Each year the Francqui Foundation attributes Francqui Chairs to Belgian universities. In that way national and renowned international professors can be invited as guest lecturers. This academic year the Department of Chemistry of the University of Antwerp honors Prof. Bert Weckhuysen with a Francqui Chair. Promotor of the University of Antwerp is Prof. Bert U.W. Maes. 

Bert Weckhuysen, a Distinguished University Professor at Utrecht University (The Netherlands), investigates the fundamentals of catalytic processes to make fuels and chemicals from renewable resources, including carbon dioxide, biomass and plastic waste. 

We are pleased to invite you to Professor Bert Weckhuysen’s inaugural lecture entitled ‘Towards a Circular Society: Dreams Become Reality with Catalysis’ on 23/4/2025 followed by a series of classes of excellence later this year. 

More information on Prof. Weckhuysen and his research can be found on the Weckhuysen research group website. 

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Programme

• Prof. Dr. Sabine Van Doorslaer (Dean Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp): Welcome 
• Prof. Dr. Herwig Leirs (Rector University of Antwerp): History and significance of the Francqui Chair
• Prof. Dr. Bert Maes (Promotor, Department of Chemistry University of Antwerp): Laudatio
• Prof. Dr. Bert Weckhuysen (Francqui Chair Laureate, Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Utrecht University): Inaugural lecture
• Reception

Date
Wednesday 23 April 2025 at 4:30 p.m

University of Antwerp - Campus Middelheim
Building G 
Middelheimlaan 1, 2020 Antwerpen

Registrations are now closed.