Jean-Michel Decroly

Jean-Michel’s initial research and PhD (obtained in 1994 at the Université libre de Bruxelles) focused on the geography of demographic phenomena in Europe and Belgium. His research interests diversified with time and Jean-Michel has become over the years a generalist geographer. His work now covers a variety of fields: local and regional demographic dynamics, tourism development processes, the geography of inequalities in access to services and facilities, etc.

Throughout his career, he has conducted interdisciplinary research, collaborating extensively with historians, sociologists, anthropologists, architects, urban planners and political scientists. This led him to participate in several collaborative research projects, including on cultural diffusion processes in sub-Saharan Africa and Belgium, the influence of elites on urban space, and the relationship between culture, mobility and territory in Brussels since the 18th century, local and regional demographic dynamics, tourism development processes, the geography of inequalities in access to services and facilities, etc.

Jean-Michel has held numerous positions as unit chair in geography and in tourism and as department chair (DGES). He has been director of the IGEAT-GAG research unit since 2010 and co-director of the GESTe (environmental, social and territorial management) research unit since 2022.