When you look at the amount of choice that students have at the Maastricht Science Programme to build their own curriculum, coupled with the advising and the academic resources, the potential is limitless. It is a bit daring to give that high degree of freedom to students. But the students here really make the most of it.

In the last few months all colleagues were able to participate in a poll to name our tutorial rooms. This leads to a choice doing justice to diversity in nationality, field, gender and type of name.

The European Union prides itself for being based on the rule of law. Indeed, the success and longevity of the EU as an integration project can be partly explained by, on the one hand, the willingness of Member States to abide by the obligations that stem from the Treaties and, on the other, the resilience of the EU itself in the face of non-compliance by Member States. Aberrant behaviour does not stop it from functioning.

It is always exciting to await a final decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The judgement in C-619/18, Art. 258 TFEU infringement case against Republic of Poland, is even more of a case in point, given its relevance for the European Union values and the mechanisms designed to hold the stray Member States to the account.

The development of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), nanotechnology and neonicotinoid insecticides presents opportunities for humans and the environment, but it can also carry risks to human, animal or plant health.

This week I am having the pleasure of attending the 2019 BIO International Convention hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The biggest global event of its kind, this international convention brings together stakeholders from across the biotechnologies. Whether it be from the health, agricultural or industrial sector, anyone who is anyone in biotech is in Philadelphia this week.

It is, I think, fair to say that Brexit is not going well. Some even think that it is a ‘complete and unmitigated mess’. No doubt at least in part for this reason, there has been a flurry of commentary arguing that such momentous a decision should not have been taken by way of referendum (for a summary of, as well as an argument against this narrative see here). This is a tempting conclusion. But I do not think it is right.

Copyright protection in various artistic fields is already recognized and respected, however in comedy and stand-up performances, the question remains as to whether a comedian can be inspired by another comedian by appropriating and translating a part of his sketch.

I wrote my PhD towards the last days of the debate over “social rights”. This debate harkens back to the fifties, when the International Covenant on Social and Cultural Rights was being negotiated. Some claimed that social rights could never be true rights. Others claimed that without social rights human rights where an empty joke. I took a position in the latter camp.