We’re delighted to share that the Zoology/EVENET 2027 conference in Leuven (31 January–3 February 2027) has received support from not one, not two, but three organisations: FNRS, FWO, and The Company of Biologists! We’re very grateful for their support, which will help us bring researchers together to exchange ideas and strengthen connections across zoology, ecology,
Three cheers for Zoology/EVENET 2027! 🎉 Read More »
Are you a Master’s student, PhD candidate, or early-career postdoctoral researcher working on animal biodiversity conservation? The Royal Belgian Zoological Society (RBZS) and the Pairi Daiza Foundation are once again offering a €2,500 research grant to support scientific projects benefiting animal biodiversity conservation. The grant can support activities such as fieldwork, research stays, sampling, and
Grant call: Pairi Daiza Foundation Grant for Biodiversity and Conservation Research 🐾 Read More »
After some administrative hurdles, we are delighted to finally welcome Prajna Bandyopadhyay to Namur as a new PhD student in the LAB! Prajna investigates how environmental stressors affect rest–activity patterns and behavioural flexibility in aquatic organisms. Using the upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea xamachana) as a model species, she explores how artificial light at night and pharmaceutical
Welcome to Namur, Prajna! 🪼 Read More »
We are very happy to welcome (back) Benjamin Lapiere, who (re)joined the LAB as a Research Technician on 1 October! Benjamin will contribute to the ORION project, which investigates the impacts of environmental pollution on freshwater fish in their natural environment. His work focuses on field campaigns involving the deployment and monitoring of salmon in
Welcome (back), Benjamin! 🐟 Read More »
Following the publication of our paper in Nature Human Behaviour on how contemporary academic structures can constrain scientific creativity, I was interviewed by the University of Namur’s Newsroom to discuss the challenges facing early-career researchers and the need for a more supportive environment for creative, ambitious science. The paper also featured in EOS Wetenschap in
Media coverage on the challenges facing early-career researchers Read More »
On 23 September, we celebrated the retirement of Prof. Luc Brendonck — an outstanding scientist, mentor, and friend who has had a lasting impact on many of us, myself included. Luc was my PhD advisor, and in many ways, he is also the scientific grandfather of the LAB! It was a pleasure to surprise him
Celebrating Prof. Luc Brendonck! Read More »
On 22 September, the LAB was happy to welcome a delegation from the Water Research Group (WRG) at North-West University (NWU) in Potchefstroom, South Africa: Prof. Nico Smit, Prof. Victor Wepener, Prof. Wynand Malherbe, Adri Joubert, and Samantha van Aarde. The visit was a great opportunity to exchange ideas and explore ways to deepen our
Welcoming visitors from South Africa! Read More »
On 21 September, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Adrien Chardome for RCF Sud Belgique’s Science Radio programme, where we discussed my research at the University of Namur. We talked about my work in behavioural ecology and ecotoxicology, and how we investigate the effects of environmental stressors on aquatic organisms. A special milestone
First radio interview in French! Read More »
I am pleased to share a new collaborative paper published in Nature Human Behaviour, exploring how the structures of modern academia can constrain scientific creativity, particularly among early-career researchers. From short funding cycles and publish-or-perish pressures to metric-driven evaluation, conservative peer review, and precarious career paths, many aspects of academic life can unintentionally encourage safe,
New paper in Nature Human Behaviour Read More »
We’re happy to finally announce the upcoming Zoology/EVENET 2027 conference, co-organised by the Royal Belgian Zoological Society (RBZS), the Dutch Zoological Society (KNDV), and the FWO-funded EVENET research network. Taking place in Leuven from 31 January to 3 February 2027, the conference will bring together researchers working in ecology, evolution, zoology, eco-evolutionary genomics, development, and
Zoology/EVENET 2027 is coming to Leuven! Read More »
