BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//The Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies - ECPv6.17.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:The Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://brias.be X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/Brussels BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20240331T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20241027T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20250330T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20251026T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20270328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20271031T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260303T160000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260303T180000 DTSTAMP:20260226T100950Z CREATED:20251204T090909Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T100950Z UID:2483-1772553600-1772560800@brias.be SUMMARY:Public Lecture – Big Ideas for Democracy: Liza Mügge DESCRIPTION:  \nRegister here\nBeyond Strongmen: Masculinities\, Backlash\, and the Future of Democracy\nAbstract\nAcross Europe and beyond\, new “strongman” politics mobilize resentment\, revive sexist stereotypes\, and turn certain masculinities into weapons against gender equality and democracy. What happens to democracy when dominance\, aggression\, and exclusion are sold as the only “real” masculinity? This lecture asks how we can understand—and undo—the backlash. Drawing on insights from two EU‑funded projects\, Push*Back*Lash and MEN4DEM\, I explore how violence and inequality is normalized\, and why this matters for democratic life. \nBut the lecture is equally about alternatives: how inclusion\, diversity\, and empathy can ground more realistic and appealing models of masculinity. I argue that defending democracy requires transdisciplinary alliances among researchers\, policy makers\, activists\, and artists who co‑create knowledge and practice. Through concrete examples—legislative theatre\, participatory workshops\, and political cartoons—I show how playful\, collaborative methods can challenge backlash\, open spaces for care and solidarity\, and help re‑imagine masculinities for democratic futures. \nBio\nProf. Liza Mügge is Professor in Politics of Diversity at the political science department of the University of Amsterdam. She leads several international research projects funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the European Commission (Horizon Europe) (see politicsofdiversity.eu). She is founding editor of the European Journal of Politics & Gender. \n  \n  URL:https://brias.be/event/public-lecture-big-ideas-for-democracy-liza-mugge/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260226T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260226T150000 DTSTAMP:20260205T093208Z CREATED:20251209T082047Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T093208Z UID:2530-1772107200-1772118000@brias.be SUMMARY:Thursday Seminar by Gaston Meskens DESCRIPTION:The Possibility of Global Governance\nAn ethics of care for our contemporary coexistence. \nAbstract\nThe Possibility of Global Governance is a reflective exercise in the applied philosophy of ethics\, and to some extent also in the poetics of ethics. My aim is to present a normative ethics idea open for reflection and discussion\, namely that the possibility of fair and effective global governance should be perceived from out of an ethics of care perspective – caring for human relationships in making sense of the complexity of complex problems – and that this possibility becomes ‘unlocked’ and enabled with the realisation of methods of politics\, science and education that would allow a fair dealing with the complexity that binds us\, inspired and motivated by that ethics of care perspective. These methods can be characterised as deliberative democracy as a collective reflection and learning process\, transdisciplinary and participatory scientific research and policy advice and education for a reflexive cosmopolitanism. \nThe idea is that these advanced methods of democracy\, scientific research and education together do hold that ‘possibility’: they make our global connectedness in complexity ‘visible’ and are at the same time inspired by it; they stimulate our sense of social and political engagement and at the same time make that engagement practically possible; they take into account the vulnerability of the specific roles we take on and assign to each other in society but at the same time provide the possibility to take our responsibility in those roles … Some proposed aspects of this ‘advanced’ method of global governance are realistic or do even exist already today in some fragmented or ‘light’ form or policy ambition\, as it is the case with transdisciplinarity in scientific policy advice or local public participation in decision making. Others are plainly utopian in terms of their possible realisation in the current situation\, like global deliberative democracy or the relativisation of the sovereignty of the nation state in global (international) politics. \nObviously it would be naive to think that a positive narrative of care ethics for global governance could lead directly to concrete changes for the better. One can understand that most protagonists of political power in the politics of today have little desire to enter into dialogue about the justification of their power\, as they see it as legitimised by the traditional political systems in which they operate. The initiative for advanced thinking about global governance will have to come from people who\, in solidarity and inspired and motivated by an ethics of care vision such as the one proposed here\, want to draw closer to engage in dialogue about the workings of politics\, science\, the market and education. The avant-garde of their solidarity lies in their willingness to see our coexistence not as a cynical society of conflict and competition\, but as a society that\, today more than ever\, is characterised by our connectedness in complexity\, by our sense of engagement in reflection and deliberation to give meaning to it\, and by the recognition of the vulnerability of our roles that we assign to each other in the process. The idea of ‘cosmopolitanism as capability’ will be foundational in this vision. Only when we are prepared to reflect on our own position and behaviour ‘in that whole world of concern’ will we be able to see all other people as being of equal moral standing\, simply because then we will not only see them as having equal moral standing in their own right\, but because we can then consider them as also having an equal right to act upon a moral responsibility. \nBio\nGaston Meskens is a ‘philosophical activist’ and artist with a background in science.\nHe holds master’s degrees in theoretical physics and nuclear engineering and a doctoral degree in moral philosophy from the University of Ghent (Belgium). In his philosophical research\, he works part-time with the Science\, Technology and Society research group of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN and with the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy of Ghent University. At Ghent University\, his research focuses on a human rights perspective related to intellectual capacity building in the interest of global sustainable development governance. At SCK CEN\, his research and outreach is concerned with the ethics of science and technology in general and with the ethical aspects of dealing with nuclear technology in particular.  His Seminars on Ethics of Science and Technology are part of multiple international training programmes and university curricula.\nGaston Meskens has built up more than twenty years of experience in transdisciplinary research related to the ethics of governance of issues such as sustainable development\, energy\, climate change and radioactive waste management and with working in and around the policy processes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)\, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)\, the United Nations Non-Proliferation Treaty process (UN-NPT) and of the research-related activities of the European Commission. Since 2006\, he is member of the steering committee of the Constituency of Research-oriented Independent Non-Governmental Organisations towards the UNFCCC (the constituency that represents the global scientific world in the United Nations Climate Change negotiation process).\nMore info: https://www.normsanddialectics.net/why/ URL:https://brias.be/event/thursday-seminar-by-gaston-meskens/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260224T160000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260224T180000 DTSTAMP:20260216T120555Z CREATED:20251204T090734Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T120555Z UID:2481-1771948800-1771956000@brias.be SUMMARY:Public Lecture – Big Ideas for Democracy: Marija Radoman DESCRIPTION:  \nRegister here\nBuilding Democracy: Emotions and the Student Movement in Serbia 2024/25\nMy presentation focuses on the experiences and emotions of students involved in the student protests in Serbia 2024/25. The research looks at how emotions shaped both the mobilization of the movement and the students’ collective identity. What began as a student response to the collapse of a canopy in the city of Novi Sad quickly grew into a large-scale social and political movement. The timeframe of the research is limited: the results cover the period from the start of the protests in November 2024 to April 2025\, even though the protests are still ongoing. \nIn the first part of my talk\, I will explain the broader context\, the challenges faced by student and citizens in their struggle for a democratic society\, and the authoritarian tendencies of the goverment. I will also give a short overview of the dynamics of the protests and key events that kept them going\, explaining different protest stages. In the second part\, I will present some findings from research conducted by the team at the Institute for Sociological Research\, Faculty of Philosophy\, University of Belgrade. My research focus was on the role of emotions in the students’ participation in the protests\, and more broadly\, on how emotions contribute to shaping a new political generation in a post-socialist context. The study is based on 32 semi-structured interviews with students participating in the protests. I hypothesize that the student movement\, with its direct democratic practices\, independence from political parties\, and collective life on occupied faculties across the country\, represents alternative forms of democratic organization\, shaped through emotional experiences\, and represents the emergence of a new political generation. \nBio\nMarija Radoman is a PhD sociologist with over a decade of experience in gender and queer studies\, political values\, LGBTQ+ rights\, and research methodologies. Her academic work focuses on the intersections of social structures and individual experiences. She currently serves as a Research Associate at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade\, affiliated with the Institute for Sociological Research. URL:https://brias.be/event/public-lecture-big-ideas-for-democracy-marija-radoman/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260219T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260219T150000 DTSTAMP:20260205T093309Z CREATED:20251209T081950Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T093309Z UID:2528-1771502400-1771513200@brias.be SUMMARY:Thursday Seminars by Franziska Höhne DESCRIPTION:Stating the obvious? Far-right frames of climate change acceptance in the European Parliament\nAbstract\nIn a rapidly warming world\, climate obstruction has become a central challenge of global governance – exacerbated by the rising influence of far-right actors. Far-right ideology is understood as inherently incompatible with climate policy\, particularly when interpreted through a populist lens. When considered a thin-centred ideology\, the complexity of climate governance clashes with Manichean\, anti- cosmopolitan worldview of the populist far-right.  \nYet\, recent scholarship paints a more nuanced picture. Not only has the European far-right shifted from primary to secondary obstruction\, i.e. from denial to response scepticism\, some parties have also been found to selectively embrace international climate cooperation. This variation remains underexplored.  \nBuilding on research that highlights the role of contextual factors over ideology for far-right stances on climate policy\, this paper compares the impact of domestic factors such as issue salience\, green party strength\, and office opportunities. In a comparative case study design\, the paper analyses justifications provided in MEPs’ speeches and voting records\, supplemented by interviews with far-right MEPs and their staff. Understanding the nuances of far-right climate obstructionism is essential for a comprehensive grasp of the phenomenon and for designing effective responses. \nBio\nFranziska Höhne is a PhD researcher in the field of International Relations\, based at Goethe University Frankfurt\, and is currently affiliated as a visiting researcher at CEVIPOL\, ULB. Her research is situated at the far-right climate nexus\, with a focus on the international institutions intended to govern the climate crisis. For her PhD thesis\, she analyses how far-right parties in Europe approach international climate policy\, what influences their positions and how we can explain variance between the parties. Franziska Höhne obtained a M.Sc. degree in Global Studies from Gothenburg University in 2021 and a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Erfurt in 2019. URL:https://brias.be/event/thursday-seminars-by-franziska-hohne/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260212T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260212T150000 DTSTAMP:20260205T093127Z CREATED:20251209T081803Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T093127Z UID:2526-1770897600-1770908400@brias.be SUMMARY:Thursday Seminars by Bruno Castanho Silva and Giulia Fuochi DESCRIPTION:Second Class: Public Opinion Perceptions of Naturalized Citizens’ Rights and Duties \nBio\nBruno Castanho Silva is an Assistant Professor for Methods in Empirical Social Research at the Institute of Sociology and Otto-Suhr Institute of Political Science at the Free University of Berlin\, Germany. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the Central European University (Budapest\, Hungary) and is also an Executive Board member of the Methods Excellence Initiative (MethodsNET). Bruno’s research uses a variety of quantitative and computational methods to study issues connected to populism and radicalism\, social media and politics\, and the representation of underrepresented groups. His work has been published in journals such as the American Political Science Review\, American Journal of Political Science\, and Political Analysis\, among others.  \nAbstract\nCitizenship has once again become a politicized issue across developed countries\, at the same time as demographic changes lead to higher numbers of dual and naturalized citizens. However\, empirical political research has dedicated little attention to natural-born citizens views’ on those topics. This paper argues that naturalized citizens\, while in theory having (almost) all the legal rights of natural-born ones\, are still seen as second-class citizens in European countries when it comes to their rights\, but are expected to fulfil their whole share of citizenship obligations. It tests these expectations with a survey experiment fielded in four EU countries (n ca. 2\,000 per country)\, in which respondents indicate how much they approve of certain rights and obligations for natural-born or naturalized citizens\, and of long-term non-citizen residents. Findings indicate that the public has less tolerance for naturalized citizens who are critical of the country to vote and participate in politics\, but holds them to the same level of duty as the natural-born when it comes to serving the military in case of foreign threats. These findings shed the first empirical light on the  re-emerging politicized issue of citizenship rights in Europe and beyond.  \n\nDeprovincialization and other pathways to intergroup and societal harmony\nBio\nGiulia Fuochi is assistant professor and researcher in social psychology at the University of Padova. Her work explores how people relate to others across group boundaries\, with a focus on prejudice\, intergroup contact\, mindfulness\, and openness toward diversity. She has published extensively on these topics in international journals.  \nAbstract \nRecent decades have seen a rise in identity-based polarization in several democratic societies\, exacerbating conflict among social groups. One process that may counteract this trend could be that of deprovincialization\, a shift in perspective through which individuals come to view their own group’s norms and values as less absolute or superior\, while becoming more open to and accepting of cultural differences. Deprovincialization typically emerges from positive intergroup contact – i.e.\, interactions between members of different social groups – but also entails a strong component of cognitive change\, transforming how people interpret social diversity and group or national identity. This presentation will first shed light on the concept of deprovincialization\, also illustrating its links with intergroup variables (intergroup contact\, prejudice\, and anxiety)\, socio-political dispositions (right-wing authoritarianism\, social dominance orientation) and other individual tendencies (curiosity\, values) through network analysis. Second\, results from latent profile analysis\, a person-centered approach that identifies latent subgroups of individuals based on similar patterns of responses across variables\, will show how deprovincialization tends to cluster within profiles characterized by cognitive flexibility\, curiosity\, pro-diversity and anti-hierarchy beliefs. Third\, the potential behavioral outcomes of deprovincialization in an experimental setting will be explored: participants exposed to an audio clip designed to elicit deprovincialization – compared to those assigned to an active control condition – reported lower levels of national ingroup identification (i.e.\, Italians)\, and\, more importantly\, stronger intentions to engage in collective action to improve the conditions of the outgroup (i.e.\, Arab people living in Italy). Overall\, these findings highlight deprovincialization as a core mechanism for social change\, fostering openness toward diversity and pluralism\, reducing ethnocentrism\, and mobilizing advantaged groups to support disadvantaged ones.  URL:https://brias.be/event/thursday-seminars-by-bruno-castanho-silva-and-giulia-fuochi/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260211T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260211T140000 DTSTAMP:20260126T102123Z CREATED:20260120T095854Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260126T102123Z UID:2921-1770804000-1770818400@brias.be SUMMARY:Political Masculinities in Europe – Public Panel DESCRIPTION:Register here \nAbout the Event\nHow do ideas about “proper” masculine behavior in politics shape who speaks\, who leads\, and whose interests count in European democracies? This public roundtable in gathers members of the International Advisory Board of the project Political Masculinities in Europe—with panelists from Poland\, Italy\, Sweden\, and the US/UK and expertise in socialization\, interventions\, social movements\, violence\, backlash\, gender and sexuality —to discuss how political masculinities are constructed\, reinforced\, and contested across countries and political institutions. Aimed at academics\, students\, and policymakers\, the panel will unpack how these often implicit norms sustain gendered political inequalities and consider what it would take to change them. \n\nProgramme\n\n10:00 – 10:30 Welcome coffee\n10:30 – 12:00 Panel session\n\nWelcome speech Prof. Karen Celis (VUB / BrIAS)\, WP4 Leader\nChair Dr. Liza Mügge (University of Amsterdam / Senior Fellow BrIAS)\n\nPanelists \n\nProf. Philip Ayoub (University College London)\nDr. Tomasz Besta (University of Gdańsk)\nProf. Elin Bjarnegård (University of Uppsala)\nDr. Vera Lomazzi (University of Bergamo)\n\n12:00 – 14:00 Lunch\n\n\nThis panel is part of a VICI-project funded by the Dutch Research Council (VI.C.231.0390) URL:https://brias.be/event/political-masculinities-in-europe-public-panel/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260204 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260207 DTSTAMP:20260129T123802Z CREATED:20260129T123802Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T123802Z UID:2969-1770163200-1770422399@brias.be SUMMARY:3rd BrIAS Conference on Smart Agriculture DESCRIPTION:We wish to invite you to the 3rd Brussels Institute of Advanced Studies conference on Smart Agriculture BrIAS Agri2026 which will be held on the 4-6th of February 2026 in Brussels. The BrIAS Agri2026 is a recurrent annual event for a multidisciplinary scientific community to present and discuss the most recent studies on smart agriculture. This year\, our collaborators at Research Station for Vegetable Production (Proefstation voor de Gronteteelt) will welcome us for a visit of their facilities on the afternoon of the 6th February. Limited places are available\, click here for more information! \n\n\n\nTopics\n\nModelling and control for the smart agriculture of tomorrow.\nAutomated remote sensing and estimation for agriculture\nSustainable approaches for bio-aggressors control: plant protection molecules and biotechnologies\nPlant-omics and bioinformatics for sustainable agriculture\nPolicy makers corner: cross-talk among regulatory bodies in agriculture\nMetrology for agriculture\nCrop Protection\nInsect Farming Technologies\nRobotics and technologies for precision farming\nBreeding and automatic phenotyping\nModelling of agroecological systems\nAutomatic support to decisions for agriculture\nData-driven approaches for smart agriculture URL:https://brias.be/event/3rd-brias-conference-on-smart-agriculture/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Other Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260203T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260203T150000 DTSTAMP:20260204T095836Z CREATED:20251209T081635Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T095836Z UID:2524-1770123600-1770130800@brias.be SUMMARY:Thursday Seminars by Gefjon Off DESCRIPTION:Young men’s and women’s gender equality attitudes – a Gen Z gender divide?\nBio\nGefjon Off is a postdoctoral researcher at Hamburg University. Previously\, she was a postdoctoral researcher at Leuphana University of Lüneburg and a PhD student at Gothenburg University. Her research takes a comparative approach to the study of gender and political behavior. It is published in form of a Cambridge Element\, and as journal articles in the European Journal of Political Research and West European Politics\, amongst others.  