Research areas
elie | Louvain-la-Neuve
About ELIE
The "Environmental Sciences" research pole (ELIE) of the Earth & Life Institute (ELI) at UCLouvain brings together researchers specialized in the study of environmental systems. It addresses topics related to air, water, soil, climate, and interactions between humans and the environment. Its work aims to understand, model, and anticipate the impacts of human activities on the environment.
The pole develops interdisciplinary approaches combining chemistry, physics, biology, geosciences, and mathematical modeling. It focuses particularly on pollution, climate change, sustainable management of natural resources, and environmental risks. Researchers design decision-support tools for environmental policy. The pole collaborates with national and international institutions on both applied and fundamental research projects. It is heavily involved in training students in environmental sciences. Finally, it actively contributes to the dialogue between science and society on ecological issues.
Research is structured around 3 mains axes:
Our research aims at better understanding matter and energy fluxes through the soil-plant system at different scales. We develop and apply advanced measurement and modeling methods to monitor soil water and chemical fluxes in soils and plants. We also combine plant physiology, soil chemistry and hydrology to assess the vulnerability of soils, forests, agricultural and peri-urban ecosystems in a global changing environment.
Pr. Yannick Agnan : Soil science, biochemistry, mineral and organic contaminants.
Pr. Charles Bielders: Soil and water conservation.
Pr. Pierre Defourny: Remote sensing, geomatics and environmetrics.
Pr. Pierre Delmelle : Geochemistry of volcanic environments. Biogeochemical cycles.
Pr. Bruno Delvaux : Pedology, soil weathering, soil nutrient cycles.
Pr. Emmanuel Hanert: Multiscale numerical methods, modelling of transport and dispersion processes.
Pr. Mathieu Javaux: Water flow in soils and roots.
Pr. François Jonard: Remote sensing in hydrology.
Pr. Mathieu Jonard: Forest ecosystem modelling.
Pr. Sebastien Lambot: Environmental hydrogeophysics.
Pr. Sophie Opfergelt : Geochemistry of the Earth surface, soil weathering, biogeochemical cycles.
Pr. Quentin Ponette: Biogeochemistry and fertility of forest ecosystems.
Pr. Caroline Vincke: Eco-hydrology and resilience of forest systems, wood anatomy and technology.
Our research focuses on the development and application of new techniques for the assessment, the monitoring and the modelling of the spatiotemporal dynamics of complex environmental systems at different scales. These techniques include hydrogeophysics, space-borne remote sensing, geographic information systems, geostatistical methods, stochastic and mechanistic modelling approaches.
Pr. Patrick Bogaert: Geostatistics, stochastic modelling.
Pr. Pierre Defourny: Remote sensing, geomatics and environmetrics.
Pr. Emmanuel Hanert: Multiscale numerical modelling of transport and dispersion processes.
Pr. Mathieu Javaux: Soil-plant system modelling.
Pr. François Jonard: Remote sensing in hydrology.
Pr. Sébastien Lambot: Environmental hydrogeophysics.
Pr. Marnik Vanclooster: Diffuse pollution modelling processes.
We study water resources, soil and forest eco-systems in a holistic way, and we design technological solutions for integrated water, soil and forest management, as way to maintain the integrity of these systems and to use the associated natural resources in a sustainable way.
Pr. Yannick Agnan : Soil science, biochemistry, mineral and organic contaminants.
Pr. Charles Bielders: Soil and water conservation, surface hydrology, desertification, soil quality.
Pr. Pierre Delmelle : Geochemistry of volcanic environments. Biogeochemical cycles.
Pr. Bruno Delvaux : Pedology, soil weathering, soil nutrient cycles.
Pr. Mathieu Javaux: Hydropedology.
Pr. Sophie Opfergelt : Geochemistry of the Earth surface, soil weathering, biogeochemical cycles.
Pr. Quentin Ponette: Biogeochemistry and fertility of forest ecosystems.
Pr. Marnik Vanclooster: Integrated water resources management.
Pr. Caroline Vincke: Eco-hydrology and resilience of forest systems, wood anatomy and technology.
