Science & Cocktails #44 : Life without a blueprint: Lessons from frog eggs + concert by Noisy Nuns

Name: Science & Cocktails #44 : Life without a blueprint: Lessons from frog eggs + concert by Noisy Nuns
Start: 2026-02-26T20:30:00+01:00
Location: Chaussée Saint-Pierre 210, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

Schedule

Thu, 26 Feb, 2026 at 08:30 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

Chaussée Saint-Pierre 210, 1040 Brussels, Belgium | Etterbeek, BU

doors: 19:30
talk: 20:30
concert by Noisy Nuns : 22:00
tickets: bit.ly/48Q02mo · 10€ (included a cocktail or a mocktail)
𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕒 𝕓𝕝𝕦𝕖𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥: 𝕃𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕘 𝕖𝕘𝕘𝕤
Life is more than DNA. Every living cell is a bustling, self-organizing system where countless molecules cooperate without a master plan. In our lab, we explore this mystery by taking frog eggs apart and watching their molecular “soup” come alive again — forming nuclei, dividing, and even building simple cell-like structures. By combining experiments with physical modeling and computer simulations, we uncover some of the hidden rules that let life build itself and adapt to changing environments. Such work forces us to think differently about life’s origins and what it takes for matter to become living.
Questions
𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕤 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖 ?
How can a “soup” of molecules from frog eggs rebuild lifelike cells?
Can physics help us predict and even recreate living behavior?
Why does life stay robust in a changing world?
What can synthetic cells teach us about the origin — and future — of life?
𝙇𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙂𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙨
Lendert received a master’s degree in electrotechnical engineering and physics, from the University of Brussels (VUB). During his PhD, he studied laser dynamics and pattern formation at the applied physics group of Prof. Jan Danckaert at VUB, the IFISC institute in Spain, and the group of Prof. Edgar Knobloch at UC Berkeley in the USA.
As a postdoctoral researcher, he moved towards the field of biology, where he worked with Prof. James E. Ferrell at the department of Chemical and Systems Biology of Stanford University, USA. Since 2015, he leads the research group “Dynamics in Biological Systems” at the department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at KU Leuven, where his research explores how complex dynamic processes shape living systems. Outside the lab, Lendert enjoys squash, cycling, running, skiing, and experimenting with food and drinks.
𝙉𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙮 𝙉𝙪𝙣𝙨 (𝙗𝙚)
Noisy Nuns are two women sweating behind their keyboards and drums, combining raw energy with incisive melodies.
They have both cut their teeth in the Belgian rock scene, working on projects such as Moaning Cities, Von Dead, SOROR, Dario Mars... and decided, with Noisy Nuns, to create a more personal project, giving free rein to their instincts.