Alumni in the spotlight

KU Leuven alumni make an impact around the world. They end up in a wide range of sectors and make their mark on our society. We are always curious to hear their insights and experiences, successes and challenges. Below you will find the great pioneers who have already made a name for themselves, and emerging talent to keep an eye on.

 

Nadia This: ​​​​​human-powered spaceflight

Nadia This can’t afford to be wrong. She’s a Payload Integration Manager for the International Space Station (ISS), and whether she’s working with astronauts or sending experiments into space, she needs to be 100% correct in her work. Which is why it’s so odd when she says, ‘I don’t think I’m very interesting.’ Because on this count, she’s very wrong.

Read the interview

Our Nobel laureates

Three Nobel laureates laid the foundation for their achievements within our university.

 

August Beernaert
(1829-1912)

Nobel Peace Prize

 

Dominique Pire
(1910-1969)

Nobel Peace Prize

 

Christian de Duve
(1917-2013)

Nobel Prize in Medicine

Famous historical alumni

 

Desiderius Erasmus
(1466-1536)

Priest, theologian, humanist, professor and writer

 

Gerardus Mercator
(1512-1594)

Cartographer, instrument maker and engraver

 

Andreas Vesalius
(1514-1564)

The father of modern anatomy

 

Henricus Josephus Rega
(1690-1754)

Physician and rector of KU Leuven

 

Georges Lemaître
(1894-1966)

Originator of the Big Bang Theory

 

Pieter De Somer
(1917-1985)

Professor, physician, biologist and rector of KU Leuven

And also ...

  • Isabel Albers
  • Adriaan Florenszoon Boeyens
  • Dirk Bouts
  • Ernest Claes
  • Pieter Coutereel
  • Pater Damiaan
  • Gemma Frisius
  • Joris Helleputte
  • Justus Lipsius
  • Constantin Meunier
  • Quinten Metsys
  • Jan Pieter Minckelers
  • Cicercule Paridaens
  • Sylvain Van de Weyer
  • Ferdinand Verbiest

But also these captions of society

 

Hans Kluge

Director WHO Europe

Read the interview

 

Jeroen Baert

Stand-up comedian

Read the interview

 

Caroline Vrijens

Children's Rights Commissioner 

Read the interview

 

Riad Nurmohamed

Minister of Public Works and researcher at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname

Read the interview

 

Kim Gevaert

Former Belgian sprinter and Olympic champion

Read the interview

 

Arnoud Raskin

Social entrepreneur and initiator of Mobile School and StreetwiZe

Read the interview

And also ...