Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts
KVAB
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| Formation | 1772 |
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| Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
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Chairman
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Ludo F. Gelders (2013/2014) |
| Website | http://www.kvab.be |
Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten or KVAB is an independent learned society of science and arts in Flanders in Belgium. The academy dates its origin back to 1772 when the Imperial and Royal Academy of Brussels was founded by empress Maria Theresia.
In English language context the academy is mostly referred to as Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, but sometimes also called in shorthand Royal Academy of Belgium.
The Academy is headquartered in the Academy Palace (Paleis der Academiën), Hertogsstraat 1, B-1000 Brussels.
The mission and goals of the society is the practice and promotion of science and arts in Flanders. To achieve that goal a number of scientific and cultural activities is organized. Also the academy enhances and encourages the collaboration between the Flemish universities, it attracts and encourages foreign scholars to develop research activities and delegates representatives to international organisations and meetings. In addition, it advises on matters of social importance on behalf of the government, industry, educational establishments and research centres and finally the Academy awards prizes to talented and promising researchers and artists.
The Academy is governed by a Management Committee consisting of 14 members. Every second year a new chairman (voorzitter) is elected. Since 1997 the following people have been chairman: Marcel Storme, Yvan Bruynseraede, Carl Van de Velde, Mark Eyskens, Jef Van Landuyt, Frans Boenders, Dominique Willems, Pierre Jacobs and Ludo Gelders (current chairman). On 14 December 2013 Willem Elias, a professor and dean at VUB Free University in Brussels, was elected as chairman for the 2015-2016 term and is expected to succeed Ludo Gelders in his office on 1 January 2015.
To perform its numerous tasks the Academy can rely on an administrative office staffed by ten collaborators and managed by a permanent secretary (vast secretaris). Between 1997 and 2010 this task was fulfilled by Niceas Schamp while since 2010 the task of permanent secretary has been given to Géry van Outryve d'Ydewalle.
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