VUB helps build Einstein technology and opens expo on the secrets of the universe
Brussels, 20 April 2026 - Europe will soon have a special first: the Einstein Telescope (ET), an advanced observatory to detect gravitational waves, will be built deep underground. Where this will happen will be decided by the end of 2026. Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany are working together on the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion candidacy, while preparatory research is in full swing. Companies and universities are already building tomorrow's technology today and scientists from the Free University of Brussels are also playing an important role in it. A comprehensive VUB expert list can be found here.
With an interactive expo on its Etterbeek campus, the VUB is making this groundbreaking science accessible to the general public and highlighting its expertise.
VUB expertise in a key role
The VUB contributes to the development of the Einstein telescope from different disciplines. From fundamental physics, the High Energy Physics Research Centre (HEP) investigates the building blocks of the universe and is involved in top international experiments such as CERN (CMS), IceCube, LOFAR, Auger and SoLiD. That expertise is being used in the Einstein telescope project. In the field of light and laser technology, the engineering team of Brussels Photonics (B-PHOT) is developing high-precision optical systems. For the Einstein telescope, they are working, among other things, on the extremely sensitive mirrors and on technology to maximally purify laser light. In the field of hydrogeology, VUB scientists study the subsurface and groundwater flows in the Belgium-Dutch-Germany border region. These insights are crucial for the final choice of location for the telescope.
Interactive expo for the general public
From 20 to 26 April 2026, the VUB will host an interactive exhibition around the Einstein telescope. Among other things, visitors will discover a Virtual Reality journey through the telescope and extreme phenomena such as neutron stars, simulations of colliding black holes, an interactive interferometer and visualisations of the distortion of spacetime. The expo shows how gravitational waves open a completely new window on the universe, alongside classical observations with light.
Extra public day: technology of light
On Sunday 26 April, students of photonics will bring the science of light to life.
During demonstrations by the B-PHOT Student Chapter (in collaboration with SPIE and Optica), visitors will discover how light technology enables applications such as lasers and fibre optics for communication, sensors in self-driving vehicles, medical innovations such as cancer treatment and advanced techniques such as 3D printed organs.
These demos show how fundamental research, inspired by pioneers such as Albert Einstein, is leading to concrete innovations today.
Panel discussion with VUB experts
During a panel discussion on 21 April, Alexandre Sevrin and Hugo Thienpont will discuss the scientific and technological breakthroughs behind the Einstein telescope and what they mean for our understanding of the universe.
Practical
The exhibition can be visited freely at the following times:
Monday, April 20: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday, April 21: 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Thursday, April 23: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 26: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
VUB Main Campus Etterbeek - Braem Building, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Ixelles
Panel discussion: Tuesday 21 April 2026 at 19:00 Light technology demos: Sunday 26 April 2026, 10:00 - 16:00
More info
Read the VUB dossier on the Einstein telescope here .
Tineke Sonck
