Van den Broeck Medal

This Medal was created in 1987 to mark the centenary of the Belgian Society of Geology, in honor of its first General Secretary. (See special volume of the "Centenary of the Belgian Society of Geology", 1987). The first laureate was Maurice Lys from Orsay University, specialized in Paleozoic foraminifera.

During the centennial ceremonies, the President Alphonse Beugnies, who died a few weeks later, and Ernest Van den Broeck handed a medal to the organizers: The Aymard Comte d'Ursel, President of the Centennial Committee and E. Groessens, General Secretary. The following medals were awarded to Mrs. J.-P. Cobbold and C. Samama

The laureates of the last decade of the century were: A. Strasser (Switzerland), G. Kukla (USA), C. Chopin (France), J.-C. Roux (France), C. Babin (France), H. Kucha (Poland), F. Bergerat (France) and Aigner T. (Germany). A medal was also awarded to Prof. Yves Coppens of the "Collège de France".

The medal was not awarded in 1998 and 1999.

The last laureate of the Van den Broeck medal was B. Beets (NL) in 2000.

In 2015, the GB boarding committee decided to attribute again a "Ernest Van den Broeck" medal every year to a Belgian geologist for his/her career.

The last Laureate

    • 2024 - "Prof Alain Dassargues from the Université de Liège"

2024 awarded Laureate of the Van den Broeck medal will give a lecture entitled "Scale and definition challenges in quantitative hydrogeology" which will take place on 20 November at 4 pm at the Station de traitement des eaux de Hesbaye in Ans.

The lecture will be preceded by a guided tour of the CILE (Compagnie Intercommunale Liégeoise des Eaux) water potabilization plant at Ans, near Liège.

Detailed programme of the afternoon

  • 2 pm: Start of the visit of the CILE water potabilization plant
  • 4 pm: Conference by Alain Dassargues: Scale and definition challenges in quantitative hydrogeology
  • 4.45 pm: Presentation of the medal to the laureate
  • 5 pm: Drinks.

The venue

Station de traitement des eaux de Hesbaye à Ans - 60, rue de la Légia (access via Mabiet street recommended), 4430 ANS

Geographical coordinates: 50.651443, 5.5472523

Located on the border between Liège and Ans, the site can be reached by car, train + bus, or train + bike. As parking is limited, car-sharing is recommended. There is also a car park on Place Hector Denis, Ans. If you arrive by train from Brussels or Leuven, use the Ans station. If you arrive by train from Namur, use the Liège Saint Lambert station.

To participate to this manifestation, registration is compulsory before 15 November: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdh1w7nOIOawK3_i4fU1aJRYA_iTTsi8DkDUharkKca57j_dg/viewform?pli=1

 

Last Laureates

    • 2023 - Prof. Dr Rudy Swennen

On the 23rd November 2023, the Van den Broeck Medal Lecture of Geologica Belgica entitled "A look back on an interdisciplinary research career in the field of geological sciences" was given by Prof. Dr Rudy Swennen during a special session and meeting organised by GBLsp in KULeuven.

    • 2022 - Dr Michiel Dusar

On Thursday 9th June 2022, activities include the Van den Broeck Medal Lecture of Geologica Belgica entitled "Serving society as a GSB Geologist", awarded to Dr. Michiel Dusar, as well as discussions on the importance of geological surveys in catalysing Earth Science Research (full day lectures). This lecture was organised during the activities related to the 125 years anniversary event of the Geological Survey of Belgium in the main auditorium of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

    • 2021 - Dr Thierry Camelbeeck

On the 17th September 2021, the Van den Broeck Medal Lecture of Geologica Belgica entitled "Earthquake activity in Western Europe is typical of stable continental regions" was given by Dr Thierry Camelbeeck during the Geologica Belgica Meeting organised by the RMCA in Tervuren.

    • 2020 - Dr Etienne Steurbaut

On the 23rd November 2023, the Van den Broeck Medal Lecture of Geologica Belgica entitled "Recent work on the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary interval of Belgium" was given by Dr Etienne Steurbaut during a special session and meeting organised by GBLsp in KULeuven.

    • 2019 - "The Cartographers of the Walloon Region"

2019 awarded Laureates of the Van den Broeck medal on the field during the GB excursion in the region of Malmedy. More details (images, videos, documents, etc) for the GB members in the hidden part [Member login zone]

the laureates - cartographers of the Walloon Region

from left to right in the back: Timothy Debacker, Pierre Ghysel, Frédéric Favart, Martin Laloux, Eric Lemonne, Jean-Louis Pingot, Jonathan Michel, Isabelle Bélanger, Jean-Marc Marion

from left to right in the front: Bernard Delcambre, Serge Delabby, Bernard Mottequin, Virginie Dumoulin, Céline Vanneste, Alain Herbosch, Dominique Delsate

 

Past Laureates

 

Past Laureates [before Geologica Belgica, under the "Société belge de Géologie"]

  • 1997 - Thomas Aigner, Germany - Sedimentology
  • 1996 - Francoise Bergerat, France - Structural geology
  • 1995 - H. Kucha, Poland - Mineralogy
  • 1994 - H. Kucha, Poland - Mineralogy
  • 1993 - C. Babin, France - Paleontology
  • 1992 - J.C. Roux, France - Hydrology
  • 1991 - C. Chopin, France - Petrology
  • 1990 - G. Kukla, U.S.A. - Quaternary geology
  • 1989 - A. Strasser, Switzerland - Sedimentology
  • 1988 - P. Cobbold, United Kingdom - Structural geology
  • 1987 - JC Samama, France - Petroleum geology
  • 1987 - Yves Coppens, France - Paleoanthropology
  • 1987 - M. Lys, France - Micropaleontology