What does KU Leuven want to stand for as a University, and how can we continue working on an environment where everyone feels safe, accepted, and respected? At the opening of the new academic year, Rector Luc Sels kick-started the debate with a remarkable statement on the values of our University. “This is not a job for the Rector alone. It is the responsibility of all of us.” 

Read the story.

Plasma astrophysicists at KU Leuven have created the first self-consistent simulation of the physical processes that occur during a solar flare. The researchers used Flemish supercomputers and a new combination of physical models.

They will soon offer 20 joint doctorates as part of a strategic partnership, but that’s not all KU Leuven and the University of Edinburgh have planned. We asked Rector Luc Sels for the details. “If we want to stay part of the international top, we have to be willing to invest now.”

On the occasion of the 450th anniversary of Pieter Bruegel the Elder's death, the city of Brussels is organising an exhibition on a few of the master’s original drawings as well as a unique series of prints based on these drawings. Thanks to the KU Leuven research project Fingerprint we can now have a phenomenally detailed look at the documents.

More info on the KU Leuven website. 

Investor Urbain Vandeurzen leads a capital round to finance a new superlab, a joint initiative of KU Leuven and UZ Leuven. The new lab should be operational in 2020. 

More info on De Tijd (Dutch).

Researchers at KU Leuven and imec have successfully developed a new technique to insulate microchips. The technique uses metal-organic frameworks, a new type of materials consisting of structured nanopores. In the long term, this method can be used for the development of even smaller and more powerful chips that consume less energy. The team has received an ERC Proof of Concept grant to further their research.

More information on the website of Leuven Mindgate.

The "Belgian Beer. Tested and Tasted", authored by Miguel Roncoroni and Kevin Verstrepen is unique: it reports on an amazing nr of Belgian beers, not just tasting, but from a scientific perspective. Dr. Verstrepen is a scientist at the KU Leuven, and is Science Director at the VIB (Institute of Biotechnology). He studied bioengineering in Leuven and worked at MIT and Harvard for several years before coming back to Leuven.

The book is published by Lannoo and can also be obtained on e.g. Amazon. 

New series of events! See our community page.

More info on the event website

Read the press release.