URL:https://brias.be/event/thursday-seminars-by-gefjon-off/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260202T170000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260202T190000 DTSTAMP:20260216T120513Z CREATED:20251204T091101Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T120513Z UID:2487-1770051600-1770058800@brias.be SUMMARY:Public Lecture – Big Ideas for Democracy: Amanda Machin DESCRIPTION:  \nRegister here\nDemocracy and the More-Than-Human Carnivalesque\nAbstract\nFrom corporate zombies to mermaids to dead bees\, political protests have frequently featured comic\, ironic\, grotesque\, absurd and profane moments of the carnivalesque. Carnivalesque activities are said to open heterotopic spaces in which dominant values are subverted\, conventions are transgressed\, and civil disobedience is catalysed. The carnivalesque is interesting for scholars of democracy not only because it entails the production of the common and the enactment of critical citizenship\, but also because it involves the active cultivation of difference. To participate in the carnivalesque is not only to witness otherness but to become other. By dressing up as fantasy figures\, absurd halflings or extinct species\, activists ostensibly perform the more-than-human. In this lecture I consider the appearance of the carnivalesque in protests and its democratic capacity and implications. Do carnivalesque protests challenge political boundaries and promote hybrid identities? Or\, since carnivals are restricted to certain times and places\, do they on the contrary remind us of the rules\, and reinforce the existing order? I point to the dangers of both dismissing and romanticizing the carnivalesque. \nBio\nAmanda Machin is Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Agder in Kristiansand\, Norway. She is interested in the dynamics\, theories\, discourses\, imaginaries\, protests\, identifications\, performances and bodies of ecological and radical democratic transformation and has researched these topics in various positions at universities in UK and Germany before she moved to Norway in 2022. She has published five books including Bodies of Democracy: Modes of Embodied Politics (Transcript 2022) and Negotiating Climate Change: Radical Democracy and the Illusion of Consensus (Zed Books\, 2013). With Marcel Wissenburg she has recently completed editing the collection Environmental Political Theory in the Anthropocene for Edward Elgar. Amanda is also an editor for the journal Environmental Politics and the co-ordinator of a project on the governance of twin transition (RECODE MLG\, funded by Horizon Europe). She also participates in projects on populism in the Nordics (POL-AID\, funded by the Norwegian Research Council) and the project Democracy and Controversy in the green transition (funded by the MWW Foundation). URL:https://brias.be/event/public-lecture-big-ideas-for-democracy-amanda-machin/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260129T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260129T150000 DTSTAMP:20260204T095643Z CREATED:20251209T081457Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T095643Z UID:2522-1769688000-1769698800@brias.be SUMMARY:Thursday Seminars by Leonardo Puleo DESCRIPTION:Party-Based Illiberalism in Europe: Why Is Illiberalism Gaining Ground in European Party Systems?\nAbstract\nIlliberalism has entered its hype phase\, increasingly invoked to describe diverse challenges to democracy. Yet the debate remains fragmented between those who treat it as an ideology—often as elusive as liberalism itself—and those who restrict it to the practices of governing actors. Moreover\, existing research focuses on a recurring set of “usual suspects\,” primarily far-right parties\, thereby overlooking potential diffusion among mainstream actors.  \nThe project Party-Based Illiberalism (IllibEU) advances a parsimonious definition of party-based illiberalism as a combination of negative stances toward (i) minorities\, (ii) civic and freedom rights\, and (iii) the horizontal accountability of power—three core pillars of liberal democracy. Contemporary illiberalism may have distinct foci: the most visible manifestations clearly stem from the far right\, yet others may be linked to different ideological orientations—for example\, neoliberal legacies that compress civic and freedom rights. Consequently\, IllibEU treats the ideological correlates of illiberalism as an eminently empirical question to be traced across time and space.  \nThe project combines two analytical levels. First\, a large-N design (12 countries) will map political parties’ illiberal supply by integrating manifesto data and expert-survey indicators (V-Party\, CHES). This broad comparative exploration will test expectations regarding structural socio-economic factors as well as political triggers of contemporary illiberalism (e.g.\, competition with the far right\, polarization\, homogenization of political supply). It will also provide a cartography of contemporary illiberalism\, enabling tests of spatial diffusion dynamics across Europe. In addition\, the large-N analysis will disentangle country-specific peaks in the salience of illiberalism\, offering crucial guidance for structuring a more fine-grained analysis.  \nThe second component of the project consists of an in-depth exploration in four countries. It will examine the implementation of illiberal practices—and instances of resistance and opposition—in IT\, DK\, FR\, and PL through the analysis of governmental decrees and parliamentary debates. The country-level focus will also enable an investigation of the diffusion of illiberal ideas not only within party systems but also across civil society\, assessing the pervasiveness of illiberal think tanks\, CSOs\, and NGOs and their connections with institutional actors.  \nBio\nLeonardo Puleo is a postdoctoral researcher at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). His research examines party competition and voting behavior\, with a particular focus on contemporary challenges to liberal democracy. His new project\, IllibEU: Party-Based Illiberalism in Europe\, funded by the FNRS\, explores the emergence and diffusion of illiberal ideas and practices across European party systems. His work has appeared in several peer-reviewed journals\, including West European Politics\, Political Studies\, Party Politics\, and Democratization.  \n  URL:https://brias.be/event/thursday-seminars-by-leonardo-puleo/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260122T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260122T203000 DTSTAMP:20260115T083624Z CREATED:20251204T163153Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260115T083624Z UID:2503-1769083200-1769113800@brias.be SUMMARY:2026 Season Opening Ceremony DESCRIPTION:The Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies is thrilled to invite you to the opening ceremony of the 2026 BrIAS season on Democratic Governance. The evening will feature a pre-ceremony book launch\, welcome speeches and a keynote talk\, a concert\, and finally\, a reception.\nClick here to register now\n\nProgramme\nAgenda\n\n\n12:00 – 14:00 Pre-Ceremony Book Launch\nDemocratic Commitment: Why Citizens Tolerate Democratic Backsliding\, Prof. Natasha Wunsch (University of Fribourg)\, Oxford University Press\nDiscussant: Prof. Luca Tomini (ULB)\n\nCeremony\n\n16:00 – 16:30 Welcome speeches by BrIAS directors and university authorities\nProf. Em. Frank Deconinck\, BrIAS Co-Director\nProf. Serge Jaumain\, BrIAS Co-Director\nProf. Marius Gilbert\, Vice-Rector for Research and Valorisation and Vice-Rector for Culture and Scientific Mediation\, ULB\nProf. Pieter Ballon\, Vice-Rector for Research\, VUB\n16:30 – 16:45 Introduction to the 2026 BrIAS Theme\nProf. Silvia Erzeel\, BrIAS Programme Co-Director\nProf. Jasper Van Assche\, BrIAS Programme WP Leader\nCamilla Colombo\, OHME Co-Director\n16:45 – 17:00 Singing interlude\nSabine Kabongo\n17:00 – 17:45 Opening speech\nSam van der Staak\, Director of the Regional Europe Programme\, IDEA International\n18:00 Concert\nPerformance by Simon Vaskou (piano) BEETHOVEN Sonate n°23\, op 57 « Appassionata »\n18:30 Reception URL:https://brias.be/event/2026-season-opening-ceremony/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260115T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260115T150000 DTSTAMP:20260204T095816Z CREATED:20251209T081239Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T095816Z UID:2520-1768478400-1768489200@brias.be SUMMARY:Thursday Seminars by Anton Jager DESCRIPTION:Hyperpolitics\nHyperpolitics\, or Political Engagement in the New Century \n Abstract\nWhat do the January 6th invasion of the Capitol and the anti-racist demonstrations of mid-2020 have in common? Both birthed some of the largest protest movements in American history\, but also diminished rapidly after their initial\, pre-revolutionary peak. This lecture reads the recent political sequence through the concept of ‘hyperpolitics’. In contrast to previous types of post-politics or mass politics\, ‘hyperpolitics’ stands for a distinctly novel mode of political commitment characteristic of the 2010s\, in which a formerly apolitical public sphere finds itself intensely repoliticized\, imposing itself on other domains such as the private\, cultural\, or economic. The return in question yet also runs across parameters that are more low-cost\, low-entry\, and low-duration than previous twentieth-century types\, in stark contrast Max Weber’s typology of politics as the ‘slow boring of hard boards.’  \n Bio\nAnton Jäger is a lecturer at University College\, Oxford and a columnist for The New York Times.   URL:https://brias.be/event/thursday-seminars-hyperpolitics-by-anton-jager/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260108T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20260108T150000 DTSTAMP:20260204T095807Z CREATED:20251209T080835Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T095807Z UID:2517-1767873600-1767884400@brias.be SUMMARY:Thursday Seminars by Ruben Van Severen DESCRIPTION:How Citizens View Alternatives to Representative Democracy\nAbstract\nThis talk gives a broad overview of the research conducted within my PhD on how citizens view alternatives to representative democracy at a time of pervasive dissatisfaction with representative institutions. Such alternatives include models that increase the role of experts\, models that strengthen citizen involvement through participatory practices\, and\, in some cases\, models that imply a move away from democracy through support for autocratic leaders. The talk progresses from general to more specific contexts. It begins by examining how stable support for (representative) democracy is in times of crisis and whether such crises increase openness to alternative\, non-democratic systems. It then turns to how citizens evaluate additions to representative democracy\, such as participation tools like referendums and panels\, and whether preferences shift when these tools are applied to ideologically polarized issues. The final part considers how these attitudes play out in practice in a concrete local setting in Belgium\, with particular attention to the perspective of cynical citizens. Throughout the talk\, special attention is given to both psychological explanations and contextual influences. I conclude by distilling three overarching lessons of the PhD and discussing what they reveal about citizens’ preferred ways of complementing representative democracy in the future.   \n  \nBio\nDr. Ruben Van Severen is a political psychologist and postdoctoral researcher affiliated with both the Department of Social Psychology and the Department of Public Governance and Management at Ghent University. His research focuses on citizens’ preferences for alternative decision-making models beyond representative democracy. He investigates what these preferences entail\, how they shift in response to societal times of crisis\, and which psychological factors shape them\, including political cynicism and ideological beliefs.  \nDue to the interdisciplinary nature of his work\, Ruben’s research has been published in journals such as the Policy Studies\, Political Research Exchange\, and Social Psychology\, European Journal of Political Research\, Government Information Quarterly. He is also part of a large-scale project in Flanders on local democratic innovations (https://participatievedemocratie.be/en/).  \n  \n  URL:https://brias.be/event/thursday-seminars-by-ruben-van-severen/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251218T160000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251218T180000 DTSTAMP:20251211T083736Z CREATED:20251211T083736Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251211T083736Z UID:2572-1766073600-1766080800@brias.be SUMMARY:Paradoxes of the schooled society\, by Leandros Kavadias DESCRIPTION:Abstract\nOver the past decades\, a silent educational revolution has transformed an increasing amount of countries worldwide into ’schooled societies’. In such societies\, schooling has become a central and authoritative institution that profoundly shapes our thinking\, behavior\, and interrelationships. This lecture examines this trend from a global and comparative perspective and studies its association to education-based inequalities and political conflict. \nAbout the Lecturer\nLeandros Kavadias is a researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Department of Sociology) and the University of Groningen (Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences). His research focusses on the comparative study of institutions and their societal consequences\, specifically regarding social inequalities. His main fields of interest include comparative cultural sociology\, intergroup relations\, globalization and the sociology of education. URL:https://brias.be/event/paradoxes-of-the-schooled-society-by-leandros-kavadias/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251201T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251203T180000 DTSTAMP:20251125T104543Z CREATED:20251125T101716Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251125T104543Z UID:2448-1764590400-1764784800@brias.be SUMMARY:Resilient Democracy Online: Reimagining Civic Debate on Social Media. DESCRIPTION:BRIAS and the SoMe4Dem – Social Media for Democracy project invite you to a three-day stakeholder event dedicated to strengthening democratic debate in the digital age.\n\nA stakeholder workshop organized in partnership with BRIAS\nPart of the Horizon Europe project SoMe4Dem \n\nAbout the Event\nHow can democratic debate thrive in an era of online polarisation\, shifting political norms\, and increasingly complex information ecosystems? \nResilient Democracy Online is a three-day event hosted in collaboration with BRIAS as part of the Horizon Europe project SoMe4Dem – Social Media for Democracy. The programme brings together eight partner institutions\, including the Brussels School of Governance\, to examine the causal mechanisms underpinning digital citizenship and democratic engagement. \nThis workshop will explore: \n\nHow European digital ecosystems can build long-term resilience to external disruptions\nTechnical and institutional conditions for open\, healthy civic debate\nWays to foster constructive disagreement and deliberation online\nSocio-technical principles for strengthening democratic use of social media\nInsights from research on polarisation\, cultural memory\, and public trust\n\n\nRegister here URL:https://brias.be/event/resilient-democracy-online/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251201T083000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251201T140000 DTSTAMP:20251118T081952Z CREATED:20251118T081952Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T081952Z UID:2438-1764577800-1764597600@brias.be SUMMARY:La démocratie en danger : agir contre les violences envers les femmes politiques DESCRIPTION:Brulocalis and its partners organize a study morning dedicated to women in politics\, parity challenges\, and concrete strategies to combat the violence and obstacles that hinder their participation.\n\nWomen in Politics:\nParity\, Violence\, and Democratic Participation\n\nAbout the Event\nThis study morning will address the place of women in politics\, the challenges of gender parity\, and concrete means to combat the violence and barriers that limit their political participation. \nSexism in politics remains a major issue for women’s participation and representation in democratic life. Far beyond individual attitudes\, it is a structural phenomenon that hinders women’s entry into the political sphere\, complicates their trajectory once they hold responsibilities\, and jeopardizes the representation of women’s interests in public policy. \nToo often\, elected women confronted with sexist behaviour\, harassment\, or symbolic and verbal violence are forced to disengage\, give up their mandate\, or choose not to stand for re-election. In this way\, sexism acts as a tool of marginalisation and reinforces the male domination of the political field. \nRecent data in Belgium and across Europe show an increase in violence\, harassment\, and intimidation targeting women engaged in politics — particularly young candidates. Since the 2024 federal\, regional\, and municipal elections\, Belgium has recorded a decline in the number of female candidates\, a worrying trend also observed in other Council of Europe member states. \nIn response to this alarming situation\, Brulocalis and its partners are organising an awareness-raising and dialogue event\, bringing together researchers\, elected officials\, experts\, and political representatives with a shared ambition: to understand\, to testify\, and to act. \n\nProgramme (Provisional)\nAgenda\n\n\n8:30 Welcome coffee\n\nPart 1 – Overview of Political Parity in Belgium and Europe\, Forms of Violence and Cyberharassment (9:00 – 10:45)\n\nIntroduction by Federal Minister for Equal Opportunities Rob Beenders and Christian Lamouline\, President of Brulocalis\nAnalysis of the post-2024 elections situation by Audrey Vandeleene\, postdoctoral researcher and professor\, Department of Political Science\, ULB (CEVIPOL)\, author of the study “Candidat/Candidates” for the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men\nAnalysis of stagnant parity in Brussels municipal bodies after the 2024 elections\, by Alessia Messina\, Gender Officer at Brulocalis\nEuropean perspectives and 2025 data by Annelies Coessens\, Project Officer at CEMR (Council of European Municipalities and Regions)\, author of the study “Women in Politics – Local and European Trends”\nDo we need women in politics? Presentation of a study on gendered ambition and its consequences for the political sphere by Robin Devroe\, VUB & UGent\nForms of violence and cyberharassment by Anne Van Bavel\, postdoctoral researcher at VUB\nSocial media as a ‘new’ public space marked by violence against women\, and female politicians specifically\, by journalist and documentary filmmaker Florence Hainaut\n\nPart 2 – Women in Politics: Between Hopes and Realities (11:00 – 11:45)\nModerated by: Sarra El Massaoudi\, journalist\, trainer\, and speaker \n\nTestimonies from women politicians: resilience and lived experiences in the field\n\nPart 3 – Tools and Resources for Action (11:45 – 13:00)\nDiscover mechanisms and best practices for supporting women in politics: \n\nPreparing and protecting women candidates with ELECTA\nReporting and handling aggressive behaviour\, by Myriam Fayad (Research & Training Service\, Institute for the Equality of Women and Men – IEFH) and Marie Denis (President of the Women’s Rights Advisory Council\, author of guides on coercive control\, co-founder of the Observatory on Violence Against Women)\nMeasures to strengthen women’s political participation at the Brussels regional level\, by Kelly Timperman\, President of the Brussels Council for Equality between Women and Men (CEFH)\nCouncil of Europe standards for fostering equal participation\, by Cécile Gréboval\, Programme Manager\, Gender Mainstreaming – Senior Gender Equality Advisor\, Council of Europe\nClosing remarks by Corinne François\, Director of Brulocalis\n\n13:00 Networking lunch to continue discussions in a friendly atmosphere. URL:https://brias.be/event/la-democratie-en-danger-agir-contre-les-violences-envers-les-femmes-politiques/ LOCATION:ULB\, Salle Dupreel\, Salle Dupréel\, Avenue Jeanne 44\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251125T083000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251125T193000 DTSTAMP:20251022T131425Z CREATED:20251022T131230Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T131425Z UID:2414-1764059400-1764099000@brias.be SUMMARY:7th Waseda Brussels Conference – Next-Generation Quantum Technology through the Fusion of Nanophotonics and Atomic Physics DESCRIPTION:The Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies and the Waseda University Brussels Office organize the 7th Waseda Brussels Conference on Next-Generation Quantum Technology through the Fusion of Nanophotonics and Atomic Physics. \nWith the support of The Mission of Japan to the European Union. \n\nRegister here\n\nAbout the Conference\nQuantum Sciences and Technologies — new technologies and systems using the properties of quantum mechanics — are among the most dynamic areas of fundamental research and innovation today. They underpin breakthroughs in advanced computing\, artificial intelligence\, sensing and metrology\, biomedical research\, weather and climate modelling\, cybersecurity\, and sustainable energy. \nGiven the major scientific and technological challenges\, the European Union and Japan are intensifying collaboration in quantum research through increased investment\, public-private partnerships\, and coordinated strategies such as the Quantum Europe Strategy\, Japan’s National Quantum Strategy\, and the EU-Japan Letter of Intent on Strengthening Cooperation in Quantum Sciences & Technologies. \nThis conference explores how recent advances in quantum technology — particularly in nanophotonics and atomic physics — are driving the development of large-scale distributed quantum computing and global quantum networks. It also aims to strengthen EU–Japan collaboration through dialogue\, project development\, and funding synergies. \n\n25/11/2025 – Conference Schedule\nAgenda\n\n\n08:30 – 09:00 Registration & Welcome Coffee\n\nWelcome Words & Policy Session\nChair: Jean-Louis Moortgat (Waseda University Brussels Office) \n\nMasahiko Gemma – Vice-President for International Affairs & International Fundraising\, Waseda University\nAnne Weyembergh – Vice-Rector for External Relations & Cooperation\, Université libre de Bruxelles\nFranz Deconinck – Co-Director\, Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies\nH.E. Kazutoshi Aikawa – Ambassador\, Mission of Japan to the European Union\nH.E. Jean-Eric Paquet (video message) – Ambassador of the European Union to Japan\nEuropean representative (TBC)\n\nIntroduction of Quantum Technology in Waseda\n\n10:00 – 10:15 Takao Aoki (Waseda University)\n10:15 – 10:30 Coffee break\n\nSession I – Experiments with Laser-Cooled Atoms\nChair: Takao Aoki (Waseda University) \n\nArno Rauschenbeutel (Humboldt University of Berlin) – Hybrid Trapping of Cold Atoms with Surface Forces and Blue-Detuned Evanescent Light on a Nanophotonic Waveguide\nJulien Laurat (Sorbonne University) – Quantum optics with cold atoms trapped along nanowaveguides\nSebastian Hofferberth (University of Bonn) – Waveguide QED with Rydberg Superatoms\nLucia Hackermueller (University of Nottingham) – Bayesian sensing and photon storage in micromachined waveguides\n\n12:30 – 14:30 Networking Lunch & Poster Session \nSession II – Experiments with Atom-like Systems in Solids\nChair: Darrick Chang (The Institute of Photonic Sciences) \n\nHugues de Riedmatten (ICFO) – Quantum network nodes with nano(micro) scale rare-earth based devices\nHanna Le Jeannic (Sorbonne University) – Quantum Light Generation and Collection via Solid-State Emitters on Optical Nanofibers\n\n15:30 – 15:45 Coffee break \nSession III – Theory\nChair: Arno Rauschenbeutel (Humboldt University of Berlin) \n\nDarrick Chang (ICFO) – Realizing many-body complexity in quantum optics\nSaverio Pascazio (University of Bari) – Dynamics and dissipation in waveguide QED\n\nSession IV – Related Quantum Technologies\nChair: Hugues de Riedmatten (The Institute of Photonic Sciences) \n\nStéphane Trebaol (Institut Foton / University of Rennes) – Visible light sources for quantum technologies\nNicolas Cerf (Université libre de Bruxelles) – From matrix permanents to many-photon multimode interferometry: Violating conjectures on permanents leads to anomalous bunching phenomena\n\nConcluding Words\n\n17:45 – 18:00 Takao Aoki (Waseda University)\n18:00 – 19:30 Farewell Reception\n\n\n\nContact\nJean-Louis Moortgat\nWaseda University Brussels Office\nAvenue Antoine Depage 1\, 1050 Brussels\, Belgium\nhttps://www.waseda.jp/inst/brussels-office/news-en/\nEmail: jean-louis.moortgat@ulb.be\nTel: +32 476 538 320 URL:https://brias.be/event/7th-waseda-brussels-conference-next-generation-quantum-technology-through-the-fusion-of-nanophotonics-and-atomic-physics/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251001T110000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20251002T160000 DTSTAMP:20250929T064259Z CREATED:20250915T103645Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250929T064259Z UID:1751-1759316400-1759420800@brias.be SUMMARY:Citizens\, Political Organisations and Digital Technologies: Disconnection or/and Reconnection? DESCRIPTION:The Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies and the RELINK2 COST Action organize a collaborative two-day workshop on Citizens\, Political Organisations and Digital Technologies: Disconnection or/and Reconnection?