Projects
The spectacle of socialism. A transnational and interdisciplinary research on the social and architectural history of WorkersU+2019 Assembly Buildings in European cities (1890-1914). Ghent University
This PhD aims to investigate the interactions and entanglements between architecture and the political culture of labour movements in prewar Europe by focusing on the architectural phenomenon of the often spectacular social democratic Maisons du Peuple or U+2018PeopleU+2019s HousesU+2019 that were built around the turn of the nineteenth to twentieth century in a wide range of European cities. The objective is a clear-cut transnational and ...
Year-round sociality under anthropogenic change in a cooperatively breeding bird Ghent University
Global change challenges biodiversity worldwide, and the ability of species to respond to rapid environmental shifts is of major concern in current biology. Yet, it remains poorly understood how effects of anthropogenic change, such as large-scale habitat fragmentation and climate change, impact sociality in animals. So far, an overwhelming majority of studies focused on the breeding season, while the non-breeding season is believed to ...
Post-socialist orders in the making: Governance models, welfare systems and imaginaries of ‘good life’ in Poland, Russia and Tajikistan Ghent University
In the light of increasing contestations of the liberal order worldwide, this research project aims to investigate alternative models which emerge in the post-socialist space. By taking the cases of Poland, Russia and Tajikistan, it will analyse similarities and differences which characterise political and socio-economic orders in these countries. The project will move away from the ‘transitional’ and ‘illiberal’ lenses towards a decolonial ...
Financial literacy@School KU Leuven
General goal:
There is need for increased financial education in view of widespread financial illiteracy and the benefits for individual well-being and society at large that are associated with high levels of financial literacy. Although the OECD policy recommendation to introduce financial education at school is well accepted, there is no consensus on the optimal way to implement financial education at school. We will develop a ...
Longitudinal study on food habits of young children and primary socialisation of food habits, starting at the age of 3 Ghent University
A cohort of young children (n>1000, age +/- 3 years) will be followed every 2 years, regarding their food habits and influencing factors. Evolutions in food habits during early childhood will be investigated and the influence of the family (primary socialisation) on their food habits and preferences will be investigated.
Charismatistic leadership in social movements in Belgium during the interwar years. Hendrik De Man, minister in shirtsleeves, in a comparative perspective. Ghent University
The research project examines ‘charismatic’ leadership in social movements, a subject that has been neglected by historiography since Max Weber’s conceptual notes at the beginning of the twentieth century. The focal point is the Belgian labour movement in the interbellum. After the first generation of charismatic leaders at the end of the nineteenth century, a new generation emerged, which, with its preference for a nationally oriented ...
The application of Strategic Niche Management on social innovations. Towards a geographic approach using a multiple case study of cohousing and LETS in Belgium and the UK. KU Leuven
For every visitor to Cuba, the presence of a thriving black market is clear. For some, this is the proof that socialism fails and should make room for a more dynamic capitalism. For others, the black market is detrimental to the socialist project and should be eradicated. With a focus on Cuba’s food economy, my original contribution is to move beyond this dichotomy and to show the complex interrelations between different economic spheres. ...
Micro-level Socialisation and the Role of the Institutional Environment in Civic engagement. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Language socialisation and second language acquisition in kindergarten. KU Leuven
Little Pitchers, Big Ears? The Success of Learning New Vocabulary through Addressed and Overheard Speech in Flemish- and Moroccan-heritage Preschool Children
Language acquisition research has long focused nearly exclusively on the way in which young children learn language in direct interactions (Akhtar, Jipson, & Callanan, 2001). However, children also learn much language in indirect situations: by keenly observing others ...