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SIM² 9th General Assembly Meeting - Dec 19th, 2025

Location: Faculty Club, Groot Begijnhof 14, 3000 Leuven.

  • This year, we place a clear focus on strengthening the inclusion of Social Sciences and Humanities within SIM² and on deepening our strategic collaboration with VITO.

    The first part of the General Assembly will feature an interactive workshop led by Lieven Brebels, Associate Professor of Leadership and Behavioural Decision-making. His session will invite us to reflect on the perspectives and motivations of people who oppose mining activities.

    In the afternoon, VITO colleagues will present a series of short technical pitches:

    • Jeroen Geens: Selective purification of CRMs via membrane extraction and membrane-assisted hybrid separation technologies
    • Linsey Garcia-Gonzalez: Structured sorbents for CRM recovery
    • Kris Broos: Metallurgical methods for CRM recovery
    • Arne Peys: Alternative cements linked to the back end of the CRM cycle
    • Kris Broos: AI and sensor-based characterisation

    The day will conclude with a matchmaking session featuring round-table discussions aimed at generating ideas for joint KU Leuven–VITO research projects.
    Agenda:

    12.00 – 13.00 Lunch
    13.00 – 13.15 Welcome & status overview SIM² by Peter Tom Jones
    13.15 – 13.30 “Daily operations of SIM²” by Liuba Lukina
                            “Strengthening SIM² through policy and social sciences integration” by Elena Matvejeva
    13.30 - 14.45 "The brain and the mine: Do mining opponents just need more facts?' Workshop led by Lieven Brebels
    14.45 – 15.00 Coffee break
    15.00 – 15.15 Six pitches by experts from Vito
    15.15 – 16.15 Matchmaking event with Vito
    16.15 – 16.45 Plenary feedback and closing of meeting
    17.00 – 18.30 Reception

SIM² Education