\n\n\nCitizens\, Political Organisations and Digital Technologies:\nDisconnection or/and Reconnection?\n\n\n1-2 October 2025\nCOST Action Relink2 & Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies\nUsquare – 210 Boulevard Général Jacques\, 1050 Ixelles\nAccess via here\n\n\n01/10/2025 – Networking & Stakeholder Roundtables\nAgenda\n\n\n11:00 – 11:30 Arrival and registration\n11:30 – 11:45 Welcome and project presentations\n Caroline Close (BrIAS)\n Michal Jacunski (Action Chair Relink2 CA23114)\n11:45 – 12:30 Networking activity (co-designed with Policy Lab)\n All roundtable participants and panel presenters are kindly invited to attend\n12:30 – 13:30 Lunch\n13:30 – 15:00 Roundtable 1 – Facilitating digital internal participation and deliberation within political actors\n Chair: Ramón Villaplana (University of Murcia)\n Participants:\n Ciarán Cuffe (Co-chair\, European Green Party)\n Pierre-Yves Leveaux (Communication Adviser\, Party of European Socialists Group)\n Alessia Gonfroid (Network Officer\, European Network of Political Foundations)\n \n15:00 – 15:30 Coffee break\n15:30 – 17:00 Roundtable 2 – Sharing best practices on the use of digital tools to engage hard-to-reach groups\n Chair: Caroline Close\n Participants:\n Paulo Rosa (Policy analyst\, European Commission’s Joint Research Centre)\n Hendrik Nahr (Head of European Affairs\, Make.org)\n Nadia Tjahja (Coordinator\, Youth Dialogue on Internet Governance)\n Giulia Sandri (R&D Manager\, European Citizen Action Service)\n \n17:00 – 18:00 Drink\n\n\n\n02/10/2025 – Academic Workshop\nAgenda\n\n\n8:30 – 9:00 Arrival and registration\n9:00 – 9:10 Welcome\n Caroline Close (BrIAS)\n Jasmin Fitzpatrick (Action Vice-Chair Relink2 CA23114)\n9:15 – 10:45 Parallel sessions\n\nPanel session 1: E-government and digital inclusion\nChair: Giulia Sandri (Université libre de Bruxelles)\n Discussant: Dmytro Khutkyy (University of Tartu) \n\nMansi\, Egla; Bonomi\, Andrea – (Re)Connecting Citizens through Digital Public Services: Examining the Role of E-Government in Political Trust and Democratic Engagement\nKapsa\, Izabella – Reconnecting or Excluding? Online Voting in Participatory Budgeting in Polish Cities\nGueorguieva\, Pétia – Digital local policies and digital needs to improving citizens participation\n\nPanel session 2: Digital technologies and democratic risks\nChair: Gabriela Borz (University of Strathclyde)\n Discussants: Felix Von Nostitz (ESPOL)\, Dmytro Khutkyy (University of Tartu) \n\nAquida\, Salma – Reactive Democracy and the Illusion of Digital Reconnection in Southeast Asia\nJanušauskienė\, Diana – Digital Exclusion: A Critical Analysis of Underlying Causes\nPandey\, Shipi – Disconnecting Democracy: AI\, Digital Infrastructures\, and the Simulated Inclusion of Marginalised Citizens in India\nCeballos\, Pablo – AI Regulation and Democratic Risks: A Critical Analysis of Human Rights in El Salvador\n\n10:45 – 11:15 Break \nPanel session 3: Political actors and digital tactics\nChair: Emilien Paulis (University of Luxemburg)\n Discussant: Lucas Kins (Université libre de Bruxelles) \n\nPereira\, André – Digital Youth Engagement and Party Strategies in Portugal’s 2024-2025 Elections\nBarrat\, Jordi – How public institutions supervise political parties when online voting is used for internal decision-making\nDechung\, Zhang – From Tweets to Tactics: Unravelling State-backed Propaganda on Twitter\nSchoeman\, Smilla – How personal data is used by political parties and private companies for election campaigning in South Africa\n\nPanel session 4: Digital Citizenry and Democratic Governance\nChair: Oscar Barberà (University of Valencia)\n Discussant: Thomas Legein (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) \n\nMompó\, Adrià; Lupato\, Fabio G. – Political parties and their membership: a new role for a declining group in a new environment?\nBoja\, Morena – Digital Technologies and Democratic Governance in the Western Balkans: Threats\, Opportunities\, and Outcomes\nKouiyache\, Omar – Theorizing Reconnection: New Frameworks for Understanding Digital Citizenship\nMartins\, Pedro – Refugee Collective Intelligence in the Digital Age: Interactive Methods and the Role of Policymaker Engagement\n\n12:45 – 14:00 Lunch \n14:00 – 15:00 Plenary discussion\n Synthesis of insights and identification of research priorities and synergies\n Chair: Jasmin Fitzpatrick (Action Vice-Chair Relink2 CA23114) \n15:15 – 15:30 Closing remarks and next steps\n Caroline Close (BrIAS)\n Jasmin Fitzpatrick (Action Vice-Chair Relink2 CA23114) URL:https://brias.be/event/citizens-political-organisations-and-digital-technologies-disconnection-or-and-reconnection/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250915T120000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20250915T150000 DTSTAMP:20250915T105334Z CREATED:20250915T093457Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250915T105334Z UID:1745-1757937600-1757948400@brias.be SUMMARY:Investigating the Dynamics of Destructive Polarisation in Public Communication DESCRIPTION:BrIAS invites you to the first lunchtime seminar of the new Programme theme “Democratic Challenges” with Prof. Axel Bruns: \nInvestigating the Dynamics of Destructive Polarisation in Public Communication\nAbstract:\nThe focus of concerns about societal fragmentation in public communication is shifting. Instead of the retreat into echo chambers and filter bubbles that had been assumed in previous research\, and which has not been confirmed by empirical evidence\, greater emphasis is now being placed on polarisation along issue\, ideological\, and identity lines. \nMild forms of polarisation can be productive\, but at elevated levels it variously leads individuals to dismiss alternative viewpoints\, to attack political opponents verbally and even physically\, and to embrace and disseminate (dis)information because of its ideological stance rather than its truthfulness. \nSocial media play a particular role as a public space where such dynamics manifest\, and activities there are themselves fed by material from mainstream as well as fringe media. \nThis presentation introduces destructive polarisation as a particularly pernicious form of polarisation that is distinguished by a number of distinct symptomatic features\, and outlines practice mapping as a novel approach to analysing such polarised debates. \nPresenter bio:\nAxel Bruns is an Australian Laureate Fellow and Professor in the Digital Media Research Centre at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane\, Australia\, and a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society. \nHis books include Are Filter Bubbles Real? (2019) and Gatewatching and News Curation: Journalism\, Social Media\, and the Public Sphere (2018)\, and the edited collections Digitizing Democracy (2019)\, the Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics (2016)\, and Twitter and Society (2014). \nHis current research focusses on public communication in digital and social media environments\, with particular attention to the dynamics of polarisation\, partisanship\, and problematic information\, and their implications for our understanding of the contemporary public sphere. His work draws especially on innovative methods for analysing big social data. \nHe served as President of the Association of Internet Researchers in 2017–19. His research blog is at http://snurb.info/\, and he posts on Mastodon at @snurb@aoir.social and on Bluesky at @snurb.info. URL:https://brias.be/event/investigating-the-dynamics-of-destructive-polarisation-in-public-communication/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250614 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250615 DTSTAMP:20251217T132044Z CREATED:20251217T121733Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T132044Z UID:2633-1749859200-1749945599@brias.be SUMMARY:Concert & Expo: La Présence d'Olivier Messiaen DESCRIPTION:A concert featuring selected piano & voice works of Olivier Messiaen and an exhibition of selected works by Bern Wery inspired by the music of Olivier Messiaen. \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nPierre Thomas Piano \n\n\n\nSabine Lawalrée Piano \n\n\n\nLaura Elisabeth Verlinden Chanteuse lyrique \n\n\n\nBern Wery Exposition \n\nRegistration\nParticipation through registration. Voluntary contributions can be made through donations via our VUB donations account either by clicking through to this link or by transferring an amount directly to BE51 0013 6779 3562 with the reference GIFTFD48. Donations from 40 euros onwards are eligible for tax refunds of up to 45% of the donation. \n\n\n\nSeats are limited\, once registrations reach full capacity additional registrations will be placed on a waiting list. URL:https://brias.be/event/concert-expo-la-presence-dolivier-messiaen/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Other Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250605 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250606 DTSTAMP:20251217T132030Z CREATED:20251217T122134Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T132030Z UID:2636-1749081600-1749167999@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS Public Forum: Democratic Governance: Challenges & Innovations DESCRIPTION:This is a one-day public forum organised as a collaboration between the two BrIAS programmes: Sustainable Robotics and Democratic Governance. Through this forum we aim to foster conversations and promote close collaborations among key stakeholders who are closely connected to the theme of democratic governance\, with the goal to collectively think of democratic challenges in practice. We focus on five key areas: 1.    Polarization\, populism\, and violence 2.    Democratic short-termism and sustainability 3.    Technology\, misinformation\, and AI 4.    Inequality and inclusion 5.    