The Knowledge Centre Data & Society is the leading expertise centre on the legal, social and ethical aspects of AI and data-driven applications in Flanders.
As a central hub, we bring together the expertise of 3 academic research groups: imec-SMIT, VUB, CiTiP (KU Leuven) and imec-MICT-UGent. The Knowledge Centre Data & Society is part of the Flanders Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy plan and gets support from the Flemish government.
Academic coordinator
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Rob Heyman is Academic Coordinator of the Knowledge Centre Data & Society and Senior Researcher at imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He researches participatory methods in innovation projects so that societal, legal, and ethical values are integrated into the development phase.
Themes:
Operational coordinator
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Pieter Duysburgh is coordinator of the Knowledge Centre Data & Society and project leader of the citizen science programme amai!. His expertise includes digital inclusion, AI literacy, participation, AI innovation in the workplace, and ethics in practice.
Themes:
Knowledge valorisation officer
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Dennis Vanden Auweele is an ethicist and holds a doctorate in philosophy. As a knowledge valorisation officer at the Knowledge Centre Data & Society, he focuses on the themes of ethics in practice, digital sovereignty, and algorithmic decision-making.
Themes:
Communications and events officer
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Shirley Bruijnzeel is responsible for social media, newsletters, and the website. She also supports the organisation of events, learning communities, and training courses at the Knowledge Centre Data & Society.
Knowledge valorisation officer
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Nathan Pelgrims supports organisations with the ethical, social, and legal decision-making processes around AI, he works to promote the responsible use of AI and data-driven technologies in Flanders, focusing especially on the use of AI at work. Additionally, he is involved in amai!, the citizen science project aiming to make AI innovation more accessible to and relevant for the general public in Flanders.
Themes:
Research associate
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Frederic Heymans is a communication scientist and doctoral student at imec-SMIT (VUB). At the Knowledge Centre Data & Society he focuses on policy analysis, policy prototyping, and the implementation and operationalisation of policy.
Themes:
Research associate
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Marco Houben is a research associate at the Knowledge Centre Data & Society and a doctoral researcher at imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His work focuses on responsible AI in education, the collaboration between AI developers and schools, and making digital educational tools understandable and controllable. He also serves as a project coordinator at sustAIn.brussels, where he guides SMEs through methods, such as co-creation on topics including AI regulation and the practical application of ethics.
Themes:
Research officer
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Shannen Verlee is a legal researcher. She informs Belgian and Flemish authorities and companies about the legal aspects of AI and data. In this capacity, she focuses on relevant legislation such as the European AI Act and the Data Act. Additionally, she works on Policy Prototyping and the policy monitor.
Themes:
Research officer
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Sultan Erdogan is a legal researcher. She informs Belgian and Flemish authorities and companies about the legal aspects of AI and data. In this capacity, she focuses on relevant legislation such as the European AI Act and the Data Act. Additionally, she works on Policy Prototyping and the policy monitor.
Themes:
Research officer
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Sabra Ibnouthen is a legal researcher. She informs Belgian and Flemish authorities and companies about the legal aspects of AI and data. In this capacity, she focuses on relevant legislation such as the European AI Act and the Data Act. Additionally, she works on Policy Prototyping and the policy monitor.
Academic supervisor CiTiP KU Leuven/ Knowledge Centre Data & Society
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Themes:
Research associate
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Wout Vermeir is a researcher at the Knowledge Centre Data & Society. He investigates the barriers and challenges that organisations and companies face when introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their business operations. He works on the development and implementation of self-monitoring tools to measure the AI literacy and AI maturity of an organisation and its employees.
Themes:
Lead researcher
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Themes:
Research associate
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Marijn Martens is a research associate at the Knowledge Centre Data & Society and a senior researcher at imec-mict-UGent. He holds a PhD focused on the impact of algorithms on society. Within the Knowledge Centre, he investigates the barriers that companies, employees, and citizens encounter regarding the (potential) implementation of AI in their work or daily environments.
