These days, you may know Sarah Vandeursen as a television and documentary maker, artist, lover of Flemish dry-cured sausages, or perhaps still as Conny Komen of the band Kenji Minogue. What is less well known is that her story at Ghent University began in Political and Social Sciences. Eventually, she found her way to social work.
Thinking of starting a business as a student? Emilia De Graeve and Hannes Van Cauwenberghe would recommend it to anyone. Emilia, a psychology master’s student and co-founder of Blokmap, and Hannes, an alumnus of Ghent University and founder of several companies, take a moment to reflect on their lives as Gentrepreneurs. “Ghent University only makes your ideas more outlandish.”
Everyone knows the feeling: a conversation that flows so naturally words almost seem unnecessary, a classroom where ideas spark effortlessly, or a concert where thousands of people move as one. But is there scientific evidence that people can literally be "on the same wavelength"?
Broadening our view of the world is what Ann Buysse wants to achieve with her book 'Zoveel tussen ons’ (So much between us). She is a professor and dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. "I have never been so unsure about anything before. Especially because it has not become a purely academic book. I also put a lot of myself into it."
Children swallow a bunch of lies without realising it. Parents and educators often brush them off with a (half-)lie and as a society we’re no angels either with St Nicholas, Santa and the Easter Bunny. So is lying pedagogically acceptable? We asked professor of historic and general pedagogy Lieselot De Wilde of the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy.
We all worry from time to time. It can even be good to clear the head, says professor Ernst Koster (department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology). However, it can also get out of hand.
Nearly 30 years ago, Rwanda went through a particularly brutal genocide perpetrated against Tutsis. The perpetrators were mainly regular citizens: colleagues, neighbours, family members… Today, both perpetrators and victims live side-by-side peacefully. But in a post-genocide society, can intergroup biases be ever reduced between individuals?
“Summer lovin', had me a blast. Summer lovin', happened so fast.” Danny and Sandy felt it already in the classic film Grease: during the summer there is love in the air. But is there any truth in it? Do we fall in love more quickly in the summer?
A silent room was set up in the faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences this academic year. As a room with few stimuli you can go there for prayer, mediation or a silent moment. Vice-rector Mieke Van Herreweghe and dean Ann Buysse explain the importance of such a spot.
To do a bit more sport, to eat a healthier diet and to try to put a bit more money aside. There is a good chance that you made some sort of list of good resolutions on 1st January this year, but that already, that list has become little more than a statement of good intentions. That’s not unusual, according to Professor Emelien Lauwerier. But the good news is that it’s still not too late to pick it up again, simply by adjusting your approach.
Well-meaning compliments do not always achieve the desired effect. Professor Bart Soenens explains what to watch out for and the potential pitfalls in giving a compliment.
For Laura Sels, not a day goes past without talking about relationships. You could call her a romantic, although she doesn’t necessarily believe in the ‘one and only’. She spends a little too much time looking at things from a research perspective for that: after all, as a postdoc, she is studying emotional processes in romantic relationships. “I can spend hours philosophising and thinking about them. I am also keen to actually help couples in the future.”
