BELSPO, the Egmont Institute, and APECS Belgium cordially invite you to the evening conference «Arctic science meets policy». This event highlights current Belgian-led scientific activities and achievements in the Arctic and discusses future research priorities for this area of the globe that is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the world and is heavily impacted by climate change.

The conference focuses on the importance of strengthening links between science, policy and the private sector. Speakers include leading Belgian Arctic scientists from a variety of disciplines, as well as representatives of different policy bodies and the private sector.

Participants can enjoy networking opportunities, poster presentations illustrating the breadth of polar science carried out in Belgium, and a guided tour of the expo «The end of the world! A climate expedition aboard the ‘Belgica’» by polar experts.

Programme

18:00 – 18:20 Registration

18:20 – 18:25 Welcome by Pol De Witte (Director General at the Egmont Institute)

18:25– 18:35 Opening remarks by Frank Monteny (General Director Research and Space at BELSPO)

18:35– 19:15 Setting the scene: pitch sessions and Q&A.

Moderated by Marie-Anne Coninsx (Senior Associate Fellow at the Egmont Institute)

• Chantal Roggeman (Policy Expert in International Climate Negotiations and Cooperation at the Federal Climate Change Department)
• Marianna Pinzone (Post-doc researcher at ULiège and mentor at APECS Belgium)
• François Massonnet (Research Associate and part-time Lecturer at UCLouvain)
• Niskua Igualikinya (Climate Research Coordinator at Open Society Foundations Brussels)

19:15 – 19:45 Break

19:45– 20:45 Round table discussion about research priorities and funding + Q&A.

Moderated by Valerie Trouet (Scientific Director of the Belgian Climate Centre)

• Szilvia Nemeth (Deputy Head of Unit Healthy Oceans and Seas at DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission)
• Maaike Vancauwenberghe (Director of Research and Infrastructure at BELSPO)
• Philippe Huybrechts (Belgian representative of the International Arctic Science Committee and Professor of Glaciology at VUB)
• Eléonore du Bois d’Aische (PhD researcher at UCLouvain and ULiège)
• Wieter Boone (Engineer and researcher of marine robotics at the Flanders Marine Institute VLIZ and mentor at APECS Belgium)
• Pieter-Jan Provoost (Director Energy Technology Club at Agoria)

20:45 – 20:50 Closing remarks by Frank Pattyn (President of the Belgian National Committee for Antarctic Research and Professor of Glaciology at ULB)

20:50 – 21:45 Networking

• Reception
• Poster presentationsby polar scientists
• Display of a marine robot
• Expo«The end of the world! A climate expedition aboard the ‘Belgica’»