​On 20 November 2025 the University of Antwerp presented the Academic Awards 2025. These awards recognise promising researchers and committed academics who make a difference – both within and outside our university.

Meet the laureates in these videos. 

• Laureate: Fergus Simpson​
• Nominator: prof. dr. Kristof Titeca
• Reasearch in the political ecology of nature conservation in conflict zones, with a particular focus on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

• Laureate: Sara Op de Beeck​
• Nominator: prof. dr. Olivier Vanderveken 
• Research on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSAS)

• ​Laureate: Sarah Ahannach​
• Nominator: prof. dr. Sarah Lebeer
• Isala – the largest citizen science project on the vaginal microbiome in the world
  

• Laureate: Georgios Pipintakos 
• Nominator: prof. dr. Wim Van den bergh
• ​Sustainable Pavements and Asphalt Research​

• Laureate: Laure Jacquemin
• Nominator: prof. dr. Cedric Vuye
• Laure Jacquemin is a leading voice in science communication on hearing, tinnitus and environmental noise, with a remarkable ability to present these complex topics in a clear and accessible way to a broad audience. 
  

• Laureate: Team Jongerenstemtest (Youth Voting Test)
• Nominator: prof. dr. Peter Van Aelst
• Under the leadership of prof. Stefaan Walgrave, a team of researchers from political science, communication science and data analysis joined forces to develop the Jongerenstemtest. The Jongerenstemtest stands as a powerful example of how academic research can lead to tangible social impact.

• Laureate: Sam Van der Jeught
• Nominator: prof. dr. Joris Dirckx
• Sam Van der Jeught is a role model for young academics who place education at the heart of their work. He focuses on student-centred and competency-based learning and has launched several innovative teaching initiatives.