A feather in your cap: the feather is a prize passed on from one UAntwerp colleague to another in recognition of their efforts or achievements. This time, Marc Van Laeken (Infrastructure Department) passes the feather on to Marc Demolder (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences).
Dear Marc
As far as I’m concerned, everyone that contributes to the growth and professionalisation of UAntwerp deserves ‘The feather’. That being said, as a laureate myself, I have to play by the rules and make a well-considered choice. Who, within the entire University of Antwerp, is not only a ‘white crow’ but also an ‘astute owl’? Thinking along these lines, I came up with a dozen possible laureates, none of whom can hold a candle (or a feather) to you. It is with a great deal of respect and gratitude, as well as a graceful bow, that I therefore present you with ‘The feather’.
Back when you started your career at what was then called RUCA, in 1985, there weren’t any surface area restrictions and the physiology department in building V was spread out across several floors. I suspect that this is where your love of collecting written-off equipment and literature came into being, driven by a hunch that all of this stuff would still be of value in the future. The forefather of academic heritage was born. There wasn’t a single corner of the laboratories or corridor cabinets at risk of being left unoccupied.
As part of the move of the physiology department dictated by the UAntwerp multiannual plan, all of the departments assets were transferred to building T on Campus Drie Eiken, where the available surface area was significantly smaller than in the previous workplace. Dark clouds were forming on the horizon, because where to go with all of that academic heritage if there wasn’t any space to be found on floor ‘TeeTwee’ of building T? Inventive as ever, and with some help from Agnes Coeckx, you quickly found your way into the catacombs of building G on Campus Drie Eiken. You were assigned one room there, but have since expanded to take up all of the available space in the cellar.
Whenever I pass your offices, I can’t help but think this is the Walhalla of literature and small devices that can be classified as academic heritage. While for an outsider this seems like an impossible task, you always manage to quickly find whatever someone is asking for amidst that huge heap of stuff. I’m convinced a picture of this room could win an international prize, although it would be difficult to say what category the picture actually belonged to.
A few years ago, the academic heritage collection started to gain greater appreciation within UAntwerp policy, which means limited budgets and means have been made available. For instance, you now have a permanently upgraded cellar space in building U on Campus Groenenborger at your disposal, where you can exhibit, go through and store part of the collection.
Perhaps not a lot of people noticed, but a while ago a certain device regularly featured in news reports. During the COVID pandemic, Professor P. Van Damme repeatedly spoke to the press in the entrance hall of building S on Campus Drie Eiken. He deliberately positioned himself next to the ‘iron lung’, one of the academic heritage collection’s showpieces. It’s hard to imagine any other device that was more fitting to the events unfolding during that period.
Whenever I see you approaching me on campus, I already call out: ‘I won’t have any time in the weeks ahead’ or ‘sorry, no can do’, which inevitably triggers your characteristic laugh. I always process your requests, no matter how bulky or complex, with full conviction and understanding of where you’re coming from.
Marc, the thing I also admire so very much in you, is your knowhow on every subject. Sometimes I wonder what you don’t know or haven’t experienced. Everyone knows you’re a jack of all trades. Alongside your professional and leisurely activities, you still find the time and ambition to be a reserve officer in the military. To this day you’re called upon to contribute to missions, both domestically and abroad. Training recruits, parachute jumping, taskforce, taking and executing defensive and strategic decisions… You do it all with great passion and sense of duty. I’m convinced that the military is keenly aware of your unique characteristics and qualities. Well done sir, I take my beret off to you!
Your efforts for UAntwerp spanning many years have not gone unnoticed with those who are responsible for academic policy. As an acknowledgement of your achievements, you were presented with the Academic Council for Service to Society Award on 30 November 2023. I happen to know this made you very happy. Congratulations, no-one could be more deserving of this prize!
Marc, the way and spirit in which you do all of your work continue to amaze me. We may be, at long last, be able to figure out how you do everything you do by taking inspiration from Bart Kaëll’s recent summer hit and asking: what’s your secret? So much more can be said about you, but this article can’t go on forever. Publishing your memoires would appear to be the solution. If I could suggest a title, it would be something along the lines of ‘Who he is, what he does, what drives him’.
Finally, if a committee were to ask me to describe you in one word, or in a few words, I would tell them the following:
- One word: sublime.
- A few words: they broke the mould when they made Marc Demolder.
Warmest regards
Marc Van Laeken
Final note
Carla, thanks so much for the published laudatio I received from you. The other day we discussed it at length during our pleasant and convivial lunch at Hof ter Linden in Edegem. Moral of the story: ‘Being acknowledged is good for one’s wellbeing.’ Pleasure at work is beneficial to everyone. Not only to the employees themselves, but also to employers and clients. Happy employees are more motivated and deliver better performances.