The Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies (BRISPO) is an interdisciplinary research centre composed of sociologists, demographers, economists, psychologists, statisticians, and human geographers. Its members conduct research on the socioeconomic, cultural, and demographic dimensions of patterns of social inequality within Belgium, Europe, and beyond.
Recent news
New survey: Hot days and green spaces in Brussels for older adults (65+)
VUB (BRISPO and COSMOPOLIS), together with Sciensano, invite older adults (65+) to share their experiences through an online survey.
Job vacancy at BRISPO: 2 full-time PhD Scholarships
The BRISPO-VUB Sustainable Work Unit is looking for 2 PhD students for a new project “Helios-VUB Chair for Mental Well-being at Work”.
A new article co-authored by Fanny D’hondt on school-level stigma and supportive relationships
The article "School Matters: A Multilevel Analysis of Stigma, Supportive Relations and Adolescents’ Mental Health Help-Seeking Attitudes" was published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
Postdoctoral fellowship position available in the TEMPUR project
The position is available at the Center for Demographic Research (DEMO), Louvain University.
Elsa Gallez successfully defends her PhD
The thesis was titled "Schools as Gateways to Urban Nature for All: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Children’s (In)equitable Exposure to School-Related Green and Blue Infrastructure in Brussels and Other European Cities".
New publication: Toward ‘multiplied displacement’: Theorizing at the intersections of migration and urban studies
This article reconceptualises displacement, bringing together concepts developed in urban studies and migration research and focusing on the displacement processes and experiences of internationally displaced migrants.
New comment by Francesc Baró and Elsa Gallez in "Nature Climate Change"
The comment co-authored by two BRISPO members is titled "Greening schools for climate-resilient, inclusive and liveable cities".
Opinion piece by Tulya Su Güven on the role of public spaces in migrant integration
The op-ed "More Than Work and Housing: Why Public Spaces Are Crucial for Integration" was published on BIRMM's website (in English) and in 'knack' (in Dutch).
The Perception of Names in Experimental Studies on Ethnic Origin: A Cross-National Validation in Europe
This paper - led by Abel Ghiekere, Billie Martiniello and Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe - was published in Nature's Scientific Data.
Leandros Kavadias earns PhD degree
The PhD thesis titled “Paradoxes of the Schooled Society: Investigating the Centrality of Schooling and Its Institutional Effects from a Global Perspective” was supervised by Bram Spruyt, Toon Kuppens, and Susanne Scheibe.
Five Traditions of Quantitative Research on Racism - New review article in Sociology Compass
Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe reviews the research traditions on explicit attitudes, implicit bias, discriminatory behavior, migration policies, racial disparities, and personal experiences of discrimination.
New policy brief about ethnic diversity in the Federal public services
Why are ethnic minorities underrepresented in Belgium’s federal public sector? Read the key findings and recommendations from the FedDiverse project led by Bert Leysen and Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe.
New article “Linked lives and work-family dynamics: gendered workload, family support, and mental well-being among urban Chinese dual-earner households”
The paper by Meixuan Li, Lara Stas, Christophe Vanroelen and Deborah De Moortel was published in the International Journal for Equity in Health.
Public PhD defence of Bryan Boyle
On 23 October 2025, Bryan Boyle successfully defended his doctoral dissertation entitled "Labour of Distinction: Notebooks of an Apprentice Butler".
Top photo: Alex Wasey
