Socio-Environmental Dynamics Research Group (SONYA)
SONYA is a research center connecting different perspectives and disciplines for the study of links between society and environment
Socio-Environmental Dynamics Research Group (SONYA)
Our work is contributing to empirical and fundamental research about socio-environmental dynamics, in order to participate of a transformation to a sustainable society, through teaching and participation to societal debates.
SONYA's News
Naviguer entre science et politique : un parcours au cœur des invasions biologiques.
April 17, 2025
Sonya Seminar by S. Vanderhoeven, 4 Juin à 11h. Naviguer entre science et politique : un parcours au cœur des invasions biologiques.
What happens after the catastrophe? The politics of eco-emotions in climate-extreme affected events
March 26, 2025
Sonya Seminar by Louise Knops, Prof. ULB - SONYA ULB April 9, 12 to 2 pm, Room UA.0.05.2, USquare ULB, Free entrance
Relations between coastal risk adaptation and the upgrading of residential offerings along the Belgian Coastline
January 16, 2025
To reduce coastal flooding risk, along the Belgian coast, engineered systems are now being coupled with nature-based solutions (NBS). While greening grey infrastructure offers a sustainable coastal risk adaptation strategy, balancing ecosystem preservation and recreational benefits, it may also contribute to gentrification processes. Clémentine Harel, Phd student, Université de Mons and La Rochelle Université SONYA , ULB, February 4th, 12:00-1.30 pm. Room U.A.0.03 at USquare ULB, Free entrance.
Transformations for Communal Sustainability: Pluriversal Thinking
November 6, 2024
Achieving sustainability within planetary boundaries requires more than a universalized approach to sustainable development—it requires a deep localization of efforts that centers socioecological justice and addresses environmental racism. The principle of “leaving no one behind” challenges us to rethink how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are localized in ways that are context-sensitive and transformative. Taís Sonetti-González, PhD, SONYA , ULB, November 27th, 10.30 am-12:00. Room U.A.0.03 at USquare ULB, Free entrance.
Edwin and Kim take part in the IHEB's start session on narrating climate change
October 21, 2024
Dedicated to narrating climate change, the event welcomed our colleagues Edwin Zaccaï and Kimberley Vandenhole (SONYA) for a round table discussion on the role of art in the light of science.
Bridging decarbonization and labour market in sustainability transitions: policy integration and social dialogue in Belgium
October 21, 2024
Bridging decarbonization and labour market in sustainability transitions: policy integration and social dialogue in Belgium, Louis Florin Postdoctoral researcher, SONYA, ULB, November 6th, 11am-12:30. Room A.0.03, ULB, Usquare, Free entrance.
Sustainable parenting in an unsustainable world
October 8, 2024
Sustainable parenting in an unsustainable world, Emy Scheer PhD and Teaching Assistant, SONYA, October 2nd, 11am-12:30. Room DB6.133, ULB, Campus Solbosch, Free entrance.
Kim participated at the EU TalentOn 2024: A Soil Deal for Europe
September 26, 2024
Kimberley Vandenhole participated at the EU TalentOn 2024 in Katowice. The aim? A one-week hackathon (9 to 14 September) to develop ideas on how to contribute to A Soil Deal for Europe. Together with her team, Kim focused on soil microbiota in order to heal Europe’s unhealthy soils.
Time as a social imaginary: deconstructing temporalities
May 21, 2024
The second session of SONYA’s Inspiration Talks tackled time as a social imaginary and inspired researchers to deconstruct temporalities through speculative fabulation exercises.
Comment créer des ponts entre chercheur.euses afin d’encourager la collaboration interdisciplinaire ?
