Agenda
International Summer school: Modeling Water Fluxes in the Soil-Plant System
The 2nd International Summer School on Advanced Soil Physics: Soil-Plant-Water Flow will be held at UCLouvain, Belgium, from 8 to 12 September 2025. This intensive one-week program aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of water flow in the soil-rhizosphere-plant system, influenced by plant physiology and rhizosphere hydraulics. Attendees will gain both theoretical knowledge of soil and plant water flow and practical skills to model these processes using advanced numerical tools.
This summer school is tailored for master’s and PhD students, and early-career scientists working in soil physics, plant physiology, water management, environmental science, and related fields. Applicants should have an early-stage familiarity with soil physics in their research and an interest in deepening their knowledge and skills. While prior programming experience is beneficial, group projects will provide opportunities to learn basic programming skills. Participants will receive support from mentors and teaching assistants throughout the program.
Each participant will be provided with a computer. Additional practical information will be shared with the selected participants.
Fees
500 euros.
The fees include coffee/tea, and lunches. It does not include accommodation.
Applicants from middle- and low-income countries may apply for a grant (see application form).
Program
The program will be updated progressively.
| Day | Topics | Modelling tool |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Theoretical background: Root water uptake - water flow in the soil and plant systems | |
| 2 | Simulating root-scale and rhizosphere hydraulics | GRANAR, MECHA |
| 3 | Simulating 3D root system hydraulic architecture and its evolution | CPlantBox |
| 4 | Simulating water flow in the 3D soil-rhizosphere-root-shoot continuum | CPlantBox, Hydrus-1D |
| 5 | Simplified soil-plant water flow models and discussion of practical applications | Hydrus-1D |
Important Dates
1st February: Start of the application
1st May: Application deadline
15th May: Notification of decision
30th May: Complementary practical information shared with the selected participants
Course organizers and current list of lecturers
Prof. Dr. Jan Vanderborght
Prof. Dr. Mathieu Javaux
Prof. Dr. Andrea Schnepf
Prof. Dr. Guillaume Lobet
Prof. Dr. Xavier Draye
Prof. Dr. Valentin Couvreur
Mona Giraud
Accommodation options
- The Martin’s Hotel (8 minutes walk from the train station and 15 minutes from the meeting place): https://www.martinshotels.com/fr/page/martins-louvain-la-neuve/martins-louvain-la-neuve-innovation-art-de-vivre-hotel.11057.html#backlink:actu-269
- If Martin’s Hotel is fully booked, another option is Hotel IBIS (20 minutes walk from the train station and 30 minutes from the meeting place): https://all.accor.com/hotel/2200/index.en.shtml
- Cheaper option: youth hostel Mozaik (5 minutes walk from the train station and 15 minutes from the meeting place): https://www.gite-mozaik.be/en/
More information
For any additional questions, contact m.giraud [at] fz-juelich [dot] de
How big data can reveal the deforestation hidden in global trade
We are delighted to announce a joint presentation from the co-directors of Trase, Toby Gardner (Stockholm Environment Institute) and Helen Bellfield (Global Canopy).
Trase is a not-for-profit, collaborative initiative founded in 2015 to bring transparency to deforestation and agricultural commodity trade.
Over the past decade, Trase data and analyses have shone a light on the role of the global trade in beef, soybeans, oil palm, and cocoa - and the companies who trade these commodities - in driving deforestation and GHG emissions across the tropics. These data have advanced the scientific evidence-base behind international initiatives to combat deforestation, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
UCLouvain researchers have been long-time contributors to Trase, and we are delighted to have their leadership on home turf to share their reflections on what has been achieved and what challenges remain.
Come to the talk and explore Trase website to know more.
Anoxies, glaciations et coups de chaleur : ces moments où la terre est en crise
La section UCLouvain des Young Minds a le plaisir de vous annoncer l'organisation d'une conférence grand public (en français) ouverte à toutes et tous sur le thème de la physique du climat. Intitulée "Anoxies, glaciations et coups de chaleur : ces moments où la terre est en crise", elle sera présentée par le Prof. Michel Crucifix (ELI, UCLouvain).
