By prof. Tom Mestdag​

It goes without saying that, since the early beginnings of modern science, the main advances in physics and mathematics have been closely intertwined. In particular, classical mechanics has ever remained a never-emptying well of inspiration for new developments in analysis and geometry. The overall name for the kind of research whose principal purpose is to identify and investigate the geometric structures that lie at the core of various physical problems is `geometric mechanics'. It studies both the spaces and the systems that appear in mathematical physics, and it uses a wide repertoire of modern differential geometric tools. In this talk we will discuss some of it successes of the past, as well as some challenges for the future.

By prof. Sara Vicca​

Safe and scalable CO2 removal (CDR) technologies will be needed to meet the Paris climate target of limiting warming to well below 2 degrees. Enhanced silicate weathering is one of the proposed CDR technologies. It involves the reaction of silicate rock dust with CO2 and water, potentially sequestering carbon for millennia. Silicate rock dust can be applied on agricultural soils, where it may yield co-benefits such as increased crop growth. In the field, the rock dust will also interact with soil biota and soil organic matter and those interactions are likely to contribute substantially to the CDR potential of enhanced silicate weathering. These interactions will also play a critical role in determining the long-term sustainability and feasibility of this technique. 

By prof. Ben Jeurissen​

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) has revolutionized our ability to non-invasively probe the microstructural organization of biological tissues. By measuring the random motion of water molecules, dMRI provides unique insights into tissue architecture at a microscopic scale, revealing critical information about cellular density, fiber orientation, and structural connectivity. I will explore the fundamental principles of diffusion MRI, the challenges of microstructural modelling, and the clinical and scientific applications. 

By prof. Jakob Raymaekers

Outliers are ubiquitous in the statistical analysis of real data. They can arise due to a variety of reasons, including errors originating from faulty measurements, instruments, data entry, and even data manipulation. It is known that such outliers can severely distort any conclusions drawn from the data when left unchecked. This is why the detection of outliers is crucial to obtain reliable data analysis, and robust statistics is a powerful instrument for this purpose. Traditionally, robust statistics considered “casewise” contamination that appears on the level of the observation. More recently, it has been put forward that “cellwise” contamination on the level of the cell can be a more appropriate assumption. A cellwise contamination model implies that for a given observation, certain variables may be reliable whereas others may not be. In this talk, we start by discussing some of the challenges associated with cellwise outliers in more detail. We will illustrate theoretically and practically the potential difficulties of identifying outlying cells, how well-known rowwise-robust statistical methods can fail, and how cellwise-robust methods cannot be expected to hold certain properties that are natural in the rowwise setting. After investigating the challenges associated with cellwise outliers, we will discuss some solutions which have been proposed. The potential of these recent methods will be illustrated in the analysis of several real datasets. We will end with a discussion on related challenges such as analyzing data with heavy tails, and provide some insight into future research directions. 

By prof. Robby Vroemans​

Plasticizers are critical additives used in polymeric materials, enhancing flexibility, processability, and overall performance. However, the widespread use of fossil-derived plasticizers, such as phthalates, raises significant environmental concerns, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Biobased catechols, derived from renewable feedstocks such as lignin, present a promising platform for developing renewable plasticizers. Their unique chemical structure, featuring two neighboring hydroxyl groups, enables tailored chemical modifications. This research explores the derivatization and functionalization of catechol to develop three novel classes of catechol-derived plasticizers. The performance of these plasticizers is evaluated in polymers such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polylactic acid (PLA). The findings highlight the potential of biobased catechol as versatile platform for the next generation of sustainable plasticizers, potentially contributing to reduced reliance on non-renewable resources and lowering environmental impact. 

By prof. Gudrun De Boeck​

The Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development, known by its Dutch acronym IMDO, brings together the expertise at the University of Antwerp on the various aspects and disciplines in environment & sustainable development.  IMDO wants to help answer complex and multidisciplinary environmental and sustainability questions, from industry, the university and society. It has a distinctly interdisciplinary and transversal character and ensures maximum collaboration between researchers and lecturers from the various disciplines: technology, natural sciences, social and economic sciences, health and administrative-legal aspects. We provide interdisciplinary and internationally oriented environmental education with programs such as a Master in Environmental Science (in Dutch), an ​Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Applied Ecohydrology, an Advanced Master Think Water, a Postgraduate of Energy & Climate, a Master of Safety Sciences (in Dutch) and a ​Summerschool about sustainable cities: CityLAB. Our aim is to also be a catalyst for interdisciplinary research on the environment and sustainable development, and our two research managers will be happy to support you in your search for the right partners.