Democratic Innovations Beyond these areas\, we pay specific attention to the role of cities and art in democratic resilience. To this end\, we bring academics\, members of civil society organizations and public administrations together to: •    Discuss the main challenges to democratic governance •    Raise the big questions that need to be addressed •    Strengthen the link between academic and stakeholders’ knowledge \n\n\n\nThe Forum combines talk duos on key dimensions of democratic governance\, as well as smaller creative workshops. \n\nProgramme\n\n\n\n\n09:00 – 09:30\n\n\nWelcome\n\n\n\n\n09:30 – 09:45\n\n\nIntroductionMarius Gilbert\, Vice-Rector for Research & Diffusion\, and Scientific Culture & MediationFrank Deconinck\, BrIAS DirectorEmanuele Garone and Ann Nowe\, 2023 – 2025 Program DirectorsSilvia Erzeel and Emilie van Haute\, 2025 – 2027 Program Directors\n\n\n\n\n09:45 – 10:45\n\n\nLaunch talk duos (academia / society)Polarisation\, populism and violenceEva Jaspers (Utrecht University)Maarten Van Alstein (Vlaams Vredesinstituut)Short-termism and sustainabilityEmmanuel Slautsky (ULB)Karim Sheik Hassan (CERAC)Technology\, disinformation and AIPaolo Turrini (Warwick University)Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck (Lie detectors)\n\n\n\n\n10:45 – 11:00\n\n\nCoffee/Tea break\n\n\n\n\n11:00 – 12:30\n\n\nWorkshopsIdentification of democratic challenges and big questions to address related to the threethemes (polarisation\, populism\, and violence; short-termism and sustainability;technology\, disinformation\, and AI)\n\n\n\n\n12:30 – 13:30\n\n\nLunch\n\n\n\n\n13:30 – 14:15\n\n\nLaunch talk duos (academia / society)Inequalities and inclusionKenza Amara-Hammou (UCLouvain)Angela van de Wiel (SAAMO Brussel/Bruxelles vzw)Democratic innovationsVincent Jacquet (Unamur)Jonathan Moskovic (DemNext/OECD)\n\n\n\n\n14:15 – 15:45\n\n\nWorkshopsIdentification of democratic challenges and big questions to address related to the twothemes (Inequalities and inclusion; Democratic innovations)\n\n\n\n\n15:45 – 16:00\n\n\nCoffee/Tea Break\n\n\n\n\n16:00 – 17:00\n\n\nNetwork building and forward thinking exercise: what’s next?\n\n\n\n\n17:00 – 17:30\n\n\nConclusion\n\n\n\n\n17:30\n\n\nDrink URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-public-forum-democratic-governance-challenges-innovations/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250528 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250529 DTSTAMP:20251217T132002Z CREATED:20251217T122600Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T132002Z UID:2639-1748390400-1748476799@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS Seminar & Closing Ceremony DESCRIPTION:BrIAS Sustainable Robotics\, AI and Automation Closing Ceremony \n\nSeminar 1: BrIAS Fellow Prof. Ilya Kolmanovsky\nExploiting Supervisory Schemes and the Interplay Between Computations and Closed-Loop Properties in Model Predictive Control\n\nAbstract: Model Predictive Control (MPC) leads to algorithmically defined nonlinear feedback laws for systems with pointwise-in-time state and control constraints. These feedback laws are defined by solutions to appropriately posed optimal control/trajectory optimization problems that are (typically) solved online. There is a growing interest in the use of MPC for practical applications\, including as an enabling technology for control and trajectory generation in autonomous vehicles\, including in aerospace\, automotive and robotics domains. To enable MPC implementation\, the solutions to MPC optimization problems must be computed reliably and within the available time. After describing several motivating applications in aerospace and automotive domains\, the talk will reflect on recent research by the presenter and his students/collaborators into strategies for computing solutions in optimization problems arising in receding horizon and shrinking horizon MPC formulations. These strategies include methods for solving MPC problems inexactly\, and the use of add-on supervisory schemes for MPC which reduce the computational time and enlarge the constrained closed-loop region of attraction. In particular\, a Computational Governor (CG) will be described which maintains feasibility and bounds the suboptimality of the MPC warm-start by altering the reference command provided to the inexactly solved MPC problem. As it also turns out\, the analysis of time distributed implementation of MPC based on fixed number of optimization algorithm iterations per time step and warm-starting benefits from the application of control-theoretic tools such as the small gain theorem; intriguingly\, similar tools can be exploited in “control-aware” multi-disciplinary design optimization. \n\n\n\nSeminar 2: BrIAS Fellow Prof. Bruno Sinopoli\n\n\n\nLinear Methods for Dimensionality Reduction: is there life beyond PCA?\n\n\n\nAbstract: Feature extraction and selection at the presence of nonlinear dependencies among the data is a fundamental challenge in unsupervised learning. We propose using a Gram-Schmidt (GS) type orthogonalization process over function spaces to detect and map out such dependencies. Specifically\, by applying the GS process over some family of functions\, we construct a series of covariance matrices that can either be used to identify new large-variance directions\, or to remove those dependencies from known directions. In the former case\, we provide information-theoretic guarantees in terms of entropy reduction. In the latter\, we provide precise conditions by which the chosen function family eliminates existing redundancy in the data. Each approach provides both a feature extraction and a feature selection algorithm. Our feature extraction methods are linear\, and can be seen as natural generalization of principal component analysis (PCA). We provide experimental results for synthetic and real-world benchmark datasets which show superior performance over state-of-the-art (linear) feature extraction and selection algorithms. Surprisingly\, our linear feature extraction algorithms are comparable and often outperform several important nonlinear feature extraction methods such as autoencoders\, kernel PCA\, and UMAP. Furthermore\, one of our feature selection algorithms strictly generalizes a recent Fourier-based feature selection mechanism (Heidari et al.\, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory\, 2022)\, yet at significantly reduced complexity. \n\n\n\n  URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-seminar-closing-ceremony/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250526 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250529 DTSTAMP:20251217T131941Z CREATED:20251217T123731Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T131941Z UID:2643-1748217600-1748476799@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS x OHME : Crossing Wires - Arts\, AI & Robotics DESCRIPTION:Crossing Wires is a three day event dedicated to Arts\, AI and Robotics\, presented by Ohme and hosted in collaboration with BrIAS – Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies. \n\n\n\nThe programme features art installations\, workshops\, engaging talks and a resonant closing night\, to celebrate the closure of the second edition of the Sustainable Robotics artistic residency. \n\n\n\nArtists and researchers reflect on current themes such as ethical issues\, climate change and our collective future in the age of automation and artificial intelligence. They share their vision and process\, aiming to offer insights into our complex relationship to creative thinking and the computational systems that increasingly shape our world. Crossing Wires investigates topics like sustainable robotics\, the future of Generative AI\, creative computers and the complex dynamics between Art and AI. \n\n\n\nFocusing on exploration rather than definitive answers\, this event opens a space for dialogue and exchange on how artistic and scientific practices can challenge each other in shaping tomorrow’s society. \n\n \nProgramme\nArt installations\nThe installations developed as part of the Sustainble Robotics residency will on display during the entire three days:​​ \n\n\n\n\nPlantoid by Dewi Brunet is a bio-inspired work that merges robotics and nature. This interactive installation invites visitors to discover robotic plants that respond to their environment. Plantoid explores the potential for harmonious interactions between technology and nature\, highlighting how robotic art can enrich our relationship with biodiversity.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Garden of the Future by Kris Verdonck imagines an ecosystem where self-sustaining robots\, powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind\, perform ecological roles in harmony with natural cycles. Free from batteries or power grids\, these robots adapt to energy fluctuations\, challenging conventional consumption.\n\n\n\n\n\nCarbon Technostructure by Guillaume Slizewicz and Gijs de Heij is an interactive installation that materialises the often invisible environmental impact of digital infrastructures. By employing real-time data analysis and physical visualisation techniques\, the project bridges the gap between the intangible nature of digital services and their tangible carbon footprint.\n\n  \n\nAI in education: Where are the opportunities? – Prof. Sarah Howard (University of Leeds) & Prof. Jo Tondeur (VUB)\n\n\n\nIn the fast evolving landscape of digital technologies\, the introduction of new artificial intelligence (AI) has caused great excitement and unrest in education. In “Teachers and Machines: Is something new happening?”\, we consider interactions between teachers and AI-advancements. The aim is to examine claims\, possible benefits and the conditions. The discussion presented in this talk is not just about the feasibility of AI tools in education\, but also about the context\, vision\, and strategic planning required to usefully integrate these technologies into the educational practice of tomorrow. Ultimately\, this work provides a perspective of putting teachers in a position to select and integrate new AI-enabled tools. \n\n\n\nSarah Howard is professor at the University of Leeds. The driving question of her research is: how can we help teachers best use digital technologies to support what they value in learning? A key focus of this work is experimenting with new approaches\, technologies and multimodal data to observe the classroom and explore digital technology integration\, with the aim of conducting research that is meaningful and useful in practice. \n\n\n\nJo Tondeur is Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Prior to academia he was a teacher across various levels of schooling. His research interests are in the field of educational innovation\, technology use\, online and blended learning\, and professional development. Most of his current research focuses on the interplay between (digital) innovations and pre/in-service training. \n  \n\nWorkshop: Carbon Technostructures – Guillaume Slizewicz & Gijs de Heij\nA hands-on workshop on the carbon technostructure of the web\, inviting participants to trace the journey of their HTTP requests and to link each network node to its energy source. By combining developer tools with API calls\, attendees will gain a direct sense of the geographic and environmental footprint of web activity. The aim is not only to reveal where data travels\, but to connect those pathways to real-world energy systems. \n\n\n\nIn the first part\, we will use traceroute commands and IP-localisation services to map the path taken by requests to a chosen website. Participants will learn to interpret each hop and record its location. In the second part\, we will query public energy-production APIs to discover the mix of renewables\, fossil fuels and other sources that power each node. \n\n\n\nThis comparative analysis will show how different regions rely on different energy mixes and invite discussion on how choice of infrastructure affects carbon intensity. \n\n\n\nBy the end of the day\, participants will have a working script\, and a clearer understanding of the hidden carbon cost of their web projects. Please bring your own laptop to take part. \n\n\n\nGuillaume Slizewicz is a designer and digital artist whose work sits at the intersection of technology\, the environment\, and societal issues. Through his practice\, he