Résumé de la conférence :
"La température augmente à la surface du globe. Ce réchauffement est une conséquence directe de l’activité humaine : nous avons appris à extraire le carbone organique enfoui sous terre pour en tirer de l’énergie et bâtir notre civilisation. Villes, infrastructures, textiles, engrais, … : autant d’éléments de notre quotidien qui reposent sur cette transformation. Mais cet événement est sans précédent dans l’histoire de la Terre : en rompant de nombreux équilibres, nous façonnons un monde nouveau, dont l’avenir reste incertain.
Ce n’est toutefois pas la première fois que notre planète traverse une crise. La Grande Oxydation, les glaciations du Néoprotérozoïque, l’extinction du Dévonien, … : autant de bouleversements qui ont remodelé la Terre et la vie qu’elle abrite. Pour les comprendre, il faut dépasser l’idée d’un climat semblable à une machine.
Depuis trois milliards d’années, la vie façonne notre planète : nos continents, nos océans, l’oxygène, les volcans ont tous été influencés par l’activité vivante. Les crises climatiques en sont le prix à payer : elles sont inévitables, mais toujours porteuses de dangers.
Au cours de cette conférence, Michel Crucifix nous propose d’aller à la rencontre de ces événements. Nous découvrirons les éléments dans l’environnement de notre planète et qui en rythment l’évolution. De la dynamique des résonances aux équilibres ponctués, nous verrons comment les sciences nous permettent d’éclairer les grandes transformations climatiques passées et à venir."
La conférence aura lieu le mercredi 16 avril à 19h00 dans l'auditoire A.02 (auditoires des Sciences, Place des Sciences 2, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve). Un drink ainsi que des snacks vous seront offerts après l'exposé.
L’évènement est gratuit et ouvert à toutes et tous sans inscription. Pour ceux qui ne pourraient pas assister à la conférence, celle-ci sera filmée puis rendue accessible à tous depuis le site des Young Minds et leur chaîne YouTube.
Plus d'informations sont disponibles sur le site des Young Minds ou sur la page Facebook de l'événement.
ELI-Day
Save the date !
ELI-Day returns on 27 May.
We invite all ELI researchers to submit abstracts for presentations or posters (max 2 contributions per person - max 250 words, in English only).
Besides poster sessions, you can submit in one of the following two presentation types:
Individual presentations - 15 minutes (including Q&A)
For these sessions we will select abstracts presenting specific research projects and their empirical findings (preliminary or final). These sessions will also allow beginning PhD researchers to present their thesis project. Methodological presentations are also allowed.
Research group presentations - 20 minutes (including Q&A)
The objective of these sessions is for research groups or labs to present the broad themes that they address (illustrated by project examples), OR to present large projects implemented by a team of researchers. We strongly encourage joint presentations for these sessions (i.e., by several presenters).
Abstract submission is open until 13 April 2025.
On ACELI website, you will soon find additional information about the event. Stay tuned !
PReCISE Summer School – Promoting Citizen Science Expertise
What if citizens could give your research a boost?
Did you know that lichens can reveal air quality? In the LichenGo project, citizens and researchers collaborate to observe these organisms and map pollution across Europe - a great example of participatory science!
Other examples? Citizens can contribute to the documentation and preservation of cultural heritage sites in the CitizenHeritage project or to the surveillance of exotic Aedes mosquitoes in Belgium in the MEMO+ project or to the assessment of multi-modal traffic in various cities in the Telraam project.
But what is citizen science?
It’s a scientific approach where researchers and volunteer citizens work together to collect and analyze data. This collaboration expands observational capacity, generates new knowledge, and strengthens the bond between science and society.
Are you a CIRCLE-U PhD student, researcher, academic, or science communicator?
Would you like to explore this approach and apply it to your own work?
