Science

Ecology and the environment

Human activities cause important changes in the environment and these changes in turn have a significant impact on plants, animals and people. Ecology studies the interaction between the abiotic and biotic environments as well as the relationships between the various living systems, which take place on a range of temporal and spatial levels of scale.

Achieving a fundamental understanding of these interactions will enable us to develop strategies for preventing or remedying environmental problems, such as pollution management, targeted population management and/or ecosystem restoration.

This spearhead includes the ecological research of animals and plants in relation to their environment, the effects of stress on plants and animals, questions and concepts from evolutionary ecology, and research into both natural and managed ecosystems.
 

Ecology and Environment at the University of Antwerp

At the University of Antwerp, all of these processes and systems are studied at various structural and functional organisational levels (including cell, ecosystem and landscape) with a view to gaining a deeper insight into the underlying operational mechanisms. Our objective is to be able to explain the events we observe and, using models, make predictions about the future. It is not only biological research that is important in this spearhead, however: environmental chemistry, biogeochemistry and environmental technology also play significant roles, since we cannot assess biological impacts effectively without in-depth knowledge of the physical and chemical processes which determine the spread, mobility and distribution of substances in the environment. The impact of air quality (e.g. particulate matter) on health, climate and cultural heritage therefore come into play here too. In addition, it is essential that we recognise the link between applied scientific and technical research and human scientific research if we are to formulate properly supported environmental policy, so environmental economics, environmental law and environmental policy are also addressed.

Funding

This research spearhead benefits greatly from external research funding from Flemish, national, European and international bodies (EU projects, the Flemish Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology, Research Foundation Flanders, the Belgian Science Policy Office, COST initiatives, VLIR-UOS International University Cooperation, etc.)

Reputation

The recent Bibliometric Benchmarking Analysis of the University of Antwerp (1997-2007; T. Engels et al., 2008, 246 pp.) identified certain aspects of Plant Sciences, Plant Ecology and Environmental Sciences as the University of Antwerp's key strengths. The Ecology & Environment theme is one of the university's more pre-eminent spearheads and we therefore have an excellent reputation both in Flanders and abroad.

Collaboration

The research theme receives significant attention in a range of departments (Biology, Chemistry, Bio-engineering Sciences) as well as at an interfaculty level (Sciences, Applied Economics, Political and Social Sciences). We also have clear links with the ECO Research Excellence Centre (Methusalem funding) and the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development. In total, around 25 members of the Tenured Academic Personnel and 35 post-doctoral researchers are actively involved in the spearhead, often working together on joint projects.