KU Leuven: KU Leuven presents: Leuven Institute for Advanced Study (LIAS)

Society is confronted with new and existing essential challenges to which there is not always an unequivocal answer. Moreover, we are flooded with information, making it difficult to distinguish opinion from reliable knowledge. LIAS wants to bring together scientific insights about societal challenges into substantiated information that everyone can rely on to form a well-founded opinion.

“What makes LIAS so unique is the fact that it brings together the best of both worlds: on the one hand, the university with its independent expertise and scientific insight, and on the other, a think tank in which people from different disciplines come together”, says co-chairman Joost Van Meerbeeck. “It is certainly not the intention to keep this synthesis exercise indoors. LIAS wants to participate in the debate of the day and share its insights for the benefit of the whole society.” Rector Sels adds: “And also across national borders. LIAS grows out of Metaforum – which has a rather national focus – with international ambitions. We want to attract international researchers, both to feed our own vision and to make the voice of KU Leuven resound more loudly internationally.”