Join the PReCISE Summer School, from July 7 to 11, 2025! This immersive training will help you understand, experiment with, and integrate citizen science into your research projects.
It fosters interdisciplinary knowledge exchange and skill development through interactive lectures, workshops, and hands-on activities.
Why participate?
Citizen Science Fundamentals – Including project design, participant engagement, data processing, and result dissemination.
Hands-on Experience – Apply CS techniques through interactive workshops, case studies, and project simulations.
Ethical & Logistical Challenges – Explore best practices for conducting CS, with a focus on the Global South.
Networking & Collaboration – Connect with experts and peers to foster interdisciplinary partnerships.
Program
The program is divided into two parts:
Days 1-3: Core Citizen Science topics (project design, participant engagement, data processing, result dissemination, and funding opportunities).
Days 4-5: Special session, in collaboration with AfricaMuseum and the University of the Western Cape, exploring best practices for Citizen Science projects in/with the Global South (socio-cultural, logistical, and ethical challenges).
Interactive workshops will guide the participants in designing their own CS projects, while fostering networking opportunities. By blending theory with practice, the PReCISE summer school will ensure attendees leave with the tools and confidence to effectively apply CS methodologies in diverse contexts, ultimately contributing to more inclusive and impactful scientific initiatives.
For whom
PhD students, postdocs, researchers interested in Citizen Science (CS).
When and where?
Date of the online introduction session is 23 June 2025 (morning).
July 7-11, 2025 (hybrid format). Participants can be on-site or online. UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
ECTS and evaluation
Credits: 5 ECTS (1 ECTS per day of participation)
Evaluation: No formal assessment, but PhD students will receive a certificate of completion awarding 5 ECTS. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.
Language
English
Funding
Tuition is free of charge.
Participants should check with their home university’s international office for potential funding opportunities for travel costs.
Aarhus University: aarhus@circle-u.eu
University of Belgrade: Nikola Savic nikola.savic@rect.bg.ac.rs
Humboldt Universität zu Berlin: berlin@circle-u.eu
King’s College London: Students are not eligible for Erasmus+ funding, but may have access to internal funding. Please check for funding opportunities or contact the Circle U. Team for more information: circle-u@kcl.ac.uk
UCLouvain: infocircleu@uclouvain.be
University of Oslo: shortterm-uio@admin.uio.no
Université Paris Cité: circleu.iro@u-paris.fr and online at u-paris.fr
University of Pisa: circleU.erasmus@unipi.it and on website.
University of Vienna: circle-u@univie.ac.at
How to apply?
Application deadline: 20 April, 2025
Contact
Caroline Michellier, UCLouvain
Marnik Vanclooster, UCLouvain
The summer school is co-funded by a seed fund of Circle U., the thematic graduate school ENVITAM, and the sector of science and technology (SST) of UCLouvain.
Agriculture et alimentation : quelle recette pour une transition ?
L'UDA vous invite le mardi 15 avril à une conférence grand public sur le thème "Agriculture et alimentation : quelle recette pour une transition ?". L'orateur sera Philippe Baret, Professeur à l'UCLouvain, chercheur à l'Earth and Life Institute, membre de l’Académie royale de Belgique.
Résumé de la conférence
Notre environnement et notre santé sont conditionnés par nos modes d’alimentation et donc par les choix de modèles agricoles.
Face à la diversité des modèles, récits et injonctions (moins de viande, plus de bio, …), quels critères mobiliser comme consommateurs et citoyens ?
Au cœur des transitions, les systèmes agricoles et alimentaires articulent choix individuels et collectifs dans un contexte toujours plus incertain.
Informations pratiques
Mardi 15 avril, de 14h à 16h (ouverture des portes à 13h30)
Auditoire Montesquieu 11 (Place Montesquieu 2 à 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve)
Prix : 10€ membre UDA – 12€ non-membre UDA
La conférence peut être suivie au choix en présentiel ou en distanciel.
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