Presentation of the prestigious Francqui Prize to Veerle Rots and Michaël Gillon

The archaeologist Veerle Rots and the astrophysicist Michaël Gillon were awarded this morning the Francqui Prize 2021 and 2022 in the presence of HM King Philippe at the Palais des Académies.

The Francqui Prize 2022 in Human Sciences is awarded to Veerle Rots, Senior research Associate Fund for Scientific Research - FNRS at the University of Liège, for her pioneering research on prehistoric stone tools and the study of their origins, compositions and evolution over time. Veerle Rots is the first woman from the University of Liège to be awarded this prestigious title.

The 2021 Francqui Prize in Exact Sciences is awarded to Michaël Gillon, astrophysicist and Senior research Associate Fund for Scientific Research - FNRS at the University of Liège, for his pioneering research in exoplanetology and astrobiology, which led in particular to the discovery of the TRAPPIST-1 exoplanetary system.

 

The Francqui Prize - sometimes also called the "Belgian Nobel Prize" - is the highest scientific distinction in Belgium. It is awarded annually by the Francqui Foundation to a scientist from the exact sciences, the humanities and the biological and medical sciences. 

FRANCQUI PRIZE: LAUREATES ULIÈGE