Scientific Committee (SciCom)

The Scientific Committee advises the Board of Directors on all scientific and research support activities undertaken by the VLIZ and supports the VLIZ in the formulation of qualitative and scientifically founded advice.

In October 2010 the Scientific Committee was restructured into three allied units that strengthen each other:

(1) The VLIZ Scientific Board: a compacte steering committee composed of 14 effective and 14 substitute members meet together four times a year reports directly to the Board of Directors (2) The Guidance Committee: every year one plenary meeting in ostende (June) open to all marine scientists (3) Several thematic expert groups: ad-hoc working groups with a limited duration long-life working panels

VLIZ Scientific Board

The composition of the Scientific Board reflects the interuniversity and multidisciplinary character of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). Every one of Flanders' scientific institutes with marine activities have one representative. The Flemish universities have one or two delegates, depending on the size of the university and their number of research groups active in a marine discipline.

Meetings in 2011 Thursday 17 march - 13.00 Scientific Board meeting Waterbouwkundig Laboratorium - Borgerhout Thursday 16 June - 14.00 Open Scientific Board meeting together with Guidance Committee VLIZ, Oostende Thursday 20 October - 14.00 Scientific Board meeting ’t Pand - Gent Thursday 8 December - 14.00 Scientific Board meeting 't Pand - Gent

Reports of meetings Report of meeting 02.12.2010 (will be available after approval on 17.03.2011) Report of meeting 22.10.2010 (In Dutch) Archive with earlier reports and extra materials (from 2000)

The Scientific Board is composed of 14 effective members and 14 substitute members. Its constitution is adopted by the Board of Directors of 27.10.2010.

• The chairman is the vice-chair of the Board of Directors:
• Colin Janssen


• Two delegates from Ghent University (UGent):
• Magda Vincx (substitute: David Van Rooij)
• Patrick Sorgeloos (substitute: Julien De Rouck)


• Two delegates from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULeuven):
• Filip Volckaert (substitute: N)
• Jaak Monbaliu (substitute: N)


• One delegate from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB):
• Frank Dehairs (substitute: Marc Kochzius)


• One delegate from University of Antwerp (UA):
• Patrick Meire (substitute: Gudrun De Boeck)


• One delegate from University Hasselt (UHasselt):
• Tom Artois (substitute: Natalie Beenaerts)


• One delegate from the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO):
• Kris Cooreman (substitute: Bart Sonck)


• One delegate from the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO):
• Jurgen Tack (substitute: Eric Stienen)


• One delegate from the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO):
• Roger Dijkmans (substitute: Bart Deronde)


• One delegate from the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM):
• Steven Vinckier (substitute: Marleen Van Steertegem)


• One delegate from the Flemish Heritage Institute (VIOE):
• Marnix Pieters (substitute: Tom Lenaerts)


• One delegate from the Flanders Hydraulics Research (WL):
• Frank Mostaert (substitute: Toon Verwaest)

Attending the meetings:

• The director and a reporter of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ):
• Jan Mees, director
• Jan Seys (substitute: Nancy Fockedey)


• A representative of the Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI):
• Rudy Herman