Visiting Professor Ron Lesthaeghe has recently received the Ernest-John Solvay prize. This is the most prestigious academic prize given in Belgium given every 5 years by the Belgian Research Foundation – Flanders. November 22, 2005. Ron Lesthaeghe was awarded this prize for his great expertise and his rigorous scientific approach of population problems, his ability to integrate concepts and theories and his ability to test hypotheses in an empirically, innovative way.