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FASoS Research Institute

Research Institute

Moving boundaries, bridging disciplines

The research institute of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) at Maastricht University studies societies and cultures as they unfolded during the modern and contemporary era in a radically interdisciplinary manner. We analyse the interrelationships of Europeanisation, globalisation, scientific and technological development, political change and cultural innovation. We are interested in how today’s societies cope with and reflect these challenges in various ways. These could be artistic practices and practices of remembrance as well as specific forms of governance and political integration as well as strategies for managing knowledge, technologies and risks. While our research starts from today’s problems, we have a strong interest in how the modern world came to be.

Research

To nurture and maintain this kind of innovative, interdisciplinary research, the research institute of FASoS has created a matrix organisational structure. Its backbone are four distinct research programmes, each of which is composed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers. While the research programmes form the core of the research activities at FASoS, the faculty also has five centres as specific research hubs and to facilitate interaction with external academic partners and societal stakeholders. Together, the research programmes and the research centres provide a framework that facilitates flexibility, networking, and mobility beyond disciplinary boundaries.

FASoS Research Programmes

Compilation research programmes FASoS

Research Centres

research centres

Research networks and project websites

Networks of Knowledge Production and Consumption

News

Giselle Bosse awarded €800,000 NWO grant for research on women and everyday democracy

  • Researchers
Whereas conventional analyses of democratisation tend to focus on formal institutions, elections and political reforms, this project shifts attention to how democracy is lived and practised in everyday settings such as families, neighbourhoods, workplaces and communities.
Portrait Gisele Bosse

How wild are “wild animals” still in the time of zoos, nature reserves and breeding programmes?

  • Featured
  • Researchers
Is an elephant in Artis Zoo just as “wild” as an elephant on the African savannah? What place do animals have in a world that is increasingly shaped by humans? Why does the presence of a few wolves in the Netherlands trigger so many negative emotions, while Dutch people donate money en masse to protect...
Raf de Bont

Tasmanian maker

Anna Harris, recently inaugurated professor of Anthropology and Medicine, has travelled a long way—from medical training on the other side of the world to research that explores how the senses and material creativity shape medical practice.
Anna Harris

Hylke Dijkstra appointed UM Europe Chair at Studio Europa Maastricht

  • UM news
Hylke Dijkstra will join Studio Europa Maastricht as Maastricht University (UM) Europe Chair on 1 September 2026.
Hylke Dijkstra Europa chair

FASoS Faculty Board composition as of September 2026

Esther Versluis will take up the position of dean of the faculty. Patrick Bijsmans will continue in his role as Associate Dean for Education. Darian Meacham will join the Faculty Board as Associate Dean for Research.
FASoS bestuur sep 26