Inaugural Lecture by Francqui chairholder Prof. Hans Van Dyck

Title Sensory Ecology:
What You See Is Not What Other Animals Get.

The lecture will be introduced by Prof. Bernard Vanheusden, Rector of Hasselt University.

About the Chairholder
Prof. Hans Van Dyck is a biologist with a passion for behavioral ecology. He studied at KU Leuven and the University of Antwerp, where he earned his PhD in 1997 with research on butterfly behavior. Since 2004, he has led the ‘Behavioural Ecology & Conservation’ research group at UCLouvain, part of the Earth and Life Institute’s biodiversity and ecology division. His work, often described as Behavioural Landscape Ecology, bridges fundamental and applied ecological and evolutionary research. It focuses on understanding behavioral and life-history variation across species in human-shaped landscapes. Who thrives, who struggles—and why? Van Dyck’s research combines field observations and experimental studies, using insects (butterflies, moths, grasshoppers) and birds as model organisms. His interdisciplinary approach integrates behavioral ecology, functional morphology, physiology, thermal ecology, landscape analysis, and conservation biology. Beyond academia, Prof. Van Dyck is a dedicated educator and program director of the master’s in ‘Biologie des organismes et écologie’ at UCLouvain. He actively engages with policymakers and the public through articles (e.g. EOS, Natuurfocus), public lectures, and media appearances. He is also the author of the popular science book “Het orakel van de bosnimf. Van vlinders en mensen” (Lannoo), and enjoys reflecting on the intersections between science, art, philosophy, and health.

Upcoming Lectures
As part of the Francqui Chair programme at Hasselt University, Prof. Van Dyck will deliver a series of lectures that delve deeper into the themes introduced in his inaugural talk. Details of the lecture series will be announced soon.

We warmly invite you to join us for this inspiring evening and celebrate the launch of the Francqui Chair 2025-26!

INSCHRIJVEN