All articles

2025 has come and gone. At Ghent University, it was another year full of new knowledge, interesting questions, some wonderful awards, and remarkable events. Look back at some memorable moments, both big and small.

“Should we panic or can we keep a cool head?” With that question, defence experts Michelle Haas and Tim Haesebrouck from Ghent University open every episode of their podcast De Paniekzaaiers (“The Panicmongers”). In a world where global politics seems upside down, they add some much-needed nuance.

Als eerste in haar familie die ging studeren, moest Davina Simons (30) het vooral op eigen krachten doen. In 2019 behaalde ze haar master in de rechten aan de UGent. In geen tijd groeide ze uit tot een van de bekendste strafpleiters van het land en vandaag runt ze haar eigen advocatenkantoor. 

Petra De Sutter and Herwig Reynaert took up their positions as rector and vice-rector at the beginning of October. A new chapter for Ghent University and for them. How have they experienced their first few weeks? What have they noticed so far? And how well do they know each other?

Migration remains a topic that deeply affects many and stirs strong emotions. Many people believe that it is “all too easy” for migrants, or that “judges go too far” when it comes to protecting refugees. But what is the reality? Prof. Ellen Desmet puts three misconceptions about migration law into perspective.

Companies, farmers, nature and consumers alike depend on water. Yet despite the fact that 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, only 1% of it is drinkable. And as climate change progresses, ensuring sufficient water for everyone is becoming increasingly challenging. Advancing water purification technologies is therefore more essential than ever.

A recent study into Parkinson’s disease has shown that a stool transplant may constitute a new and valuable treatment of the disease. “It offers a potentially safe, effective and cost-efficient way of alleviating the symptoms and improving the quality of life of millions. A 'bacterial pill' might replace the stool transplant in the future. But more research is needed.”

Around thirty Stolpersteine can be found in the sidewalks across Ghent. On November 5th, three more were added for Ghent University victims Valère, Falks, and Rifca.

Barely two years ago, Jarne Bogaert (25) graduated as a civil engineer from Ghent University. Today, he and two fellow students run the Ghent-based AI company Polysense, which helps food companies produce less waste.

What if, after graduating with a degree in medicine, you chose not to take the safe path, but to venture into the unknown? Ghent University alumnus Serhat Yildirim moved from Ghent to Harvard in the United States with a Fayat scholarship, where he discovered that the world was much bigger than what he had known back home.