SCK CEN Chair ″Roger Van Geen″
On the initiative of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique-FNRS (F.R.S.-FNRS) and the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) grants the SCK CEN Chair “Roger Van Geen” to an eminent researcher in the domain of nuclear sciences and applications.


Edmond Sterpin receives the “Roger Van Geen” chair 2023
The Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) and the Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.–FNRS) awarded the “Roger Van Geen” chair to Edmond Sterpin, professor in medical physics, associated to both KU Leuven and UCLouvain. This biennial prize is an initiative of SCK CEN. This year, it rewards the career of Edmond Sterpin in the field of medical physics. Read more.
In order to make Edmond Sterpin' inspiring voice heard, the SCK CEN Academy will organise a series of lectures for students, academics and researchers of SCK CEN and other institutions.
The SCK CEN Chair “Roger Van Geen”
SCK CEN Chair “Roger Van Geen” is awarded by FWO and FNRS to an eminent researcher in the domain of nuclear sciences and applications. The research career to be awarded should include substantial and original contribution to the field of nuclear energy and/or nuclear radiation. Both technically oriented research and socio-economic research can be considered. Possible topics include but are not limited to innovative nuclear systems, sustainable nuclear waste management and decommissioning, nuclear medicine, safety of nuclear installations and nuclear material sciences, radiation protection, any other area in nuclear sciences and applications.
The recipient of the SCK CEN Chair “Roger Van Geen” will be awarded 12.500 €.
More information on the nominations procedure is available via the website of FNRS and FWO.
Candidates for the SCK CEN Chair “Roger Van Geen” have to be nominated by a senior scientist who is not affiliated to SCK CEN; a letter of recommendation by the nominator is to be added to the nomination form.
Lecture series in the framework of the 'Chair Roger Van Geen'
2023 Laureate Prof. Edmond Sterpin
- Inaugural lecture | Towards the first patient treated with online adaptive protontherapy: a first-person perspective over 20 years | October 17, 2023 | UZ Gasthuisberg, Leuven
- Lecture 2 | Monte Carlo simulations in medical physics: from basics to clinical applications | November 9, 2023 | SCK CEN Lakehouse, Mol
- Lecture 3 | The sword of proton therapy wielded with care and made sharp: management of range uncertainties | November 14, 2023 | SCK CEN Lakehouse, Mol
- Lecture 4 | Radiotherapy and protontherapy of the future: artificial intelligence and emerging technologies | November 21, 2023 | SCK CEN Lakehouse, Mol
2023 Laureate Prof. Edmond Sterpin
Towards the first patient treated with online adaptive proton therapy: a first-person perspective over 20 years Prof. Edmond Sterpin - 17/10/2023 | |
Monte Carlo simulations in medical physics: from basics to clinical applications Prof. Edmond Sterpin - 9/11/2023 | |
The sword of proton therapy wielded with care and made sharp: management of range uncertainties Prof. Edmond Sterpin - 14/11/2023 | |
Radiotherapy and protontherapy of the future: artificial intelligence and emerging technologies Prof. Edmond Sterpin - 22/11/2023 |
2021 Laureate Prof. Thomas Cocolios
Radioactive ion beams – From fundamental research to society Prof. Thomas Cocolios - 19/10/2021 | |
Basics of radioactive ion beam production Prof. Thomas Cocolios - 25/10/2021 | |
State of the art in the isotope separation online technique Prof. Thomas Cocolios - 8/10/2021 | |
Fundamental research with radioactive ion beams Prof. Thomas Cocolios - 15/10/2021 | |
Expanding the reach of nuclear medicine with ISOL radioisotopes Prof. Thomas Cocolios - 22/10/2021 | |
From research to patient care – Challenges and prospects Prof. Thomas Cocolios - 29/10/2021 |
2019 Laureate Prof. Eric Salmon
Molecular imaging and biomarkers for new concepts of neurodegenerative disease Prof. Eric Salmon - 3/02/2021 | |
Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia Prof. Eric Salmon - 10/02/2021 | |
Biomarkers in Parkinsonian syndromes Prof. Eric Salmon - 17/02/2021 | |
Molecular imaging of synaptopathy Prof. Eric Salmon - 24/02/2021 |
2017 Laureate Prof. Christophe Poinssot
From U-ore discovery and mining to fuel fabrication Prof. Christophe Poinssot - 22/02/2018 | |
Pu mono to multi-recycling Prof. Christophe Poinssot - 22/02/2018 | |
Ultimate waste geological repository Prof. Christophe Poinssot - 23/02/2018 | |
Minor Actinides partitioning and transmutation Prof. Christophe Poinssot - 23/02/2018 | |
The basis of the LCA approach and its application to nuclear fuel cycle Prof. Christophe Poinssot - 15/03/2018 | |
How ensuring the future of nuclear energy in democratic societies? Prof. Christophe Poinssot - 15/03/2018 |
Laureates
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Professor in medical physics, associated to both KU Leuven and UCLouvain.
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PhD in Physics, professor at KU Leuven
For his work in nuclear physics and nuclear medicine.
