Karin Vanderkerken and David Gullentops selected as members of Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts
Significant recognition for VUB vice-rector and professor
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is proud to announce that its vice-rector for Internationalisation, Professor Karin Vanderkerken, and Professor David Gullentops have been selected as new members of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (KVAB). They have received this honour in recognition of their scientific merit. Their expertise will enrich the Academy’s operations.
As a VUB professor in biomedical science, Karin Vanderkerken joins the Class of Natural Sciences, one of the four classes that make up the Academy.
“I am extremely honoured by this fine recognition of my efforts and see it as the crowning achievement of my work,” says Vanderkerken. “It is a privilege to be part of an institution with such an impressive history and to be able to contribute to its future through my experience in both research and policy.”
As a VUB professor in French literature and intermediality, David Gullentops joins the Class of Arts.
“Intermediality is one of the focuses of our research group CLIC, which is part of the Department of Language and Literature. Thanks to this recognition, the research group and the department will gain wider recognition outside VUB,” says Gullentops. “I hope to enrich the Academy by introducing intermediality as a total study discipline. All too often, not only literature and the arts but also the arts themselves are compartmentalised into separate disciplines, while their developments in the past and in current artworks are witness to countless interventions and fruitful cross-pollinations.”
Vanderkerken and Gullentops join other leading VUB members in the Class of Natural Sciences, including Professors Charles Hirsch (emeritus), Irina Veretennicoff (emerita), Alexander Sevrin and Luc Steels (emeritus and class director), and the Class of Arts, including Professor Willem Elias (emeritus).
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About the KVAB
The Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts is a society of outstanding scientists, artists and business leaders. Members are appointed for life and join one of four classes: natural sciences, humanities, arts or technical sciences.
Through a variety of initiatives, the KVAB aims to develop a long-term vision for key scientific and societal challenges and contribute to relevant policy. The Academy also publishes reports and position papers, organises colloquia and conferences, awards a number of prestigious scientific prizes and hosts eminent foreign academics.
Members of the Academy can only be elected through a selection procedure, based on scientific merit.