engages with the tension between innovation and sustainability\, using technology in poetic\, evocative and critical ways. His approach draws connections between ancient practices and contemporary digital tools. \n\n\n\nGijs de Heij is a Brussels based designer and programmer. He is a member of the collective Open Source Publishing which exclusively uses free and open source software (F/LOSS). Through his work he questions the influence and affordances of digital tools to make design and to enable different modes of collaboration. \n\n  \n\n\n\n \n\n \nParticipation is free but registration is recommended due to limited capacity. URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-ohme-crossing-wires-arts-ai-robotics/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Other Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250522 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250524 DTSTAMP:20251217T131914Z CREATED:20251217T124518Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T131914Z UID:2648-1747872000-1748044799@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS Conference on Battery Management and Future Technologies DESCRIPTION:The BrIAS Batteries2025 aims at becoming a recurrent international event for a multidisciplinary scientific community to present and discuss the most recent advancement and future avenues concerning the Dynamic Modelling and Control of Battery Systems (including Battery Management Systems and Energy Management Systems with storage). URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-conference-on-battery-management-and-future-technologies/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250519 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250520 DTSTAMP:20251217T131852Z CREATED:20251217T130243Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T131852Z UID:2652-1747612800-1747699199@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS Public Forum: Protection of Critical Underwater Infrastructures DESCRIPTION:The objective of this forum is to raise awareness and foster dialogue among academia\, industry\, operators\, policymakers\, and the public-at-large on the theme of the protection of Critical Underwater Infrastructures (CUIs). The conference will begin with an introduction to CUIs and discussing their vulnerability to covered sabotages\, terroristic actions\, and hybrid warfare. The geopolitical importance of these infrastructure will be highlighted and an historical overview on the most notorious and impactful incidents will be provided. After this introductory part\, experts and operators will explain how this problem is currently approached by governments and by the industry\, what are the tools available today\, and what are the typical prevention and intervention operations carried out. A critical analysis of successes\, pitfalls and lessons learnt from nowadays technologies\, operations\, and policies will be carried out. The forum will then move toward the future. Ongoing research directions and a vision on the future will be presented by researchers (from academia and the industry) and funding agencies. The forum will end discussing what politics and policy making can do to: i) encourage new research actions; and ii) promote the development of a comprehensive framework based on the share of responsibility between civil and military bodies\, as well as public and private entities. \nProgramme\n\n\n\n\n    09:00 – 09:30\n\n\nWelcome and Initial Remarks                                                                                     Prof. Emanuele Garone\, ULBProf. Marius Gilbert\, Vice-Rector for Research\, ULB\n\n\n\n\n09:30 – 11:50\n\n\nSession I: The Problem and the Present (chair: Prof. Emanuele Garone)\n\n\n\n\n09:30 – 09:50\n\n\nCritical Maritime Infrastructures – A Geopolitical issue for the EU and beyondDr. Allison Weston – Senior Coordinator for Maritime Security and Deputy Director in the Security and Defence Policy Directorate\, European External Action Service\, European Commission. \n\n\n\n\n09:50 – 10:10\n\n\nAn analysis of the problem and an historical overview of incidents involving CUIsDr. Tobias Libetrau\, University of Copenhagen.\n\n\n\n\n10:10 – 10:30\n\n\nOperative Experience on CUI protection – The Belgian experience\, some operational experience\, and identified challengesRepresentatitve of the Belgian Navy\n\n\n\n\n10:30 – 10:50\n\n\nCoffee break\n\n\n\n\n10:50 – 11:10\n\n\nThe Italian perspective of underwater dimension for the resilience of critical infrastructureAdm. Francesco Milazzo\, OF6 –  Italian Navy – Commander of the Italian Submarine Fleet\n\n\n\n\n11:10 – 11:30\n\n\nCUIs\, Threats\, and solutions. A vision from the Private Sector John Wrottesley\, Executive Director of the European Subsea Cable Association\n\n\n\n\n11:30 – 11:50\n\n\nProtection of CUIs in a changing worldAdm. Marcello Grivelli\, OF6 – Italian Delegation at NATO \n\n\n\n\n11:50 -12:30\n\n\nPANEL SESSION I – CUI Today : Success\, Pitfalls and Lesson Learnt (Moderator : E. Garone)Participants: Dr. Allison Weston\, Dr. Thobias Lievetrau\, Adm. Francesco Milazzo\, Belgian Navy speaker\, John Wrottsley\, Adm. Marcello Grivelli.\n\n\n\n\n12:30 – 13:20\n\n\nLunch\n\n\n\n\n13:20 – 15:10\n\n\nSession II – Research and CUI (Chair Geert DeCubber\, Royal Military Academy)\n\n\n\n\n13:20 – 13:30\n\n\nDefense oriented Research\, Development and Innovation : a strategy that applies on CUIAdm. Baudoin Coppieters de Gibson – OF6 – Director General of the Royal Higher Institute for Defense.\n\n\n\n\n13:30 – 13:50\n\n\nResearch on Protection of CUIs: The potential of using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing for CUI protection. Prof. Martin Landro\, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.\n\n\n\n\n13:50 – 14:10\n\n\nRobotics and Protection of CUI: on overview on current research trends. Prof. E. Garone\, ULB\n\n\n\n\n14:10 – 14:30\n\n\nRobotics and Protection of CUI: Industrial Research Tanguy Durand\, Naval Group.\n\n\n\n\n14:30 – 14:50\n\n\nHow the European Commission sees R&D on CUI’s protection. Renauld Hock\, European Defence Fund.\n\n\n\n\n14:50 – 15:10\n\n\nBelgium future in CUI’s protection – Mission Driven Defence Innovation Ecosystem for Critical Underwater Infrastructures.Piet Opstaele – CEO Blue Cluster\n\n\n\n\n15:10 – 15:40\n\n\nPanel session II – Going in the right direction? (Chair M. Grivelli)Participants:  Piet Opstaele\, Prof. Martin Landro\, Renauld Hock\, Tanguy Durand\n\n\n\n\n15:40 – 16:00\n\n\nCoffee Break\n\n\n\n\n16:00 – 17:00\n\n\nSession III – Policies for CUI protection \n\n\n\n\n16:00 – 16:20\n\n\nWhich policies for CUI protection? Speaker TBC\n\n\n\n\n16:20 – 16:40\n\n\nCurrent and Future Threats\, what should the EU do ? Sophie Witte\, Munich Security Conference\n\n\n\n\n16:40 – 17:00\n\n\nPanel Session III – Which Policies and which Political Actions?\n\n\n\n\n17:00 – 17:50\n\n\nPanel Session III – Which Policies and which Political Actions?\n\n\n\n\n17:50 – 18:00\n\n\nClosing remarks and FarewellProf. Jan Dankaert\, Rector VUBProf. Emanuele Garone\n\n\n\n\n18:00\n\n\nAperitif\n\n\n\n\n18:30\n\n\nPiano Concert: Simon Vaskou\n\n\n\n\n19:15\n\n\nDinner URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-public-forum-protection-of-critical-underwater-infrastructures/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250508 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250509 DTSTAMP:20251217T131810Z CREATED:20251217T130608Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T131810Z UID:2657-1746662400-1746748799@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS Seminar DESCRIPTION:Seminar 1: BrIAS Fellow Prof. Paolo Falcone\nCautious-by-design motion planning. The role of prediction\n\nSafety of passengers and surrounding road users is the most important challenge in the design and deployment of autonomous driving technologies. In fact\, the highest Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL-D) will likely be required for autonomous driving functionalities. While fulfilling such safety requirements involves special design efforts at all levels of the autonomous driving stack\, in this talk we will focus on the control design of a safe motion planner in urban environments. \n\n\n\nWe will start by illustrating a model-based control design approach to vehicle motion planning problem\, in the presence of human road users (pedestrians\, cyclists\, human-driven vehicles). We will show that\, under mild assumptions\, vehicle behavior can be made cautious in the presence of road users and guaranteed to be persistently safe. Experimental results obtained with a passenger vehicle negotiating an intersection with a simulated pedestrian\, will be shown. An important ingredient of the proposed motion planning framework is a prediction model of the surrounding traffic. In the second part of the seminar\, we will illustrate our ongoing research on humans’ intent prediction in traffic environments. We will show how the evolution of a traffic scene can be predicted using very simple models and motion data (position\, velocity) of road users observed in similar traffic scenes.   \n\n\n\nSeminar 2 : BrIAS Fellow Prof. Hideyuki Sawada\n\n\n\nRobotics and machine learning techniques for understanding\, controlling and predicting physical phenomena\n\n\n\nMachine learning techniques are widely applied to the variety of fields to provide human-like intelligence for flexibly understanding\, controlling and predicting daily issues. In this lecture\, the history of the development of AIs is firstly introduced from the viewpoint of computational capacity and human ability\, then the basic idea for machine learning will be presented\, together with the robotic technologies. Several applications that have been conducted in our research team will be introduced as examples of the effective use of machine learning and the robotics technologies. URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-seminar/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250507 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250508 DTSTAMP:20251227T162730Z CREATED:20251217T121209Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251227T162730Z UID:2626-1746576000-1746662399@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS/CEVIPOL Seminar : The Filibuster for Democracy - Arun Chaudhary DESCRIPTION:The Filibuster for Democracy\n\nThe Premise\n\n\n\nWe had sixty-five elections (of varying quality) across the globe last year. Who is keeping track? I am. I worked in almost twenty of those elections across four continents. I share the frustration of those concerned with our failing record against the natavist right. In all the breathless discussion of which new tactics to mimic or adopt\, the greatest danger could be in overcorrection. \n\n\n\nTraditional media\, academia\, many institutions are going so far as to hire and fire based on new paradigms that are not borne out by date or vibe. When we look at political tactics and elections\, the forces of Democracy are failing not because they aren’t adopting new tactics quickly enough\, it’s because they aren’t even employing the older ones correctly. \n\n\n\nThat can be hard\, especially when trapped inside the electoral cycles of any particular nation. \n\n\n\nThe Filibuster For Democracy tries to rise above that limitation by distilling the best tactics\, messages\, and content that have *worked* worldwide\, and putting them into a frame that is usable by practical for progressive forces. A filibuster because we have to take the time to get this right. There is so much we already know\, but to put it into context takes time. \n\n\n\nI hope people can join us for any portion of the event and we will also annotate the recording to make it useful as a reference \nArun Chaudhary\nArun Chaudhary is a filmmaker working in politics. After being a key member of Barack Obama’s New Media