Discover our specials
‘Science conquers darkness’ is not just an empty slogan at the VUB, but a daily mission. From care robots and self-healing materials to personalised cancer therapy: our researchers are working on solutions to pressing societal challenges. VUB Tomorrow showcases science in action — thinking and doing, research and engagement. Each story illustrates how cross-disciplinary collaboration yields new insights and offers hope in a complex world. Discover all our special features here and subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss a single one.
AI may one day become smarter than humans, but in the meantime, the technology is helping us make great strides forward. Thanks to AI, emergency services are saving more lives, traffic is becoming safer and robots are working more efficiently. At the same time, VUB scientists are asking critical questions about the impact of AI on education, work and democracy, and about the role a university can play in this: “Universities must look 20 years ahead,” says AI pioneer Luc Steels. “Not at what works today, but at what will be possible tomorrow.” Read all about it in this new edition of VUB Tomorrow.
Female VUB researchers are securing prestigious grants and leading internationally recognised cutting-edge research that has an impact on every corner of society. It’s time for a VUB Tomorrow special that shines a spotlight on their scientific excellence. Discover how Claudia Spits studies what can go wrong even before a pregnancy is visible, how Ann Van Griensven uses data and models to map water quality worldwide, or how Diete Humblet gives a voice to older people in detention. This is not a feature on gender. This is cutting-edge science at the VUB.
In our country, thousands of people live with conditions that show no outward signs. The fact that the outside world generally fails to notice this can be a huge psychological burden. Moreover, it delays the correct diagnosis and treatment. That is why we at the VUB and UZ Brussel are delighted that this year’s 'Warmste Week' campaign is drawing attention to invisible illnesses. This edition of VUB Tomorrow ties in perfectly with that. In our magazine, where science and the future meet, we highlight research and stories that make the invisible tangible.
Just like athletes, scientists strive to push boundaries and tackle the toughest challenges. And the climate crisis certainly counts as a challenge. To tackle it, our researchers travel to every corner of the globe, from the freezing cold of Antarctica to the sweltering interior of the Congo. They develop new climate models, but they’re just as keen to study... rabbit droppings. Read all about it in this new edition of VUB Tomorrow, the magazine where science and the future meet.
On November 27th, the latest Flemish VSC Tier-1 supercomputer was unveiled at the Nexus data centre in Zellik. Among other things, it will be used for research into biomineralisation processes, including the formation of kidney stones. Climate scientists can use it to design and test climate models and run them through every possible scenario. But researchers from non-technical disciplines – such as history and literature – can also use it to process vast amounts of text at lightning speed, thereby achieving significant breakthroughs. Read all about it here.
"Universities are beacons," says rector Jan Danckaert. "Beacons of light that guide us towards the truth." At the VUB, researchers, students and partners work together to bring that truth to light. In our labs, clean rooms and high-tech infrastructure, they are building the science of tomorrow – think of self-healing polymers, the medical applications of fluidic chips and revolutionary fermentation processes. Discover more in this first newsletter from VUB Tomorrow, our new magazine where science and the future meet.
