Freedom of thought and action is ingrained in the DNA of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). But what does this freedom truly mean for our scientists, researchers, staff, students, and alumni? How does it shape their thinking and their actions? In a series of videos, VUB members share their personal stories. This week, we hear from engineer-architect and researcher Aurélie Van Wylick, and marketing professor and researcher Nanouk Verhulst.
Aurélie Van Wylick: “Free to grow”
Dr Aurélie Van Wylick, with a background in architecture and a passion for sustainable materials, researches how fungi can be used to repair cracks in concrete, enhancing both the sustainability and lifespan of buildings. Aurélie describes her time at VUB as a period in which she was given the freedom to explore, experiment, and grow, both as a researcher and as an individual. This freedom to constantly pursue new directions and push boundaries defines her outlook on being “free to grow.”
Nanouk Verhulst: “Free to be (ab)normal”
Dr Nanouk Verhulst, professor and researcher in marketing at VUB, studies the impact of innovative technologies in service delivery. She embraces the freedom to diverge from traditional research approaches, drawing inspiration from fields as varied as psychology, neuroscience, and computer science. Her passion for interdisciplinary research and her drive to seek out new perspectives make her work distinctive, underscoring her freedom to be ‘abnormal’ in her field.*
*This is a machine translation. We apologise for any inaccuracies.
