€3.7 million for UHasselt and UAntwerpen consortium on the impact of climate change on ecosystems
The AnaEE-Flanders consortium, a collaboration between UHasselt and UAntwerpen, which conducts research on the impact of climate change on ecosystems, receives €3,760,223 funding from the Region of Flanders, FWO. "With this funding, we ensure the long-term operation of our facilities to study environmental change impact on ecosystems," says Prof. dr. Nadia Soudzilovskaia, who leads the consortium from the Centre for Environmental Sciences at UHasselt.
The AnaEE-Flanders (Analysis and Experimentation on Ecosystems) consortium conducts research through various experiments in the climate domes of Ecotrons of Hasselt University and Antwerp University and the aquatic Mesodrome facility of UAntwerpen, as well as numerous field experiments. The consortium studies the functioning of ecosystems under a variety of changing environmental conditions. "We are investigating the impact of climate change and pollution on agriculture, heathlands, fruit orchards, grasslands, lakes and rivers. Next, develop and text mitigation and adaptation measures to safeguard the many ecosystem services provided by our nature. Thanks to this FWO funding, the long-term sustainability of this type of research is assured," says Prof. dr. Nadia Soudzilovskaia of the Centre for Environmental Sciences at UHasselt.
Rapid development of new research facilities
In addition to the arrival of the Ecotron Hasselt University in 2016, the Center for Environmental Science at UHasselt already made significant progress in 2023 with the installation of the Mycotron, a lab designed to study the health and functioning of microorganisms in soil. And in the coming years, a lot of new research is planned. At UHasselt this year, with the support of VLAIO (EFRO), and the private Edaphon foundation, a new set of eight RAU (Rapid Assessment Unit) Ecotrons will be installed, enlarging the famous Macroscale climate-change research Ecotron facility of UHasselt located at Maasmechelen. "These are 8 new climate-controlled domes where we can expose ecosystems to various environmental change phenomena such as nitrogen deposition, climate change, or different types of soil improvers for periods of weeks or months. In this way, we are expanding our long-term research that runs over several years in the Ecotron to answer more urgent research questions in the shorter term," says Prof. dr. François Rineau from the Centre for Environmental Sciences at UHasselt.
“Also at UAntwerpen, additional instruments and sensors are being fitted to the FATI system, a facility to simulate climate extremes in open air, to the recently completed Ecotron, and to the diverse array of aquatic installations in the Mesodrome facility”, says Prof. dr. Ivan Nijs of the Department of Biology at UAntwerpen.
European top infrastructure
With this FWO funding, the AnaEE-Flanders consortium is officially endorsed as European international infrastructure. This opens the way for formal membership in the larger European research consortium, AnaEE-ERIC, which investigates the impact of environmental changes on ecosystems across Europe. "Climate change, nitrogen pollution, and other symptoms of environmental change are global issues with significant consequences for both local economies and people's daily lives. Just look at the floods in Flanders in 2021 and 2024, or the introduction of new nitrogen regulations, which led to significant protests from farmers. All of these environmental challenges must be addressed internationally, taking into account the interests of different countries, multiple types of European ecosystems and land management practices. By joining this European consortium of research infrastructures, we will ensure that the Belgian voice is heard even more strongly among European environmental policymakers," says Prof. dr. Nadia Soudzilovskaia.
“A great recognition”
"Our role in leading the consortium is a wonderful opportunity for our Centre for Environmental Sciences," says Prof. dr. Robert Malina, director of CMK UHasselt. "Our institute consists of an interdisciplinary team of researchers, including ecologists, chemists, nuclear technology specialists, environmental economists, and legal experts. Conducting research through such diverse perspectives, is a major strength in environmental studies, and we are excited to continue this approach in the coming years."
"Of course, we are very proud of this recognition for our researchers within the consortium and our unique research infrastructure," concludes Prof. dr. Bernard Vanheusden, rector of UHasselt. "The facilities available to this consortium rank among the best in the world for conducting high-level research on the impact of climate change. It is great to see that the long-term sustainability of this important research is guaranteed. For UHasselt, this is also the first time we are leading such an inter-university Flemish infrastructure consortium in our still young history. A significant milestone, for which we are very grateful."