On 13, 18 and 25 May LIAS organises three expert lectures in the framework of the project 'Societal aspects of climate change'. In the Hollands College Robert Jeszke (Poland), Florian Kaiser (Germany) and Lindsay Bremner (UK) will speak successively about the role energy conversion, behavioural change and big cities play in the climate issue.

An impression of the academic session in the University Library on 2 November 2021. After the opening lecture by Robbert Dijkgraaf, Luc Sels and Joost Van Meerbeeck presented LIAS, after which Bruno Holthof, Geert Meyfroidt and Corinne Vandermeulen discussed the lessons from the pandemic in a debate moderated by Isabel Albers.

The academic session in the University Library was followed by a networking event in Hollands College, LIAS' base. Luc Sels, Bart Pattyn and Joost Van Meerbeeck welcomed the guests.

In the words of Robbert Dijkgraaf, director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, delivered during his opening lecture on 2 November: “An IAS must never be isolated. Ideas must be able to escape from the lab and infect others.”

On 2 June 2021, the Rector and the General Administrator of KU Leuven signed an agreement with Joost and Hilde Van Meerbeeck-Debois and their family office. This resulted in the establishment of LIAS Foundation which, building on the work of the Herman Van der Wee Fund and alongside the contribution of the KU Leuven, will provide the means for developing LIAS.

The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us a lot. It has taught us how fragile our social and economic interactions are, but also how a crisis gives rise to creativity and commitment.

In the Autumn, LIAS will be presented to the general public. This will take place on 2 November 2021 at 5 pm in the Reading Room of KU Leuven's Central Library. Introductory speakers are Robbert Dijkgraaf (Director Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton), Luc Sels (Rector KU Leuven), and Joost Van Meerbeeck (Co-Chair LIAS/LIAS Foundation). This will be followed by a debate with Bruno Holthof (CEO Oxford University Hospitals), Geert Meyfroidt (Clinical Director UZ Leuven) and Corinne Vandermeulen (Leuven University Vaccinology Center).