Faculty of Sciences, ULB

The Faculty of Sciences of the Université Libre de Bruxelles has 12 departments: Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Molecular Bioscience, Biological Sciences, Geosciences, the Interfaculty School for Bioengineers, the Interfaculty Institute of Environmental Management and Urban Planning, the science department specialized in polymers, and the ULB's Diffusion des Sciences department.

Researchers associated with the Faculty of Science have received numerous awards, reflecting a long tradition of excellence. These include 2 nobel prizes (François Englert, physics, 2013, and Ilya Prigogine, chemistry, 1977), 1 Fields Medal (Pierre Deligne, mathematics, 1978), 14 Francqui prizes, 3 Wolf prizes, and many more...

In summary, the Faculty of Science is:

• Nearly 2000 students in 9 bachelors and 16 masters.
• Nearly 500 researchers in 10 departments.
• Internationally renowned Research Areas.
• Effective teaching programs based on the strengths of its research.

Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences, VUB

The Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has 7 departments: Bioengineering, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geography, Mathematics, and Physics. While the VUB is a relatively young university, the quality of its education and research has already resulted in alumni that have made major contributions to science. Notable alumni of the faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences include:

• Jean Bourgain is a mathematician who has done groundbreaking research in various areas of mathematics such as analytic number theory and partial differential equations. He has received numerous awards for his work such as the Fields medal, and more recently the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics and the Steele Prize for Lifetime Achievement.
• Ingrid Daubechies is best known for her pioneering work on wavelets for image compression, resulting in (most well known) the JPEG2000 standard for storing images. She has received several awards such as the Steele Prize for Seminal Research, and honorary doctorates from universities such as the University of Oxford, UK.
• Pattie Maes is an expert in the fields of human-computer interaction, intelligent interfaces and ubiquitous computing, and is currently a professor at MIT.

In summary, the Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences is:

• Around 1200 students in 7 bachelors and 23 masters.
• Over 350 PhD candidates in 7 departments.
• Around 230 students yearly who obtain a masters degree.

Faculty of Pharmacy, ULB

The Faculty of Pharmacy of the Université Libre de Bruxelles concerns itself with education and research in the fields of Biomedicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

In summary, the Faculty of Pharmacy is:

• Around 600 students in 1 bachelor and 4 masters.
• Around 60 researchers.
• A strong focus on industry in the curriculum via internships professional courses.

The Cercle des Sciences ASBL (CdS) is one of the oldest students organisations of the ULB. It has been operating as a non-profit organization since 1890. Its objectives are to bring students together via different kinds of scientific, cultural and social activities, and secondly to support and assist students throughout their stay at the university.

Key activities of the Cercle des Sciences include:

• "Les 10 km de l’ULB": A philanthropic race of which all profits are donated entirely to scientific research at the Faculty of Sciences of the ULB. The proceeds are roughly €15000 per year.
• "Le Festival du Film Scientifique de Bruxelles": A true film festival under the motto "Science for all" to promote science and make it accessible to everyone. This film festival attracts an audience of both established scientists and the merely curious.

The Wetenschappelijke Kring (WK) is an organisation by students, for students, associated with the faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Since 1949 they bridge the gap between students, their university, and their future employers. The Wetenschappelijke Kring represents all students in the fields of Bioengineering, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Computer Science, and Mathematics.

Key activities of the Wetenschappelijke Kring include:

• "Nacht van de Wetenschappen": A ball (as in "gala") supported by the science faculty for students and members of staff.
• "Duvel TD": For many years "Duvel TD" has been one of the largest and most desirable nightlife events on the VUB campus that attracts over 1500 students.
• "WK Barbecue": The end of the academic year is celebrated with a gigantic barbecue that attracts many students from the science faculty, members of staff, and alumni of the science faculty. Thanks to a close relationship with the Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences, the "WK Barbecue" has been used as an official get together (or "send off") for newly graduated students.