Prof Thomas Elias Cocolios is an Associate Professor of Nuclear Physics at the KU Leuven Institute for Nuclear and Radiation Physics (IKS). Thomas studied Mathematics & Physics at McGill University in Montreal (Quebec, Canada) where he obtained his MSc in Atomic & Nuclear Physics in 2005 for research performed at TRIUMF, the Canadian Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics, on collinear laser spectroscopy with fast radioactive ion beams. He then obtained his PhD in Nuclear Physics from KU Leuven in 2010 under the supervision of Prof Piet Van Duppen and Prof Mark Huyse, on nuclear structure investigations with in-source laser spectroscopy of radioactive copper at the Leuven Isotope Separator On Line (LISOL) in Louvain-La-Neuve and of radioactive polonium at the ISOL Device (ISOLDE) at CERN.
He continued his research into ground-state properties of radioisotopes at CERN ISOLDE as a CERN Research Fellow (2010-2012) and then as an STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellow with The University of Manchester (2012-2015). He eventually returned to KU Leuven as Assistant Professor (2015-2020) and now as Associate Professor (since 2020). He continues his research into ground-state properties at CERN ISOLDE but has also expended his interest into novel radioisotopes for nuclear medicine, first at the new MEDICIS facility at CERN (MEDical Isotopes Collected from ISolde) and in the future at ISOL@MYRRHA in the Belgian Nuclear Research Center SCK CEN.
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PhD in Experimental Biomedical Sciences, Medical Doctor - ULiège. Professor, Medical Director - ULiège.
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PhD in Material Science - Université Pierre & Marie Curie, France Professor - National Institute of Nuclear Science and Techniques (CEA-INSTN), France
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Dr. Medische Wetenschappen, G.G.S. Medical and Pharmaceutical, Arts – VUB, Hoofddocent en Fundamenteel Klinische Mandaten aan de VUB
For his work "Molecular imaging using nanobodies".
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Dr. Naturwissenschaften - Universitaet Hamburg, Lic. Sciences physiques - F.U.N.D.P., Postdoctoraal medewerker aan de Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
For his work "Study of magnetic and dynamic properties of nanoscale systems by nuclear resonant scattering."
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Burgerlijk Elektrotechnisch Ingenieur, Dr. Ingenieurswetenschappen : Elektrotechniek, Geassoscieerd docent aan de Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
For his work "Modelling and design of analog integrated circuits for applications under extreme radiation conditions."
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M.Sc. Physics, Dr. Wetenschappen, Postdoctoraal Onderzoeker FWO aan de Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
For his work "The fusion of light unstable nuclei at energies around the Coulomb barrier."
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Docteur en Sciences médicales - U.Lg., Master in Medical and Pharmaceutical Research - V.U.B., Doctor in de geneeskunde - V.U.B., Chercheur qualifié du F.N.R.S. à l'Université de Liège.
For his work "Positron emission tomography studies following severe acute brain damage in humans : residual cerebral function and neuronal plasticity in coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state, locked-in syndrome and brain-death."
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Docteur en Sciences appliquées, Ingénieur Civil Physicien, Chercheur qualifié du F.N.R.S. à l'Université Libre de Bruxelles
For his work "Probabilistic safety analysis of nuclear power plants. A methodology integrating the dynamic behaviour of the plant and uncertain phenomena in the delineation process of accident sequences."
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Doctor in de Wetenschappen (Natuurkunde), Postdoctoraal Onderzoeker F.W.O. aan de Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
For his work "Application of diffraction an reflection of neutron beams for the study of magnetic ordering in thin films and nanostructures."
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Ingénieur Civil Electricien, Docteur en Sciences appliquées, Chercheur qualifié du F.N.R.S. à l'Université Catholique de Louvain
For his work "Integrated devices and circuits in "Gate-all-around" CMOS on SOI technology for mixed analog-digital applications in extreme temperature and irradiation environments."
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Roeland BAETS, Doctor in de Toegepaste Wetenschappen, Burgerlijk Elektro-technisch Ingenieur, Geaggregeerde voor het Hoger Onderwijs, M.Sc. (U.S.A.), Hoogleraar aan de Universiteit Gent
- Piet DEMEESTER, Doctor in de Toegepaste Wetenschappen, Burgerlijk Elektro-technisch Ingenieur, Groepsleider aan de I.M.E.C., Deeltijds Docent aan de Universiteit Gent
- Peter VAN DAELE, Doctor in de Toegepaste Wetenschappen, Burgerlijk Elektro-technisch Ingenieur, Groepsleider aan de I.M.E.C., Deeltijds Docent aan de Universiteit GentFor their work "Gegevenstransmissie met fotonica : een weg naar hogere betrouwbaarheid, dichtheid en functionaliteit."
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Doctor in de Toegepaste Wetenschappen, Burgerlijk Werktuig-kundig Elektrotechnisch Ingenieur, Master of Sciences (USA), Hoogleraar aan de Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
For his work "Programmeeromgeving ter ondersteuning van het specifieren en uitvoeren van sensorgestuurde robottaken."
Prof. Roger Van Geen (1935-1995)
Prof. Roger Van Geen obtained his Master's degree in Physics and a doctorate in Science at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). He went on to become a Professor and Dean in the Faculty of Sciences and Applied Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), where he was appointed to the position of Rector in 1974. It was under his rectorship that the university's own hospital, the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, commenced its activities and a decision taken by Prof. Van Geen also led to the construction of an oncology centre and a paediatric hospital.
In 1975, Prof. Van Geen joined the Board of Directors of SCK CEN, where he became Managing Director in 1989 and Chairman from 1991 onwards. During his time in office, he made a decisive mark on SCK CEN's scientific ambitions and made a signficant contribution to the development of a major network of international partners. Prof. Van Geen was also a bridge builder in his dealings with politicians and the humanities.