Scientific directors

Gérard Valenduc (gvalenduc@ftu-namur.org) is a codirector of the Work & Technology Research Centre of FTU and an invited professor at the Universities of Namur (FUNDP) and Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL). He has a Ph.D. in computer science (FUNDP) and a postgraduate in nuclear physics (UCL). He specialised in research on the human and social dimension of technological changes and on the sociology of science and technology. In 1984, he created the Work & Technology Research Centre and since then he takes part in many projects concerning the social aspects of technological innovation, on a regional, national or European scale. His research and publications address changes in work linked to the diffusion of information and communication technologies, digital exclusion and inclusion, relations between technology and society, and innovation fostering sustainable development.

Patricia Vendramin (pvendramin@ftu-namur.org) is a codirector of the Work & Technology Research Centre of FTU and an invited professor at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL). She has a Ph.D. in sociology and a postgraduate in communication sciences and development studies. She started doing research at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve in 1983 and joined FTU in 1988, where she is involved in the scientific management, design and implementation of research projects on changes in work, at a regional, national or European scale. Her research and publications address the evolution of the social bond at work, new flexible or atypical work practices, working time organisation, quality of working life, women's work, labour relations, as well as digital exclusion and inclusion and relations between technology and society.

Researchers

Périne Brotcorne (pbrotcorne@ftu-namur.org) is a researcher at the Work & Technology Research Centre of FTU, since 2007. She has a master degree in history and a postgraduate in sociology (ULB). She worked for several years at the department "informatics and humanities" at the Free University of Brussels (ULB), carrying out research on usages of ICT in education. She collaborates to FTU research projects on the digital divide and ICT training.

John Cultiaux (jcultiaux@ftu-namur.org) is a senior researcher at the Work & Technology Research Centre of FTU, since 2006, and invited professor at the Universities of Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL) and Namur (FUNDP). He has a Ph.D. in sociology (UCL) and a postgraduate from the University of Paris VII. From 1999 to 2006 he worked as research and teaching assistant at the University Faculty Saint-Louis and the UCL (Institute for business administration and management). His main fields of interest are changes in work, social exclusion and marginalisation, and qualitative methods in clinical sociology. He collaborates to the European project SPReW on the social patterns of relation to work.

Lotte Damhuis (ldamhuis@ftu-namur.org) is a researcher at the Work & Technology Research Centre of FTU and assistant at the Open faculty for economical and social policy (FOPES) at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL), since 2006. She has a master degree in sociology (UCL). From 2003 to 2006, she worked at FLORA, which is a federal network of associations for socio-professional insertion of low-skilled women. She collaborates to the European project SPReW on the social patterns of relation to work.

Luc Mertens (luc.mertens51@telenet.be) is a part-time research fellow at FTU, in the area of digital inequalities. He is a librarian and has a master degree in philosophy (VUB). He has participated in several European projects concerning the digital challenge for educative, social and cultural organisations. As a librarian in Turnhout, he implemented a series of initiatives of public access to Internet, which resulted in the creation of Digidak in 2002. In 2005, he created the Flemish support network for new literacy (VSNG) that he managed until August 2008. He is also the initiator of the digital week in Flanders.