May 7, 2024
Séminaire ouvert à tous et toutes, sans inscription. Jeudi 23 mai, de 12h15 à 14h Lieu : USquare (coin du boulevard Général Jacques et de l’avenue de la Couronne), local A.0.05
Publication Sonya/CSTB sur le mouvement de justice climatique
May 7, 2024
Bringing the future back to the present: The role of prefiguration in European climate justice activism
Understanding the policy controversy on the low emission zone in Ghent through discursive networks and strategies
November 21, 2023
Understanding the policy controversy on the low emission zone in Ghent through discursive networks and strategies Kim Vandenhole, Researcher, SONYA December 12, 11 am-12 am. Room S.DC6.121, ULB, Campus Solbosch, Free entrance
Towards healthy and sustainable food systems
November 6, 2023
Towards healthy and sustainable food systems Celia Burgaz, Claire Dénos, Researchers, SONYA Sonya Seminar, Chair Prof E. Zaccai, November 14, 11 am-13 pm. Room S.DC6.121, ULB, Campus Solbosch, Free entrance
Julien Vastenaekels defended his PhD thesis: "Degrowth and Capital: Assembling a Power-Centred Theory of Change"
September 21, 2023
On September 6, Julien Vastenaekels successfully defended his PhD thesis in Sciences.
Kimberley Vandenhole wins the Best Paper Award at the 14th International Sustainability Transitions Conference!
September 4, 2023
Kimberley Vandenhole, PhD student at SONYA, and her co-authors Kristjian Garic et Philip Leifeld (Essex University) have won the Best Paper Award at the 14th International Sustainability Transitions Conference in Utrecht.
New publication on food system policies by Celia Burgaz
August 18, 2023
Are you curious about which policies or interventions governments can implement to achieve healthy and sustainable food systems? In this publication, our colleagues Celia and Wouter (and other scientists from Mexico, Argentina, New Zealand, Senegal, Kenya and Australia), conducted a scoping review to analyse the effect and effectiveness of different policies within food systems, from farm to fork.
SONYA’s first Research Day!
June 27, 2023
With the idea of exchanging knowledge and aiming at greater integration of researchers, the Research Group organised a day of presentations and dialogues among researchers.
Place-based solutions for global social-ecological dilemmas: An analysis of locally grounded, diversified, and cross-scalar initiatives in the Amazon
June 27, 2023
This article was published in Global Environmental Change Journal, co-authored by Taís González, SONYA´S Ph.D. candidate highlighting that initiatives led by grassroots actors achieve better social-ecological outcomes. Multi-specialization of activities promotes positive sustainability transformations. Initiatives with cross-sectoral and -scalar partnerships are more successful. Place-based initiatives promote sustainable pathways and transformative change. Finally, grassroots empowerment is vital for external actors seeking to promote sustainability.
Collective writing by the Feminisms and Degrowth Alliance (FaDa), in which Sonya’s doctoral candidate, Taís González, is part of, in the first issue of Degrow Journal
June 13, 2023
We are excited to share the awesome news: SONYA's PhD candidate Taís González at the open-access and inaugural volume of Degrowth Journal.
SONYA was present at the International Congress of Ecological Humanities in Madrid
June 13, 2023
Taís González, SONYA's PhD candidate, presented her research on how bottom-up collaborative processes can contribute to the transformation towards regenerative sustainability and support transdisciplinary research.
Environment and climate: the roots of inaction
June 7, 2023
In an paper published by the CEPULB, Professor Edwin Zaccai attempts to summarize the evolution of the main climatic and environmental threats. He recalls that the alarms have been repeated for almost a century, and identifies several blocking factors towards needed action. Article accessible for non-specialists.
An article in Critical Innovation Studies
June 2, 2023
Just published in Novation, journal of critical innovation studies. A collaboration between Bonno Pel and Tom Bauler (SONYA), Julia Wittmayer (DRIFT Rotterdam/NL) and Flor Avelino (Utrecht/NL).
