Good-looking people enough at the VUB. But do you still recognize them? As part of our 50th anniversary, we knocked on the door of some VUB professors and asked them to take a look at their old photo archive and give us a photo from their student days. And admit it... often with hilariously surprising results. Also surprising are their anecdotes, maybe not for VUB-experts, but hilarious the more.
Who are we looking for?
He received his Medical Degree in 1986 at the VUB and was trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. From 1991 onwards he joined the Centre of Reproductive Medicine at UZ Brussel, the University Hospital of VUB, where he developed the Reproductive Andrology Clinic. His research group is involved in studying spermatogenesis with a focus on testicular stem cells and their potential in cell therapy. But you, students, will know him as an inspiring teacher from his courses in Developmental Biology and Embryology.
Indeed, the young man in this picture is the one and only professor Herman Tournaye.
Read more below the images and discover the VUB-anecdote of professor Tournaye.
The anecdote of Tournaye
“August 1979: Before starting my medical studies at VUB, I travelled through Europe and Morocco, holding the so called ‘interrail-pass’ in my backpack. Somewhere in September, after my Mediterranean adventure, my face deeply tanned by the burning sun, I started searching for a 'kot', using my best French. Twice they answered “on ne loue pas aux étrangers” (we do not rent to foreigners). So I switched to Flemish, with immediate result. However, at that time not at all easy due to the then living campaign 'geen Vlaams, geen centen' (no Flemish, no pennies).”
"Since 1974 Brussels has been evolving itself to be the most cosmopolitan city of our nation. I am happy and proud I got my education and career in this city of contradictions, rather than in a student city that has remained provincial."
Do you aslo recognize these professors?