Filter

Last Friday, we kicked off the new year together at the annual New Year’s Gathering. Topics such as artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability took centre stage alongside the University Fund. And possibly the most important question: who are the winners of the quiz?

As of this academic year, smoking is no longer permitted anywhere on our campuses, indoors or outdoors. This makes us the first university in Belgium with such a comprehensive anti-smoking policy, stricter than what the government imposes. ‘A smoke-free generation is what we should all continue to strive for,’ says Professor Filip Lardon, head of the Center for Oncological Research (CORE) and dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Our university cut its CO₂ emissions by 16.5 per cent in five years. A solid result, but we aren’t on track yet to meet our targets. Although many services and departments are already on board with the climate agenda, we still need to step things up: ‘The collective support is there; now’s the time to turn that into action.’

What makes a city healthy? And how can the university contribute to this health from different disciplinary perspectives? These were the questions behind an interfaculty reflection session organised by Lieven Janssens (Social Sciences), Jasna Loos (Medicine and Health Sciences) and Caroline Masquillier (Social Sciences & Medicine and Health Sciences). Sixty academics from a wide range of disciplines, as well as colleagues from Antwerp University Hospital and our association partners AP and KdG, exchanged ideas on how interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration can help make Antwerp a healthy city.

The brand-new Building G.W on Campus Groenenborger was officially opened on 14 October. Behind the facade lies a future-oriented building where innovation, sustainability and safety come together. The new chemistry laboratories housed here are taking sustainable chemistry research to the next level. Prof. Vera Meynen, chair of the Department of Chemistry, and Herman Van Looveren, domain coordinator Lab, show us behind the scenes.