PhD student of our department selected for the FAO/WFF Young Scientist Group
June 2, 2023
Celia Burgaz, PhD student on Environmental sciences at SONYA, has been selected as one of the 16 young scientist by the World Food Forum (WFF). The group is responsible for creating a biannual WFF Young Scientists report on specific policy issues that concern youth related to the transformation of agri-food systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
‘How dare you!’: a conceptualization of the eco-shaming discourse in Belgium - New Research Article
April 28, 2023
Within the context of a PhD research on eco-shaming and environmental discourse, a first peer-reviewed paper by Kimberley Vandenhole, Tom Bauler and Thomas Block was published in Critical Policy Studies.
New Book Just Published – The Normative Foundations of International Climate Adaptation Finance
February 13, 2023
The new book of our colleague Romain Weikmans is available in open access until the 22nd of February 2023!
Dossier Spécial COP27 : Le chercheur de SONYA, Samuel Lietaer, a présenté aux Grandes Conférences Namuroises comment le dérèglement climatique fait bouger…des personnes impactées, des finances, et des citoyens engagés
November 23, 2022
Alors que la COP27 vient de s’achever ce dimanche 20 novembre, nous proposons de revenir, à travers une série d’articles, sur les différentes activités menées par les chercheuses et chercheurs de SONYA durant les deux semaines du sommet climatique. Le troisième article de ce dossier spécial répond à trois questions concernant le dérèglement climatique, à savoir comment celui-ci « fait bouger » : 1. des personnes impactées par celui-ci ; 2. l’argent (« le financement climatique ») et 3. Des citoyens (engagés) ?
Dossier spécial COP27 : enjeux, discours, et un journalisme à la hauteur de l’urgence climatique.
November 22, 2022
Alors que la COP27 vient de s’achever ce dimanche 20 novembre, nous proposons de revenir, à travers une série d’articles, sur les différentes activités menées par les chercheuses et chercheurs de SONYA durant les deux semaines du sommet climatique. Le deuxième article de ce dossier spécial nous raconte les enjeux et discours de la COP27 avant de répondre à la question : pourquoi les journalistes spécialisés sont-ils taxés de militantisme ?
Dossier spécial COP27 : SONYA a participé à la COP à Charm el-Cheikh aux côtés de l’Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie
November 21, 2022
Alors que la COP27 vient de s’achever ce dimanche 20 novembre, nous proposons de revenir, à travers une série d’articles, sur les différentes activités menées par les chercheuses et chercheurs de SONYA durant les deux semaines du sommet climatique. Le premier article de ce dossier spécial relate l’intervention d’Aurore Fransolet lors d’une table ronde d’enseignants-chercheurs sur le rôle de la recherche dans la mise en œuvre d’actions climatiques organisée par l’Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) à la COP.
SONYA’s PhD candidate, Celia Burgaz, presented her research at the International Congress on Obesity in Australia.
November 15, 2022
Celia Burgaz, PhD candidate at SONYA, presented her research on sustainable food systems at the International Congress on Obesity (#ICO2022) that took place in Melbourne from the 18th to the 22nd of October. Here we share with you some details of her interventions.
Une chercheuse de SONYA remporte le Prix de thèses en prospective de la Francophonie internationale
November 8, 2022
Aurore Fransolet, chercheuse postdoctorale au sein du laboratoire SONYA, a reçu le “Prix de thèses francophones de prospective" le jeudi 27 octobre 2022 au Caire (Égypte) à l’occasion de la Semaine mondiale de la Francophonie scientifique.
Notre collègue Edgar Towa Kouokam a obtenu un mandat de Chargé de Recherche F.R.S.-FNRS
November 8, 2022
Edgar fait partie des heureux bénéficiaires du prestigieux mandat de Chargé de Recherche F.R.S.-FNRS. À partir du 1er octobre 2022, il travaillera sur la thématique des "effets rebonds" induits par les politiques et stratégies environnementales.
New publication by Romain Weikmans
October 21, 2022
The unequal geographies of climate finance: Climate injustice and dependency in the world system. Our SONYA colleague, Romain Weikmans published a new article on "Political Geography".