Report of the jury 2009

Her Majesty the Queen of Belgium,

Minister Lieten

Governor,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

 

I am delighted to welcome you here tonight for the award ceremony of the 2009 Flemish Dissertation Award. The last few weeks, the jury members have performed their task with pleasure and careful thought and have, after serious consideration, chosen a winner.

After we had drawn up a longlist with ten dissertation subjects and authors, we still needed to select the five final nominees.
This has not been easy, because when you choose, you lose. The contestants were so well matched that choosing only five nominees meant leaving out others that also deserved being selected.

 

The five dissertations we eventually selected are very diverse and come from several departments of both college universities and universities.

 

I will now present to you the names of the five final nominees. One of them is the winner of the 2009 Flemish Dissertation Award.

Koen Colpaert, Hannes Pieters, Kristien Dubois, Frederick Van Gysel, Maarten Breckpot.

 

The jury feels that the dissertation of Koen Colpaert 'Rode Duivels, nationalisme en identiteiten' (Red Devils, nationalism and identities) discusses a socially relevant subject and has been interpreted in a very logical and balanced manner. We also noticed that the author clearly enjoyed his subject and the elaboration of it.

Congratulations Koen (Colpaert)!

 

An other author who has proven to be ambitious and enthousiastic is Frederick Van Gysel. He managed to explore an easy accessible subject 'Workflow & Lifehacking' in a very systematic manner and this way offers a practical guideline to teachers in secundary schools.

Congratulations Frederick (Van Gysel)!

 

Hannes Pieters also made a strong impression, with his study on the Royal Library Albert I in Brussels. He took a closer look at four decades of national representation in architecture, urban development and interior design. With his thesis, he has blewn away both experts and non-experts.

Congratulations Hannes (Pieters)!

 

Kristien Dubois' dissertation has made a great impression on the jury. She made an audio description of Jan Decorte's play ‘Wintervögelchen’. Her work demonstrates a large social commitment to actively involve a minority group in cultural activities.

Congratulations Kristien (Dubois)!

 

Finally, the jury was full of praise for the work of Maarten Breckpot. He wrote 'Flood control of the Demer', about flood control of an 85 km long river in eastern Belgium. In his thesis, mathematics and technology were at the centre. His subject was rather specialistic for a non-specialized jury, but the author has managed to discuss this modern and complex issue on a high and accesible level.

Congratulations Maarten (Breckpot)!

 

The jury would like to congratulate all the nominees and of course thank them for entering this edition of the Dissertation Award.

I wish you the best of luck in your professional lives!

  

It is time to announce the winner. I can imagine you are all dying to find out who has been elected the winner of 2009 Flemish Dissertation Award.

Mrs Lieten, may I ask you to announce the winner?

MINISTER INGRID LIETEN:

 

The jury has selected a dissertation that demonstrates exceptional maturity. It has become a voluminous dissertation, that is proud to be the first extensive study on the subject. The thesis has been well documented and beautifully illustrated and eventhough it is a historical work, it discusses a current theme. What other building in our national history carries so much symbolics as the Royal Albert I Library?  This is a work of unobserved class, that could easily be published. We can't wait to be guided through what must be Belgium's most eloquent symbol of national unity.

Congratulations: HANNES PIETERS!