, criminologist at the Namur Public Prosecutor's Office; Sophie Navez, member of the Namur police force specializing in harassment; Coline Leclercq, UNamur Gender Contact; and Pablo Giesdorf, student delegate in charge of the issue. Over the course of the evening, male and female students had the opportunity to tackle this issue in a concrete way and to exchange views with professionals in the field, all of whom stressed the importance of interdisciplinarity in tackling this issue/topic in a comprehensive manner.

Third-year medical student Nour AZEGHI, active in defending all those who have no place or voice, wins the prize in her category with her work "Touche le bon". A metaphorical work that tackles the theme of harassment with sensitivity and empathy, and tends to highlight the importance of mutual support and solidarity in difficult times.

The second winner is Quentin RICHARD, a young assistant in the Faculty of Economics, Social Studies and Management. He wins the prize for his deeply sensitive and touching short story, entitled "Qui épouse protège".

To close these seven months of Fil Rouge in style, the Faculty of Law organized a charity improv match, pitting the Avocats du Diable team against the Salsifis com'ça team. In all, the evening reunited over €1,750 in profits for the ASBL LE RPH, an association that brings together professionals from different backgrounds to share information, practices and reflections relating to the problems of harassment in education, and to encourage exchanges between stakeholders from different sectors (education, youth, equal opportunities, health promotion, youth aid, ...) in a pluralist manner.

Once again, the projects organized throughout the academic year by the Faculty of Law, punctuated by the Fil Rouge, bear witness to an innovative and fruitful pedagogical approach. "This is a very rich experience, with many discoveries for the students, a remarkable awareness and conscientization", emphasizes Marie Amélie Delvaux, professor of judicial law and one of the project's carriers. "We're fundamentally convinced that to be a good jurist, you have to rub shoulders with reality. This can be done via field experience or internships, but you can't experience everything. I think that through reading, social involvement or even cinema and theater, we can be confronted with certain realities that enable us to complete our legal baggage", adds Élise Defreyne, educational coordinator and also project sponsor.

This year dedicated to harassment in all its forms illustrates the commitment of Law School students and professionals in the field to combating this crucial issue, demonstrating that education, awareness and collective action are the pillars of lasting social change.

The thread that will weave its way through the Faculty of Law in 2024-2025 will be dedicated to a more inclusive and tolerant society, with the idea being that every citizen has a place in society, regardless of race, gender, social class, generation... Objective: to raise awareness of racism, LGBTQIA+, the less able, the elderly or very young, grossophobia, ... Still many motivating activities in store!!

Mathieu Traore ne tarit pas d’éloges en évoquant le séjour qu’il vient de passer à l’UNamur. Doctorant en droit au sein de l’Université Thomas Sankara il a intégré d’avril à juillet la Faculté de droit de l’UNamur. Principal objectif ? Donner un coup d’accélérateur à sa thèse. « Je travaille sur la thématique de la subordination juridique dans les entreprises de livraison comme Uber. Grâce à mon séjour à l’Université de Namur, j’ai pu rencontrer des experts dans ce domaine, comme le professeur Hervé Jacquemin. J’ai également pu rencontrer des praticiens et j’ai eu accès à la documentation de la Faculté de droit, bien plus fournie que celle dont nous disposons à Ouagadougou. Tout cela représente un apport très enrichissant et aujourd’hui, je repars au Burkina avec ma thèse presque terminée », se réjouit Mathieu Traore.

Gnoari Tankoano vient lui aussi de vivre la même expérience. Tout comme Mathieu Traore, il poursuit actuellement son doctorat en droit au Burkina Faso et a pu bénéficier d’un financement européen pour effectuer un séjour de recherche de trois mois à Namur. « Ma thèse porte sur les responsabilités des intermédiaires d’internet. Venir à Namur m’a permis d’accélérer mes recherches ». Les rencontres avec de nombreux membres du CRIDS (Centre de recherche Information, Droit et Société) et de la Faculté d’informatique, ainsi que l’accès à des ressources documentaires sur sa thématique de recherche, lui ont permis d’enrichir sa thèse.

Au-delà du bénéfice engendré pour la réalisation de leur thèse, les deux doctorants voient aussi dans cet échange international une réelle plus-value humaine.

Durant leur séjour à l’UNamur, les deux doctorants ont pu compter sur l’accueil et l’encadrement du professeur René Robaye. Ce dernier connait bien le Burkina Faso et plus particulièrement l’Université Thomas Sankara, avec laquelle l’UNamur est liée depuis plus de 50 ans (lire par ailleurs) : il y a séjourné à diverses reprises pour partager ses connaissances. « Dernièrement, j’y suis allé pour donner un cours aux étudiants de master en droit. L’objectif est de partager nos connaissances et nos expertises avec nos collègues de Ouagadougou. Nous pouvons également leur fournir de la documentation juridique à laquelle ils ont difficilement accès », détaille le professeur Robaye. À l’avenir, avec l’appui du Service des relations internationales de l’UNamur, René Robaye souhaite renforcer les liens avec l’Université Thomas Sankara, dans le cadre des programmes financés par le Fonds de la politique extérieure de l’UE et par la coopération au développement belge, en accueillant régulièrement des doctorants pour des séjours de courte durée.

« Nous avons aussi le projet d’organiser une fois par an, à Ouagadougou, un séminaire de droit où des professeurs et chercheurs des deux institutions auront la possibilité de travailler ensemble. Et notre souhait serait aussi que l’UNamur puisse participer à la création d’un centre de documentation à Ouagadougou, qui permettrait aux enseignants et chercheurs d’avoir accès à des contenus juridiques numériques. »

Cet échange entre l’Université Thomas Sankara et l’UNamur est un exemple parmi d’autres de la politique de mobilité internationale promue à l’UNamur et rendue possible grâce au soutien des fonds européens et internationaux de mobilité.

A la fin des années 1970 et à la demande de la coopération belge, Etienne Cerexhe, alors doyen de la Faculté de droit de l’UNamur, fonda l’École supérieure de droit de Ouagadougou. Cette dernière est devenue la Faculté de droit de l’Université Thomas Sankara. Entre les deux institutions, les liens restent étroits, comme en témoigne cet échange international impliquant des doctorants du Burkina Faso et le professeur René Robaye.