team during the 2008 campaign\, he became the first Official White House Videographer\, a position created for him at the beginning of the Obama administration. Chaudhary traveled extensively with the President\, capturing public events and behind-the-scenes moments as well as producing and packaging presidential tapings for the Internet and broadcast television. He and his team set a new standard in documenting history\, delivering crucial images to the public from the road in real-time. Arun is the creator and architect of “West Wing Week”\, the first-ever online video diary of the White House. You can read about Arun’s time with Obama in this New York Times profile. After departing from the White House\, Chaudhary joined Revolution Messaging as a partner\, where he went on to help craft Senator Bernie Sanders’ game changing 2016 Presidential campaign as Creative Director. Arun’s work received extensive media coverage and praise\, including this Ozy profile\, “The Creative Genius Behind Bernie’s Revolution”\, and this New Yorker piece\, “How the Sanders’ Campaign got a Punk Sensibility”. In 2020\, Arun moved to Berlin with his family to focus on counter-programming the far-right globally and to work more closely in international elections/campaigns. \n\n\n\n  \n  URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-cevipol-seminar-the-filibuster-for-democracy-arun-chaudhary/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Other Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250428 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250429 DTSTAMP:20251217T141404Z CREATED:20251217T141147Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T141404Z UID:2662-1745798400-1745884799@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS Forum: Europe's Vision on Responsible AI: Research\, Practice\, Policy DESCRIPTION:The Brussels Responsible AI Network (BRAIN) Forum is a one-day event that invites researchers\, practitioners\, and policymakers from Belgium and beyond to discuss the latest advances in AI and its societal implications. It is part of the BrIAS series of public forums. \nBRAIN brings together the three Belgian AI research programmes: \n\nthe AI for the Common Good Institute (FARI) in Brussels;\nthe Trusted AI Labs (TRAIL) of the Walloon and Brussels regions;\nand the Flanders AI Research programme (FAIR).\n\nSessions\nThe BRAIN Forum is structured around four sessions: \n\nThe research session provides an expert-driven overview of emerging trends in responsible AI.\nThe practice session explores practical perspectives on implementing responsible AI.\nThe policy session addresses Europe’s global position on responsible AI.\nThe networking session aims to foster collaboration among Belgian AI labs and provides a platform for participants to present their expertise and project ideas.\n\nProgram\n\n\n\n08:00\n\nDoors Open\n\n\n08:30\n09:00\nWelcome and Introduction\n\n\n09:00\n10:40\nSession 1 – Research\n\n\n10:40\n11:00\nCoffee Break\n\n\n11:00\n13:00\nSession 2 – Practice\n\n\n13:00\n14:00\nLunch\n\n\n14:00\n15:30\nSession 3 – Policy\n\n\n15:30\n16:00\nCoffee Break\n\n\n16:00\n17:30\nSession 4 – Networking\n\n\n17:30\n\nReception\n\n\n\n\nSession 1 – Research – Advancing Responsible AI: Developments at the Research Level\n\nThis session provides an expert-driven overview of emerging research trends in responsible AI. \n\n\n\n\n09:00\n09:25\nJerzy Stefanowski (Poznan University of Technology\, Poland)\n“The Role of Counterfactual Explanations: New Methods and Open Challenges”\n\n\n09:25\n09:50\nKostas Stefanidis (Tampere University\, Finland)\n“Responsible Recommender Systems”\n\n\n09:50\n10:15\nEirini Ntoutsi (Bundeswehr University Munich\, Germany)\n“From Single Focus to Intersectional Perspective: Tackling Multi-dimensional Discrimination in AI”\n\n\n10:15\n10:40\nWillem Zuidema (University of Amsterdam\, the Netherlands)\n“The Explanation Conundrum: Why XAI Methods Don’t Work Well Enough Yet for AI That Really Matters”\n\n\n\n\n\nSession 2 – Practice – Implementing Responsible AI: Approaches from Research Programs\, Academia\, and Industry\n\n\nThis session includes practical perspectives on responsible AI from the three Belgian AI research programs (FARI\, FAIR\, and TRAIL)\, academia\, and industry. \n\n\n\n11:00\n11:15\nTom Lenaerts (ULB\, Belgium)\n“If FARI Is the Answer\, What Was the Question?”\n\n\n11:15\n11:30\nPierre Geurts (ULiège\, Belgium)\n“The Perspective of TRAIL (Trusted AI Labs) on Responsible AI”\n\n\n11:30\n11:45\nSabine Demey (Flanders AI Research program and imec\, Belgium)\n“The Perspective of FAIR (Flanders AI Research program) on Responsible AI”\n\n\n11:45\n12:15\nAmbrish Rawat (IBM Research\, Ireland)\n“Securing Generative AI”\n\n\n12:15\n12:45\nPanagiotis Germanakos (SAP SE\, Germany)\n“Trust in AI: The Human-Computer Interaction Perspective”\n\n\n\n  \n\n\nSession 3 – Policy – Shaping Responsible AI: Europe’s Global Position on Responsible AI\n\n\nThis session includes presentations and a panel on the EU’s policy and strategic approach to responsible AI\, featuring insights from the European AI Office. \n\n\n\n14:00\n15:00\nOpening Statements\n\n\n\n\nMilena Machała (European AI Office)\n“The EU AI Strategy”\n\n\n\n\nYves Moreau (KU Leuven\, Belgium)\n“Dual-Use Research in the Horizon Program: Feeding an AI Arms Race?”\n\n\n\n\nSabine Demey (Flanders AI Research program and imec\, Belgium)\n“Responsible AI Is Crucial for Value Creation With AI at Scale”\n\n\n\n\nGrégory Lewkowicz (ULB\, Belgium)\n“Will the European Digital Omnibus Run Over Responsible AI?”\n\n\n\n\nBenoît Frénay (UNamur\, Belgium)\n“Implementing the AI Act: Mission Impossible?”\n\n\n\n\nPieter Libin (VUB\, Belgium)\n“Why We Need a CERN\, Not a Manhattan Project”\n\n\n15:00\n15:30\nPanel Discussion\n\n\n\n\nModerated by Rob Heyman (VUB\, Belgium)\n\n\n\n\n  \n\nSession 4 – Networking – Connecting for Responsible AI: Showcasing Project Ideas and Research Expertise\n\n\nThis session fosters networking among members of Belgium’s three AI research programmes and explores opportunities for collaboration. \n16:00 17:30 : Flash Presentations \n\nAxel Abels (ULB\, Belgium)\n01. “Wisdom From Diversity: Bias Mitigation Through Hybrid Human-LLM Crowds”\nAlessandra Calvi (VUB\, Belgium)\n02. “Enhancing AI Fairness Through Impact Assessment”\nBenoît Frénay (UNamur\, Belgium)\n03. “When Sign Language Meets AI: Interplay Between Societal Needs and Fundamental Research”\nAntonios Kontaxakis (ULB\, Belgium)\n04. “Optimization for Sustainable Development of AI Applications”\nYves Moreau (KU Leuven\, Belgium)\n05. “Towards an Ethical Culture in Technology: Educating STEM Students and Researchers”\nIkhtiyor Nematov (ULB\, Belgium)\n06. “Data Attribution: From Conventional ML to LLM”\nSeddouk Rachid\n07. “When Artificial Intelligence and Collective Intelligence Converge”\nApurva Shah (ULB & VUB\, Belgium)\n08. “Artificial Delegates Resolve Fairness Issues in Perpetual Voting With Partial Turnout”\nManel Slokom (CWI\, the Netherlands)\n09. “Personalized Post-Processing: How Input Data Shift Recommendation Diversity?”\nThomas Vandamme (ULB\, Belgium)\n10. “Algorithmic Confusion”\nJoost Vennekens (VUB\, Belgium)\n11. “Neurosymbolic AI for Social Cognition”\n\n  \n\n\nThe BRAIN Forum is co-organised by the Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies (BrIAS)\, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)\, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)\, AI for the Common Good Institute (FARI)\, and Université de Namur (UNamur)\, with funding from the Brussels Institute of Advanced Studies (BrIAS)\, the Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.–FNRS)\, and the European Union. URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-forum-europes-vision-on-responsible-ai-research-practice-policy/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250404 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250405 DTSTAMP:20251227T170232Z CREATED:20251227T170135Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251227T170232Z UID:2813-1743724800-1743811199@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS Forum: Smart Cities DESCRIPTION:Speakers\nVictoria De Meue (Innoviris\, Belgium) \nClimate-Neutral and Smart Cities EU Mission: The case of the Brussels-Capital Region \n  \nMaider Llaguno-Munitxa (UCLouvain\, Belgium) \nData Practices to assess urban environmental exposures \n  \nGiovanni Esposito (Université Libre de Bruxelles\, Belgium) \nSmart City Development as public entrepeneurship \n  \nGianluca Bontempi (Université Libre de Bruxelles\, Belgium) \nDigital Twins of urban mobility: Challenges and perspectives \n  \nHugues Bersini (Université Libre de Bruxelles\, FARI Chair\, Belgium) \nSmart Cities\, Algocracy and FARI \n  \nAlessandro Gambale (CEO at Buildwind\,Belgium) \nSmart Cities\, Clean Air: Artificial Intelligence and Computational Fluid Dynamics for Urban Air Quality assessment and Predictio URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-forum-smart-cities/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250314 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250315 DTSTAMP:20251227T154137Z CREATED:20251227T154101Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251227T154137Z UID:2809-1741910400-1741996799@brias.be SUMMARY:BrIAS Forum: Law and AI in Finance and Beyond DESCRIPTION:Description\nAI and Law intersect across diverse disciplines\, offering innovative solutions to complex legal challenges. From automating legal research to analyzing case laws\, AI enhances efficiency and precision in legal practices. This convergence also raises critical questions about ethics\, accountability\, and the need for robust regulatory frameworks. \nProgramme\n14:00 – 14:05 Welcome\n14:05 – 14:40 Opening Keynote: Law\, Ethics\, and AI: Shaping Responsible Technology – Prof. Sam Verboven\n14:40 – 15:20 Law and AI in the banking industry – Bertrand Bréhier (Head of Banking Regulation\, Financial Security and Competition Law – Société Générale Group)\n15:20 -16:00 Coffee break\n16:00 – 16:40 What AI Does to Law and What Law Should Do to AI – Prof. Gregory Lewkowicz\n16:40 – 17:20 Discussion \nSpeakers:\nSam Verboven is a Professor at the Data Analytics Lab Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research is focused on developing analytical tools and algorithms that take into account the operational context\, domain expertise\, and business requirements of the application at hand. Specifically\, he has been working on causal machine learning and multi-task learning in finance\, HR\, marketing\, and healthcare.\nhttps://data.research.vub.be/sam-verboven  \n  \nGregory Lewkowicz is a professor at the University of Brussels and director of the Global Law Program of the Perelman Center. He holds the Alexandre Koyré Chair of Excellence in Economic Law and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. He is a visiting professor of global and transnational law at the Goethe Universität in Frankfurt and at HEC-Paris. He also teaches the interactions between law and technology at the Science Po Paris Law School as part of the Master in Economic Law and at Paris II Panthéon Assas as part of the diploma in digital transformation of law & legaltech. He is the scientific secretary of the collection “Penser le droit” (Larcier Editions)\, director of the Society of Global and Transnational Law (Geneva) and member of the digital pole of the Club des juristes (Paris).\nhttps://www.fari.brussels/researcher/gregory-lewkowicz \n  \nBertrand Bréhier is a Head of Banking Regulation\, Financial Security and Competition Law – Société Générale Group. URL:https://brias.be/event/brias-forum-law-and-ai-in-finance-and-beyond/ LOCATION:BrIAS\, Boulevard Général Jacques 210\, Ixelles\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:Programme Events END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR