February 2021 on education and research at Maastricht University How to solve a murder? New Bachelor in Robert Horsselenberg on his student cold-case team Global Studies Taught by all six UM faculties p 8 p 4

Reaching for the stars Portrait of Bartel van der Walle, the new director of UNU-MERIT p 12 You can’t be Foreword Maastricht University a friend to 27 Executive Board Collaboration Soul kitchen Martin Paul, Rianne everyone Mark Kawakami: Traditions with an Letschert and Nick Bos aftertaste is to thrive p 19 30 International Maastricht University describes itself as a ‘network Heerlen, where researchers from all faculties work Vivian van Saaze: Life in the museum university’, an organisation looking to partner with together to address the societal challenges of other knowledge institutions as well as the public and digitisation. 33 private sector. For many of us, this brings to mind our Sciences international networks, or the Brightlands campus Such initiatives need not involve all faculties. Still, it Gijs Goossens: Obesity and COVID-19: a system. But we also ought to reflect on what we can can be advantageous to cluster multidisciplinary dangerous duo gain closer to home, by increasing interaction and approaches to the same challenge. Examples include To much of the Dutch public, Jaap van Dissel has become the bearer of bad news, or the face collaboration within the university. the Centre for Integrative Neurosciences (CIN), which of an evidence-based approach to handling COVID-19—or both. The government’s chief 38 brings together researchers from FHML and FPN, and medical adviser on receiving an honorary doctorate from Maastricht University, the reality of Alum As a young university, we have a history of new joint strategies by several faculties (FHML, FPN and crisis management and how you can’t be everyone’s darling. Job van den Hurk: Nerd with a calling faculties popping up, like pearls on a string. These SBE) to further develop the Brightlands campus in faculties have strong identities and, to some extent, Venlo. Collaboration between our oldest and youngest 40 their own cultures. When the Executive Board faculties—FHML and FSE—could also open the door to University Fund Limburg / SWOL organised informal lunches with professors from many opportunities, not least because a number of Good education through Jeanine Verbunt and Hanna Hesemans: different faculties, it was interesting to see that few of FSE programmes are (and will be) delivered on the the Educational Agenda Further A different kind of matchmaker these professors had previously met—despite working Randwyck campus. Moreover, the nexus of medicine on the same theme, albeit from different disciplinary and technology is a breeding ground for the co-crea- Limburg 04 7, 11 and 42 perspectives. tion of innovative solutions for care and cure in the Education News future. We will seek to align strategies with the Valentina Mazzucato on the new bachelor’s In 2021, the university turns 45: an opportune Maastricht UMC+ and consider bridging the gap in p 16 programme Global Studies moment to reflect on the synergies that could arise other ways, too, as possibilities abound for cooperation from enhanced collaboration between disciplines, between medicine and the exact sciences, but also the 08 faculties and groups on both sides of the Maas. The social sciences and humanities. Science and Society development of the Bachelor in Global Studies, February 2021 Robert Horsselenberg: How to solve a on education and research at Maastricht University featured in this magazine, is a prime example. Cooperation should not be forced, and our disciplinary murder? How to solve Developed in collaboration between all six faculties, it and faculty identities will always remain distinctive a murder? Reaching for Robert Horsselenberg on his offers an exciting opportunity to address global features of our university. However, by facilitating student cold-case team the stars 12 Portrait of Bartel van der Walle, p 8 challenges in a multi- and interdisciplinary fashion. dialogue, increasing interaction and investigating the new director of UNU-MERIT

Portrait p 12 Another example is BISS (the Brightlands Institute for win-win situations, we can undoubtedly open up new Honorary doctorate Bartel Van de Walle: Reaching for the stars for Jaap van Dissel Smart Society) on the Smart Services Campus in opportunities for the future. < Reflections on the year of the coronavirus Trudie Schils, professor of Economics of 22 p 19 Education, was one of the driving forces Spread behind the start of the Educational Agenda Carnival in Maastricht in times of corona Limburg. The agenda is a long-term project seeking to improve education in the province 24 and the connection to the labour market. Professor - Student The first concrete results have since been Ron Heeren and Gerard van Rooij: From unveiled, including a monitor to track pupils’ instrumentation physicist to socially and students’ development. engaged scientist Cover

Cover image by Arjen Schmitz www.arjenschmitz.com ‘A few’ good people in Lebanon

Her home country is reeling from one crisis after the other. After earning her master’s degree at the UM School of Health Profes- p 36 sions Education (SHE), Zakia Dimassi is now back in Beirut, Lebanon, where she is an assistant professor at Saint George Hospital University Medical Center.

UMagazine / February 2021 2 Photo Sacha Ruland 3 February 2021 / UMagazine Global Studies—the name of the new Maastricht University (UM) bachelor’s programme sounds perfectly Promethean. Yet the concept makes a lot of sense; indeed, it may well be the most pragmatic approach to preparing students for the 21st century.

Education

Text Somali pirates? “The media narrative was: security Florian Raith concern. That makes sense, but it doesn’t help you understand or solve the problem,” says Valentina Photography Mazzucato, head of the Global Studies development Rafaël Philippen team. “Climate change has devastated the agricultural sector in Somalia. International companies are overfishing their waters in contravention of existing agreements. Livelihoods were destroyed and diseases broke out. A wave of migration followed—and some people have turned to piracy.”

Contemporary challenges are always more complex than one thing in one place at one time. Examples like the above and the omnipresent pandemic have economic, political, legal, psychological, scientific and moral dimensions. “The problems we face are global, complex and intricate. No approach is superfluous.” Global Studies suggests a wildly innovative answer: it is taught by all six UM faculties.

Joining forces like never before “We pooled all the expertise from the many pockets within UM that research and teach global issues. Rianne [Letschert, UM’s rector magnificus] was instrumental in getting all the faculties on board.” More than Being a young university with international coopera- tion in its DNA also helped. “It’s not a coincidence that this happened here at UM, which really has interdisci- plinarity at its core.” a single Rather than an eclectic buffet from different disci- plines, all courses in a given semester are co-developed and taught by three faculties. Each focuses on a specific theme: besides an introduction to the field, there is Environment & Economy, Migration & story Citizenship, Tolerance & Beliefs, Peace & Justice and 21st Century Learning. The penultimate semester includes fieldwork in the Global South with a small group, accompanied by an expert and hosted by a local partner. >

UMagazine / February 2021 4 5 February 2021 / UMagazine It was a tremendous administrative challenge, but You can’t know everything about Mazzucato was delighted to head the core team of 26 everything people from all ranks and faculties developing the Mazzucato describes the first cohort as motivated, News curriculum. “The collaboration was fantastic and left curious and mature when discussing differences of us all really energised. We started with a blank opinion. “That’s so valuable. There are 28 nationalities slate—that was really exciting!” Mazzucato was from across the political spectrum and their lived inspired by her own liberal-arts education. “All these experience adds so much. They learn a lot from each lightbulbs went on because I was exposed to new other’s perspectives.” ideas and disciplines that I’d never considered before. That’s what I want to recreate for our students.” The understanding that climate change, for example, th looks very different for a software developer in San 45 Dies Natalis Integrating knowledge and perspectives Francisco than for a subsistence farmer in Bangladesh “Every course is about combining and integrating is central to Global Studies. And this global character is Unfortunately, UM’s Dies Natalis knowledge and approaches from different disciplines,” the key to the programme’s success so far. Mazzucato celebration had to be drastically slimmed she says. The difficulty of doing so is also integral to is bullish about the necessary trade-offs. “We were down due to the extension of the corona the curriculum, which emphasises the soft skills very honest about this: you obviously learn a lot less measures. The honorary doctorate for ↑ Rector Rianne Letschert during the brief speech from the Sint Janskerk, necessary for working in interdisciplinary, intercultural about economics here than during an economics Professor Jaap van Dissel and other awards streamed on the UM YouTube channel. teams. The programme teaches canonical theories and degree.” She is unsurprised about the high dropout will be presented during the Opening of the concepts, but also compares them to those developed rates among first-year students across the board in the Academic Year on Monday 30 August. To by scholars in the Global South. Netherlands. “I think it’s crazy that we ask 18-year-olds mark the university’s 45th anniversary, rector to specialise. Our students learn to navigate complexi- Rianne Letschert delivered a brief speech “We want students to understand complexity and ty and work with others. After getting a taste of from the Sint Janskerk, which was streamed Mask certification diversity: how to approach such multitudes of different disciplines, they will make a much more on the UM YouTube channel. She reflected information?” But understanding is only one half of informed decision about what they want to focus on, on the year 2020, but also looked ahead, through newlab Global Studies; the other is action. “They have to come what they want to ‘master’.” < addressing themes such as blended education, up with solutions to the problems we address in the effective leadership and the new recognition at UM institute courses. They design interventions, make difficult and rewards initiative for academics. < ← choices and reflect on the positive and negative AMIBM consequences of those choices on different stakehold- Valentina Mazzucato is ers around the globe.” professor of Globalisation Manufacturers of non-medical face and Development at masks in the Netherlands are now required Doing good, without being naïve FASoS. She founded and Students win to meet certain standards if they wish to Clara Diba, part of the first cohort of 68 students, directed the research receive a certification mark. The Aachen– appreciates this proactive approach. “It’s not just programme on Globalisa- €50,000 in Young Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials leaning out of an ivory tower; we’re thinking about tion, Transnationalism (AMIBM), located on the Brightlands solutions—but not in a naïve way. You learn to and Development Plastic Pollution Chemelot Campus near Geleen, will assess challenge your own opinions and develop a nuanced (2012–2020). She is a masks on the basis of the new standards at a understanding of how the world works, why things member of the Executive Challenge newly opened mask-testing centre. Approved happen and how actors are affected.” Board of the Maastricht producers will receive a certification mark, Centre for Citizenship, The BioMaas student team has won the which will enable shoppers to see immedi- Fellow pioneer Julian Martinez agrees. “You need to Migration and Develop- first Young Plastic Pollution Challenge with ately whether a mask offers sufficient view the big problems through different lenses to find ment (MACIMIDE) and a their plan to investigate which organic waste protection, and also whether it is made of the most suitable solutions.” He finds the interdiscipli- member of the Royal can be used to manufacture fully composta- environmentally friendly materials or nary approach exciting and challenging. “Maths has Netherlands Academy of ble products, such as cups, plates and contains toxic substances. AMIBM is a always come easy to me, but in the methods course, Arts and Sciences (KNAW). packaging material. The BioMaas project is partnership between Maastricht University, we also use coding to do data analysis. We learn so After studying Political part of Precious Plastic. RWTH Aachen University and the German many different skills. It’s not easy, but we’re a Science and French research organisation Fraunhofer- close-knit community and help each other out.” Literature at Williams The compostable products will then be sold Gesellschaft. < College and Agricultural to companies in Maastricht that participate Although their journey has only just begun, both Economics at Michigan in the collection of the necessary organic report that they now consume news more critically. State University, she material. The students intend to publish the After performing stakeholder analyses of global supply earned a PhD from production methods open source, making chains, they have also become more aware of their Wageningen University. them available to everyone. responsibilities and agency as consumers. Diba believes Global Studies will give her the toolkit to find Clara Diba from Lebanon The BioMaas team is composed of students a job that allows her to make a positive impact. and Julian Martinez from and recent graduates from Maastricht “I know it sounds corny,” Martinez adds, somewhat Mexico are part of the University and Eindhoven University of apologetically, “but I want to make the world a better first Global Studies Technology from different countries and place.” cohort. disciplines. They will turn their idea into reality within two years. The prize also includes three months of coaching by experienced entrepreneurs and investors in sustainable technologies. < UMagazine / February 2021 6 7 February 2021 / UMagazine Imagine: 15 years ago, a woman Science and Society was murdered. Now a cold-case Text team has reopened the case. Jolien Linssen Legal psychologist The detectives discover that Photography and associate Arjen Schmitz professor at the during the original investigation, Faculty of Law Robert Horselenberg no samples were taken from the victim’s lips or from under her nails. Should the remains be exhumed? This is the type of issue that a select group of “In this case, the answer is no,” says Robert Horselenberg, a legal psychologist and associate master’s students is working on professor. He has been in charge of the Maastricht cold-case team since its creation about 10 years ago. during the Cold Cases project. “The victim was a Jewish woman who was buried according to Jewish tradition, which means she was washed completely clean. So there’s no point re-examining the remains.”

The example illustrates the broad general knowledge and natural curiosity required of cold-case detectives. These are the characteristics Horselenberg seeks when assembling his team. Ten students, mostly from the How do master’s degree in Forensics, Criminology and Law, are given six months to study an existing cold case and come up with recommendations for the Public Prosecution Service and the cold-case team of the Limburg Police. There is great enthusiasm and the bar is high. “I don’t need 10 people who all think alike; I’m youlooking for people who dare to disagree respectfully, based on rational arguments.”

Critical thinking In other words, open-minded, articulate students with diverse backgrounds; technical, biological, legal solve a and psychological. Horselenberg and his colleagues focus on training them in critical thinking—because above all, a cold case is a puzzle that requires a great deal of thought.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about how to solve murder cases, such as the idea that you can solve everything with forensic DNA research. We saw this recently in the Nicky Verstappen case, where many questions remain unanswered and both parties are appealing. In current and cold cases alike, DNA leads to a genuine ? breakthrough in less than 3% of cases.” Facts Forensic technology is not a magic bullet. The core of detective work—the pillars that underpin the development of plausible scenarios—are dry facts. This is why Horselenberg’s team spends much of its time studying the file and establishing those facts. Who is >

UMagazine / February 2021 8 9 February 2021 / UMagazine the victim, who were they in contact with, what was “We do very serious analyses, make suggestions and the cause of death, and—above all—what is not come up with points the police hadn’t thought of. This known? Only then do they turn to what may have is partly due to the fresh eyes and uninhibited UM researcher Lizza News happened. After all, the outcome is known: someone is perspective of our students; they’re not encumbered dead. But what happened in the hours and minutes by experience.” That lack of experience can be an Hendriks appointed leading up to that? advantage, he says. “In cold cases, detectives who have done their job just fine for 30 years can easily fall into member of The Young “Our students work in pairs to make a certain scenario the trap of: well, that was a junkie and they talk as strong as possible,” Horselenberg explains. “It may nonsense. So we don’t need to interview that person Academy be plausible that the victim had a secret lover, for again—whereas doing so might just pay off. In short, example, and that person is the culprit. You look at you have to approach cases like these with an open In 2021 Lizza Hendriks, assistant Hendriks (1981) has worked as a lung doctor what facts support this assumption, and what mind.” Horselenberg is in favour of a national professor at the Maastricht School for at the Maastricht UMC+ since 2012. She is information you need in order to prove it. In this case, cold-case team comprising inexperienced detectives Oncology and Developmental Biology specialised in thoracic oncology, in particular it would be a good idea to speak with the victim’s with strong critical-thinking skills, who work according (GROW), will join The Young Academy. This is the prevention and optimal treatment of ↑ Assistant professor Lizza Hendriks friends. Especially when you consider that witnesses, to a protocol. At present, no such protocol exists. a platform of the Royal Netherlands brain metastases in lung cancer. Since 2019, Our family, current and ex-partners and neighbours Academy of Sciences, where young top she has coordinated the clinical lung cancer contribute to three quarters of the cold cases that end Meanwhile, cold-case education has proven its worth academics from different disciplines research of the lung diseases department in students up being solved.” as a learning tool for students. “There are students collaborate on research and scientific policy. Maastricht. who come to Maastricht specifically for this course. Large-scale are not Fresh eyes And alumni tell me that they’re still reaping the Within The Young Academy, Hendriks plans Although students can create fake social-media benefits of the knowledge and skills they acquired research on causes to focus on early career policy, inspiring encum- accounts and consult experts, they are not allowed to with us. In that sense, the cold cases we discuss are of young people to pursue careers in research. contact anybody involved in the file. At the end of the great educational value whether or not the police of hypertension ContinuUM online She will also contribute to the new Recogni- bered by investigation, they write an extensive report with actually do anything with our investigations. Though it tion and Rewards initiative, focusing on recommendations that is sent to the police and the would be nice, of course, if we could help to bring Maastricht UMC+ and Maastricht provides access to a policy for physician-researchers. < experience. Public Prosecution Service. Unfortunately, these about closure for the next of kin. They want nothing University are leading a large-scale inter- reports are then put on a shelf, where they sit for more than to finally turn the page on that chapter of national study into the underlying causes of piece of UM history years. Horselenberg attributes this to chronic their lives.” < hypertension, or high blood pressure. The understaffing of the cold-case teams, which are study is supported by a European grant of UM Magazine’s predecessor, ContinuUM, lumped with missing-persons cases in addition to more than €4 million, which will be used to is now available online. The magazine was Eight NWO unsolved murders. set up a collaborative network of research published (in Dutch) approximately three centres and schools with expertise in hyper- times a year between 1997 and 2009. All issues grants for tension. In the coming years, the researchers were recently digitised and are now freely will develop fundamental insights into the accessible through the University Library. talented UM Robert Horselenberg is a underlying causal mechanisms of hyper- legal psychologist and tension. ContinuUM originated as a ‘magazine for, by researchers associate professor at the and about alumni of Maastricht University’. Faculty of Law. He studied “Hypertension is an expression of underlying Later it became a more general publication The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has Health Sciences in damage or dysregulation,” says Prof. Thomas for anybody interested in developments at awarded prestigious grants to eight talented Maastricht and obtained Unger, project initiator and coordinator on the university and the accomplishments of researchers from Maastricht University. his PhD here in 2005 for behalf of the Maastricht research institute its staff and students from a variety of his research on false CARIM. “If we want to go further than just perspectives. It contains interviews with key Jordi Heijman (CARIM), Ali Jahanshahianvar memories and false treating symptoms, we need to gain a better UM personalities and feature articles on (MHeNs) and Bettina Sorger (FPN) each confessions. He publishes understanding of the complex and varying education, research, collaboration and received a Vidi grant worth €800,000. regularly on topics such interactions between the vascular system partnerships, management and supervision. Laureates can use this funding to develop an as memory, child and the endocrine system.” The multidiscipli- innovative line of research and set up their interrogations and false nary research programme, called MINDSHIFT ContinuUM shines a spotlight on memorable own research group. confessions, and has (www.eumindshift.eu), started on 1 January moments in UM’s history, making it a served as an expert 2021 and will run for four years. Alongside valuable source of information on our In addition, five young researchers received a witness in some 170 court Maastricht, the programme includes 14 other institutional heritage. < Veni grant worth €250,000: Glynis Bogaard cases. partners from the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, (FPN), Andrew Mackenzie (SBE), Mor Dickman France, Austria, Switzerland and Poland. < Visit the archive at umlib.nl/continuum (MHeNs), Willemijn Jansen (MHeNs) and Anna Schueth (FPN). These grants are intended for researchers who have recently obtained their doctorate and are still at the beginning of their academic career. <

UMagazine / February 2021 10 11 February 2021 / UMagazine He is a free spirit. “As a child I was always wandering around outside, building huts, counting stars.” He is self-deprecating: “I was interviewed for my PhD by a committee of old white men, a bit like myself now,” but also self-aware: “I consciously moved away from fundamental mathematics after my PhD.” As a leader, his main goal is to serve others. “You don’t shake hands with an institute, but with the people who work there. First and foremost I want to look at what everybody needs.” Bartel Van de Walle has been director of UNU-MERIT since September 2020.

Portrait

Text Femke Kools

Photography Starting a new job during the corona crisis really Paul van der Veer makes you think, he says as we begin the interview. “In an academic career spanning 20 years, you’ve acquired quite a few skills that you think you can use in a new job like this. But that was all in an offline setting, in person; at meetings, workshops, seminars. Suddenly all that’s of no use. There’s nothing more informative in a new job than a chat at the coffee machine.”

Astronomy It was clear to him from a young age that he would pursue an academic career—the first in his family to do so. During his studies in maths and computer science in Ghent, there was ample opportunity for “self-development,” he grins. “I could study hard when it was needed, but I also had a lot of time for other things.” His favourite side activity: the astronomy club that he founded. He also wrote his master’s thesis on astronomy. “It’s kind of a missed calling, or maybe a childhood trauma,” he laughs. “I wanted to study astronomy in Amsterdam, but I was 17, and my parents thought that was too far away from Bruges.”

Beauty After graduating from Ghent, he quickly found a PhD position at SCK•CEN, the renowned nuclear research centre in Mol, Belgium. He saw the university as a place where people could think critically. “I always dreaded ending up in a company where I’d be one of many having to do this or that to improve the business. For the same reason, I didn’t want to join the army. Instead I opted for civilian service: I’d rather think for myself.” He obtained his PhD among an inspiring group of mathematicians. “They were brilliant; I learnt so much there.” His dissertation Director of UNU- focused on choices that are not binary (a or b; “right or MERIT and professor wrong”), but vague or fuzzy (“better or worse”), which of Policy Analysis for he expressed in mathematical language. “The beauty Global Challenges of mathematics can still move me. Formulating Bartel Van de Walle something elegantly and seeing that it’s right!” > Reaching for the stars for Reaching

UMagazine / February 2021 12 13 February 2021 / UMagazine difference and contribute to the UN agenda. I think it’s the best of both worlds. I want to help create the best conditions for our academics, with recognition of all types of activities, from teaching and impact to publications.”

He is very concerned about the developments in the academic world in recent decades. “The term ‘excellence’ is very limited these days. What’s excellent about a Nature publication that changes nothing in the real world? We’re driving ourselves crazy, not least → with the competition for research funding. It’s at the Bartel Van de Walle is expense of research time, at the expense of those director of the United academics who run into a wall, and at the expense of Nations University– free research that doesn’t yet have a practical Maastricht Economic and application. Fortunately, it’s increasingly up for Social Research Institute debate.” on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT). Climbing the academic ladder He is also UM professor of If he had to start his academic career over—like his Policy Analysis for Global eldest son, who recently started his PhD—he is unsure Challenges. After his PhD whether he would make the same choice. “I don’t envy in mathematics in Ghent, young people in academia, with the hyper-competitive he worked in New Jersey, system of applying for grants at the same time as Boston, Tilburg, Delft and starting a family. In hindsight, I sacrificed a lot for my elsewhere. UM’s career. I missed a lot of my first three children’s Maastricht Graduate younger years. I’m trying more consciously to make School of Governance time for my youngest, who’s now four.” (MGSoG) is part of UNU-MERIT. At Harvard, where he worked as a senior scholar for six months before moving to Delft, money was never an issue for researchers. “I had a great time there, for that Turning point: 9/11 Return to Europe and other reasons. At the same time, I’m annoyed by He was still keen to go abroad, and in 2000 he Another lesson he learnt in the US: “to think big the glorification of the top universities. They’re just not moved to the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the and reach for the stars.” “With the ‘pursuit of comparable to others. In Europe, we need to profile US, where he had previously spent 10 months working happiness’ inscribed in the constitution, people more ourselves differently; for example, by giving opportuni- at a stock exchange. His then wife and two young readily dare to dream and to follow those dreams. If ties to students from less wealthy countries. I see that children joined him. The research revolved around something is a good idea, Americans focus on how to as an obligation of this institute.” The idea behind group decisions and was relatively theoretical in make it happen—not all the things that could go UNU-MERIT’s PhD programme is that alumni put their Maths is nature. After the attacks on the Twin Towers, Van de wrong.” Still, the family was keen to return to Europe, knowledge to good use in their home countries Walle realised he “wanted to do something in the real especially when the mood shifted after 9/11. “I had afterwards. “But often they’d prefer to stay here, and not the real world.” “Maths is not the real world, no,” he laughs. the choice between Ghent or Tilburg. I already knew so far we don’t really have a good answer for that. I’d “It’s different. In maths you make a lot of abstractions: Ghent, so Tilburg it was.” like to explore the possibility of supporting PhD world. you build your model on the basis of assumptions that candidates in their home countries.” are often very fundamental. Practice is always much His research developed in the direction of humanitari- more complex.” an aid. How can the available information be put to Bitterballen more effective use? “I also did fieldwork in places like Van de Walle himself never felt the urge to return He began studying how people make decisions under the Congo and the Gaza Strip. I slept in very basic to Belgium. “I like the Dutch academic system. pressure. Why were the police officers in the collapsing places, flew in small, rickety planes. A wonderful Undoubtedly things are different now, but when I left Twin Towers warned to evacuate on time, while the period, which was over before I knew it.” Belgium 30 years ago it was a very closed system, with firefighters were not, resulting in many casualties? a lot of favouritism. Narrow-minded, even. I like the “I investigated what went wrong in terms of commu- Best of both world’s Dutch directness. The Dutch are fairly self-aware, but nication. That shows you where mistakes were made, He had been a professor in Delft for five years, also open and warm, if you ask me. It’s only the food but I think it’s important to emphasise that human heading the Department of Multi-Actor Systems with that I’ll never get used to, although maybe it’s better in error often occurs when there’s something wrong with some 130 employees, when he learnt of the vacancy at this region. Those bitterballen—my god, guys … ” < the system. Sometimes it’s too easy to blame a person. UNU-MERIT in Maastricht. His main consideration was I believe in analysing the system and finding the the fact that it involved becoming a UN diplomat. “It weaknesses that give rise to mistakes.” means I’ve officially left the academic world. I still have an honorary appointment at UM, but doing my own research will be a challenge. I’ve made my peace with that, I no longer have to land big publications for myself personally. In this position I can really make a

UMagazine / February 2021 14 15 February 2021 / UMagazine Region In 2014 Trudie Schils, professor of Economics of Education, was Good through the Agenda Text Jos Cortenraad one of the driving forces

Photography behind the start of the education Educational Limburg Hugo Thomassen Educational Agenda Limburg. The agenda is a long-term project seeking to improve education in the province and the connection to the labour market. The first concrete results have since been unveiled, including a monitor to track pupils’ and students’ development. But she is most proud of the cooperation involved. “Primary, secondary, vocational and higher profes- sional education have joined forces with the university and speak with one voice.”

Why do we need an Educational Agenda Limburg— surely the link between education and the labour market is a national, not a provincial, issue? It’s not the first time Schils has heard the question. She and her colleagues from Maastricht University had to pull out all the stops to get the intended grant providers (including the Province of Limburg) on board. “In several respects, Limburg simply isn’t comparable with other regions. Because of its location, the province is often oriented more towards Belgium and Germany than the Netherlands. And the problems that certain regions face are bigger than elsewhere: ageing, a shrinking labour market. In the former mining areas, unemployment is systematically higher, incomes and labour participation lower. There are fewer people who go on to higher education, and more people with health problems, more school leavers, teenage mothers, young people turning to crime. Cities like The Hague and Rotterdam face specific challenges too, but Professor of they’re completely different. And those are large cities, Economics of while Parkstad, for example, is a collection of smaller Education municipalities. That calls for a different approach and Trudie Schils greater cooperation.” >

UMagazine / February 2021 16 17 February 2021 / UMagazine Guidance Result The aim of the Educational Agenda Limburg is to The monitor was developed by a broad-based ensure that more young people finish their education team of educators and has since been used extensively before entering the labour market. “It’s not about at various schools around the province. “Thanks to the making all children go on to higher education,” Schils monitor, we know that children from disadvantaged says in the lounge of the School of Business and backgrounds are more likely to drop out. But with the You can’t Economics (SBE), where she became a professor in right guidance at school, the percentages improve June 2020. “It’s about making sure they choose the considerably. That’s a wonderful result—the knowl- type of training that’s right for them, and receive the edge that, based on research, we can offer equal guidance and support they need to complete it. opportunities to young people. Of course, this Research shows that young people from poor families demands a lot of teachers: they’re the ones who have be a friend to have just as good judgement as their better-off peers, to persuade and encourage parents.” but they feel more insecure. Often they’re less motivated and more fatalistic. They have lower United expectations of life and behave accordingly. This is This year, the project is entering a new phase. something we can address with targeted education, “With less money from the province, but more united everyone which is important in terms of equal opportunities than ever,” Schils says passionately. “We’ve joined ↓ and important for the labour market. Companies and forces in education, we listen to one another, and organisations in this region need good people. And a together we make decisions that improve education in Trudie Schils was raised in Professor of Internal Medicine and Director healthy labour market attracts new commercial the broadest sense. That’s good for the region. We Maastricht and studied in of the Centre for Infectious Disease Control activity, which stems the flow of young people leaving. intend to further refine the monitor, do more research. Tilburg. She worked as a Jaap van Dissel Locals who leave to study in the Randstad often don’t We’ll be paying more attention to online education— researcher at the return, or at least not quickly, because there are no yes, prompted by corona. Education has had to change University of Amsterdam Honorary doctorate good jobs here. But with the developments on the gears very quickly in the past year. We’ll be studying and moved to Maastricht Brightlands campuses and the growth of the chemical the consequences of that, too, for young people from University in 2008; first as Text industry, services and the logistics sector, the tide disadvantaged neighbourhoods. And yes, of course, an assistant professor, Florian Raith seems to be turning.” other regions are free to come and see what we’re then associate professor, doing. We’re proud of our approach. This agenda, and now professor of Photography Collaboration especially the monitor, can be used widely.” < Economics of Education. Marieke Duijsters/RIVM → The grant was awarded and the Limburg Educa- tional Agenda was launched in 2014. The initiators— Maastricht University, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, the Open University and Fontys—were joined immediately by school boards from primary, secondary and vocational education. “I sometimes compare the education sector to a block of houses, with gardens separated by tall hedges,” Schils says. “To offer children the best and most appropriate education, you have to look over those hedges and work together. The transitions need to be smoother between preschool and primary school, primary school and high school, and then vocational or higher education. That calls for a different, more personal approach. Some children are ready for secondary education sooner than others. What does a child want and what can he or she do? It means more flexible education, in which teachers, of course, play an essential role.”

Monitor The project began with several concrete objectives. Schils, who studied economics and obtained her PhD in Tilburg, summarises the goals: “Extra training for new primary school teachers, recruitment of new blood for teacher training, professionalisation of high school teachers. The idea is to address teacher shortages and reduce dropout rates—a serious problem six years ago. Things have improved somewhat now. We also put a lot of energy into developing a monitor that allows us to track the development of pupils at every stage of their education. Not only their performance, but their socio- emotional development.”

UMagazine / February 2021 18 19 February 2021 / UMagazine

To much of the Dutch Rector Magnificus Prof. Dr. Rianne Letschert: public, Jaap van Dissel “Through the “Recognition and Rewards” movement, we will be giving space to the different talents that has become the bearer a university needs within the fields of research, education, impact, leadership and patient care, and of bad news, or the face “It’s been an intense year,” concedes the chair of also offering people career prospects in these areas. the Netherlands’s COVID-19 Outbreak Management It’s a great honour for me to offer Jaap van Dissel of an evidence-based Team (OMT). It is an understatement in keeping with an honorary doctorate in this context: like no other, the calm, collected demeanour for which public health he is a symbol of how a scientist can fulfil a role approach to handling aficionados and, since last year, the Dutch public have with huge impact on society. This is certainly grown to appreciate Jaap van Dissel. With his televised worthy of our recognition and rewards.” COVID-19—or both. explanations of the OMT’s decisions, he has become The government’s the spokesperson for science. Van Dissel is keen to play this down. “I’m only one of chief medical adviser many experts collaborating on the OMT. The advice we A wicked problem give is about how best to contain the spread of the “That’s what makes COVID-19 such a wicked on receiving an virus. From a purely scientific perspective, what would problem: you have to take decisions without knowing be the best course of action in light of the available everything.” Van Dissel reflects on the early days of the honorary doctorate data and the expertise of the OMT members? It’s then pandemic. “We were aware of the spread within up to the government to make a decision that also China, but their initial data suggested a disease from Maastricht considers the economic and social impact of measures.” manifestation like pneumonia rather than various manifestations ranging from mild to severe. We, along University, the reality Difficult decisions with the whole of Europe, basically prepared for a The process following the OMT’s advice is different outbreak. At the time, no one could have of crisis management thorough and inclusive. Before reaching the govern- predicted the scope.” and how you can’t be ment, recommendations are tested for feasibility by the BAO (Bestuurlijk afstemmingsoverleg), an advisory The international mobility of people and goods may everyone’s darling. group comprising representatives of affected groups. need to be reconsidered, and better international “Communication is also very important: people need collaboration is necessary. Van Dissel regularly to understand why the measures are necessary. Of exchanges ideas and findings with his European course, the government also tracks the public reaction counterparts. “It makes you understand the impor- to interventions and explanations in order to tweak tance of human nature and cultural context. For them accordingly.” example, multigenerational households are common in Italy, which makes it harder to shield vulnerable While “public support for the COVID-19 measures is populations.” quite high in the Netherlands,” Van Dissel concedes that criticism is inevitable—including of him personal- Vaccine, not panacea ly. “You try to do what’s best for the greatest number Despite another lockdown, there is hope on the of people, but there are always negative consequences. horizon. “It’s remarkable how fast the vaccines were Ultimately, you have to be convinced that you found developed: you’d expect that to take years.” However, the right balance and stand behind your advice. And Van Dissel urges caution: 60% to 70% of the popula- ↑ that’s what we hope to accomplish: the OMT decides Damned if you do, damned if you don’t tion need to be vaccinated to achieve ‘herd immunity’. on its recommendations together, based on the best Jaap van Dissel MD is “Still,” Van Dissel adds, “trust in the authorities The OMT has yet to see the data from the clinical trials, available evidence and its expertise in the field.” professor of Internal and in science is relatively high here. Public health since the vaccines were ordered before being Medicine specialising in interventions are usually simple—wash your hands, registered with the medical authorities. Reported Between too much and too little infectious diseases at keep your distance—and they always aim to contain efficacy figures appear to refer to the prevention of Van Dissel empathises with the criticism from Leiden University Medical the disease by limiting transmission. But the media severe symptoms; how well the vaccines prevent some that the measures are too harsh, and from others Centre. He is the director tend to amplify single, contentious issues at the transmission is less clear. Accordingly, the first to that they don’t go far enough. “We do our best to of the Centre for Infectious expense of the bigger picture.” Technical solutions are receive the vaccine will be the most vulnerable: elderly balance those diametrically opposed concerns—but Disease Control of the often valued more highly than behavioural changes. people and care workers. you can’t be a friend to everyone.” He experienced the National Institute for Take face masks: when the OMT did not advise their two waves of COVID-19 very differently. “People Public Health and the use, it became the target of international criticism. Van Dissel was scheduled to receive an honorary responded incredibly well during the first wave. It’s Environment. “Medical masks clearly work—that’s why we use them doctorate from UM during the celebration of the 45th much more of a challenge to motivate everyone in the in hospitals. But we concluded, based on studies from Dies Natalis. Due to the new corona measures, the second wave.” Since COVID-19 is potentially deadly for Scandinavia, that their effect on top of social presentation has been postponed to the Opening of risk groups, but causes mild to no symptoms in most distancing is limited and might give people a false the Academic Year on 30 August. “I feel very honoured. people, fear is no longer a motivating factor; for many, sense of security. You make choices based on probabili- The support from my peers in academia, which has a sense of solidarity and moral duty is all that is left. ties and predictions. Most European public health been my home for so long, means a lot to me. It’s a “Fatigue has also led to a loss of urgency. That’s unfortu- institutions came to similar conclusions, based on the validation and recognition of what the whole OMT has nate, but it’s human nature.” available evidence.” achieved.” <

UMagazine / February 2021 20 21 February 2021 / UMagazine Spread

Photography Paul van der Veer Carnival in Maastricht in times of corona 14 February 2021 / 13.46 hours

UMagazine / February 2021 22 23 February 2021 / UMagazine Gerard van Rooij, professor of Professor - Student

Plasma Chemistry, was the first Text PhD candidate of Ron Heeren, Hans van Vinkeveen university professor and direc- Photography tor of the M4I institute. Together Harry Heuts they reflect on a pioneering period in which they took the first tentative steps in the development of imaging mass spectrometry. Heeren: “From There is something incongruous about interview- ing two professors, both around the same age, for an Gerard I learnt to put myself as article featuring a professor and his student. That’s a supervisor to one side.” Van certainly not how they experienced their relationship. Van Rooij: “We’ve gone through pretty much all phases Rooij: “I find it impressive how of collaboration together, starting from when we were students at the AMOLF institute for fundamental phys- Ron wants to change research ics in Amsterdam.” Heeren: “At some point I became field every ten years. I’ve now Gerard’s supervisor; he was my first PhD student. But we did almost everything together: experimenting, managed that too.” coming up with ideas. I’d sooner call it a friendship.” University professor and director of the “Of course, we sometimes had conflicting interests. M4I institute The donkey doesn’t want to walk, and the master is Ron Heeren pushing and pulling,” Van Rooij laughs. “You have that From in every relationship. Now that I supervise PhD students myself, I also see it from the other side. Doctoral research is not something where you can just say: you figure it out. You have a common goal and instrumen- together you spend four years working towards it. I try to coach my PhD students in their development, rather than having some distant supply-and-demand tation relationship.” Moments of despair Van Rooij obtained his PhD in 1999. His research focused on macromolecular imaging mass spectrome- physicist try, a technique that allows for the detailed visualisation of thousands of molecules in a single experiment. In those early days, it was unclear whether this was even possible. Heeren: “Lots of things were new, lots of to socially things failed. We built the instruments ourselves and worked with new concepts, which in theory we always thought would be huge breakthroughs.” Van Rooij had his fair share of moments of despair. “At times I even engaged questioned the laws of physics. Is what I see through the device really there?”

After his PhD, Van Rooij moved to the Dutch Institute scientist for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), then the Rijnhuizen Institute for Plasma Physics. Leaving mass spectrometry behind, he turned his attention to low-temperature plasma physics, the development of Professor of Plasma solar fuel and sustainable plasma chemistry. Mean- Chemistry while, Heeren made overtures to bring Van Rooij to Gerard van Rooij Maastricht. “An environment like Chemelot needs his knowledge. Gerard fits perfectly with the profile of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.” >

UMagazine / February 2021 24 25 February 2021 / UMagazine Baby steps The place to be Soul kitchen A peek inside the kitchens In Maastricht, Van Rooij is working on the “Ron is part of my central nervous system,” Van of UM employees transition of the chemical industry at Chemelot to Rooij says. “I’ve always remembered his comment Text electrical energy. Plasma allows for the electrical about setting his sights on a new research field every Annelotte Huiskes generation of very high temperatures, without which ten years. I found that very impressive, an eye-opener. such a transition would be impossible. “We also think I’ve now made the move to Maastricht too. I don’t Photography we can use plasma chemistry to control new circular intend to stay cocooned in my research, but to roll up Hugo Thomassen processes, like the production of plastic from methane my sleeves and get my hands dirty at Chemelot, as Ron and fertiliser from air,” Van Rooij says. The social does in the hospital. That’s where it’s all happening.” relevance of the research on sustainable plasma Heeren: “One thing I learnt from Gerard, perhaps chemistry was the drawcard that ultimately lured him indirectly, is to put myself as a supervisor to one side to Maastricht. and give people the space to develop. If a study isn’t going to your liking, don’t try to take over. Don’t say Five years after Van Rooij obtained his PhD, Heeren had anything, Gerard will be fine.” his hoped-for breakthrough in imaging mass spectrometry. Since then, it has grown into a full- Making a difference Traditions ↓ fledged field in which Maastricht University is one of However different their current fields, Heeren sees Ron Heeren obtained his two world leaders. “Gerard took the first baby steps, the same thread running through their careers. Both PhD in 1992 for his laying the foundation on which the M4I institute was have evolved from the role of instrumentation research on plasma-sur- eventually built,” Heeren says. The mass computer is physicist to socially engaged scientist. “Our research is face interactions at the primarily used for precision medicine and improved about building instruments and developing methods with an University of Amsterdam. patient care, including the early detection of tumour to measure phenomena at the interface of physics and In 1999 he established a cells and, recently, a large-scale international study of biochemistry.” Both operate at the forefront of science, research group focusing Parkinson’s disease. “Knowledge is important, but and, in particular, both are driven to make a difference on the development of more important is its added value for patients, in society. “We have that in common, and perhaps also imaging mass spectro- researchers’ careers and society,” Heeren adds. sparked it in each other. For Gerard, it’s about helping aftertaste metry. He was appointed industry switch to sustainable energy, whereas mass university professor and spectrometry enabled me to transition to clinical care Limburg Chair in the field and healthcare.” This requires interdisciplinarity—for → of molecular imaging Heeren, the new way of doing science. “The clustering with an interfaculty of physicists, chemists, biologists and doctors, who put research programme at Both are driven to make their knowledge together to tackle a complex problem.” Maastricht University in Now, they can both put their knowledge to good use in 2014. He is also director a difference in society. Maastricht. < of the Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging (M4I) institute.

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Gerard van Rooij became professor of Plasma Chemistry at the UM Faculty of Science and Engineering in 2020. He obtained his PhD in 1999 for his research on macromolecular mass spectrometry at the University of Amsterdam. He then worked on low-temperature plasma physics at DIFFER, focusing on nuclear fusion and later on the production of solar fuels. Since 2018 he has been part-time professor of Sustainable Plasma Assistant professor Chemistry at Eindhoven of Private Law University of Technology. Mark Kawakami

UMagazine / February 2021 26 27 February 2021 / UMagazine Mark Kawakami, assistant professor of Private Law, grew up in Mark Kawakami spent his early years in Japan with might like without bothering to ask them; it’s a sign of his mother and grandparents. He has little to no hospitality, and it takes time. Even as a boy I’d help to Japan and Hawaii. Omotenashi, Japanese hospitality, was drilled memory of his father, who left after his parents serve tea and coffee with a little treat on the side for into him from an early age, but when it comes to food, he prefers divorced when he was a toddler. “We lived in Kobe, a all the people traipsing in and out. I remember when I large port city. My grandmother was a well-respected was about 11 years old, I went to a Michael Jackson the spicy cuisines of Thailand or Mexico to that of Japan. teacher of ikebana, the art of Japanese flower concert in Hawaii with my mom, which was great, but “Japanese cuisine is about savouring the purity of the ingredients, arrangement, and she was even congratulated by the we had to leave halfway through because she had to Japanese royal family for her contribution and prepare dinner for her guests.” whereas I like strong flavours.” Here he speaks about traditions, dedication to ikebana. At home she taught up to 300 his love of finger food, his son Sam’s favourite food—and pizza students in one day, so there were always people Tradition with a twist coming and going. My mother worked as a Japanese- Living in the Netherlands, Kawakami is happy that Hawaii. “That’s not a thing, period.” English interpreter and translator, and my grandfather he can let some of those Japanese values go: it makes was already retired. My first fond memories of food are life a lot easier. “Traditions are valuable, but they can with my grandfather. Every afternoon around five, hinder creativity and innovation. In Japan, food is he’d drink sake or beer, which meant accompanying deeply rooted in tradition. My mom is now back there, snacks—or as we call it, otsumami. Nice fatty appetisers, living with my grandmother, and I normally visit every but also things like cheese and cold cuts. He’d share New Year. The traditional New Year’s food is osechi, a them with me while I sat on his lap watching baseball box containing 50 different small bites, which looks or sumo wrestling.” The tastiest snack they ever shared absolutely perfect. Every bite means something: a was a fish they caught together. “He cleaned the fish certain fish represents beauty, or a particular that same day, fried it and dripped some ponzu, a fast-growing vegetable represents growth in your citrus sauce, on it. So good, my mouth waters at the career. My mom and my grandmother used to spend ↓ thought of it. I still love finger food, like fried chicken weeks making exactly the same box every year. As a Mark Kawakami is or nachos.” boy I found this beautiful and magical, but now I also assistant professor of see it as somewhat confining, and a form of culinary Private Law. He has a East meets west stagnation. My favourite cookbook is by the Italian bachelor’s degree in When Kawakami was 10, his mother decided to celebrity chef Massimo Bottura. In Italy people value Political Science from move to Hawaii. For her work, ostensibly—but also for their grandmother’s traditional recipes too, but he New York University and his education. “My kindergarten teacher told my shows how you can reinvent them, while still has studied at Johns mother I wasn’t really suited for the Japanese school respecting the essence of the recipe.” Hopkins University, system, which is very authoritarian and hierarchical. Columbia University, the I struggled with that,” he laughs. “I wasn’t happy about The way to the heart is through the United States Military leaving my grandparents, but I’m glad I was able to go stomach Academy at West Point to schools in the States.” There he was introduced to But his sense of omotenashi is more persistent and the University of very different flavours: his taste for Thai, Korean and than he thought—and not always appreciated, he Minnesota Law School. Mexican cuisine developed in New York. He also says. “My wife calls me ‘the feeder’. She doesn’t like it He obtained his master’s became aware of his Japanese tendency to try to when I bring her food without her asking. It makes her in International Business please others by cooking elaborate meals without feel obliged to eat something she may not even feel at Tilburg University and actually asking what they like. “That’s part of like eating.” His son Sam (one and a half years old) is his PhD at Maastricht omotenashi. In Japan, you’re supposed to put huge unequivocal on this front, too. “I once made a really University. amounts of effort into figuring out what others nice meal for him, with a bit of chicken, rice and broccoli, but he simply refused to eat it. Instead, his current favourites are bananas and grapes,” he beams. Kawakami is over the moon with his family, but when it comes to cooking and eating, a lot has changed. “I still love to cook with lots of chillies, herbs and strong flavours, and I still cook often, because I find it relaxing. But now it’s mainly about it being healthy: lots of vegetables, little salt and sugar, and definitely not spicy at all. Actually, I’ve kind of returned to Japanese flavours, even though I’m still not a big fan of it”, he smiles. “But now I ask first what they would like to eat, rather than cooking what I think they will like… most of the time.” <

UMagazine / February 2021 28 29 February 2021 / UMagazine In August 2020—the year of the coronavirus—Vivian van Saaze, asso- The fellowship was part of the research project ciate professor at FASoS, moved with ‘Reshaping the Collectible: When Artworks Live in the Museum’, an initiative of Professor Pip Laurenson, her husband and daughter to London head of Tate Collection Care Research and endowed professor at Maastricht University. “What’s special for a fellowship at the renowned about Tate is that it has a strong research department that works closely with the museums’ other depart- Tate museum. There she faced the ments,” Van Saaze says. “Museum practice is viewed as a form of research: practice as research. That’s very challenge of doing field research in a different to the more typical art-historical research on collections. During my fellowship I examined this new museum virtually empty of staff and research model. What are the assumptions and expectations, and how can academic methods visitors. “I had to think carefully contribute to its further development? Usually when I study museum practice, I take an ethnographic about how to adapt my research approach, observing people in their daily work. Now everything had to be done through Zoom and we could methods to the situation.” only talk about their activities and approach. I missed those hallway chats, but I was able to attend all the gatherings and meetings online.” > museum Life in the Life

International

Text Margot Krijnen

Illustration Ted Struwer

UMagazine / February 2021 30 31 February 2021 / UMagazine Changeable But you also have to consider whether the institution- “One of the aims of this three-year project is to alisation of such a work silences it as a piece of reveal to the public the ‘life’ of artworks in the museum,” activism. And will it retain its activist character 10 or Van Saaze continues. “Museums are designed to 20 years from now?” preserve objects in their physical form and protect them from change. As a result, artworks are usually London in lockdown Obesity and presented as stable and unchanging. But contempo- Van Saaze and her family lived in London for five rary art—performance art, activist art, net art, digital months. Part of that period was spent in total art—challenges this understanding of objects as lockdown; for the remainder, some things were static. Changeability is inherent to artworks like these. possible, but it was not London as we know it. COVID-19: We’re investigating how the museum can adapt to this “I missed the spontaneity of life, especially visiting type of work and what changes it necessitates. museums and galleries. There were times when What’s special about this research project is that it was museums were partially open—by reservation initiated by conservation, but because it involves case only—but many were already fully booked. And it was a dangerous studies, there’s intensive collaboration with all a shame not to be able to visit anyone or have anyone departments: the curators, collection management, visit us. Your social life comes to a standstill. It was registrars, education, communication and archiving. particularly difficult for our nine-year-old daughter. Employees from different departments have been She really only had the school: a nice, small neighbour- duo ↓ released to participate in the research and to initiate hood school where each class formed its own bubble. Vivian van Saaze is an change processes from within. Not surprisingly, this We did a lot of walking around the beautiful, associate professor at the isn’t always easy in an institution as large as Tate.” impressively empty city, hitched a ride on a houseboat, → Faculty of Arts and Social biked and even fed squirrels. But by late December we Sciences. She is programme Procurement process were ready to return to Maastricht—especially our director of the English- The moment you as a conservator or curator no daughter.” language master’s in Arts longer see an artwork as a static object that you have and Heritage: Policy, to freeze and preserve, as it were, you also accept that Practice as research Management and an object changes within the museum and that the Van Saaze will continue her research for the Education and the Dutch- museum plays an important role in this. This also project from Maastricht. “I want to do a few more language master’s Kunst, alters the role of the conservator. “Previously, the best interviews, but I can do those from Maastricht via Cultuur en Erfgoed. She is conservator was an invisible one: he or she repaired Zoom. The project is part of a longstanding collabora- also director of the whatever was wrong. Contemporary art calls for a tion with Tate. It’d be nice if there were more Maastricht Centre for Arts more proactive attitude: how can such changeable art opportunities for this kind of research in other and Culture, Conservation survive? Acquiring an artwork is often a long process museums too. In the past year, museums had fewer and Heritage (MACCH). involving cooperation with the artist, technicians, visitors, so they put less energy into constantly The fellowship at Tate curators, conservators and so on. Say a museum is designing new exhibitions. The shift in focus may lead was funded by the considering purchasing an activist work. You have to to more attention for existing collections, and more Andrew W. Mellon think very carefully about whether the institution will room for reflection from the inside out on the role of Foundation. be seen as supporting the activist cause in question. the museum. There’s a lot going on in the museum world at the moment: discussions on diversity and inclusivity, decolonisation processes, restitution issues, the problematisation of ownership—the idea that museums appropriate objects, and so on. These are all big questions that have been around for some time, but now there’s greater urgency. Over the years, many academic staff in Dutch museums have been laid off. Maybe now’s the time for more research. That would be fantastic for our students in the Master in Arts and Heritage. They’re trained as reflexive practitioners, people who adopt a reflexive attitude with respect to their own practice. Which is exactly what they do at Tate: research in and on museum practice to enable institutional change.” <

Associate professor of Human Biology Gijs Goossens

UMagazine / February 2021 32 33 February 2021 / UMagazine Older people are hit hardest by the Of the Dutch population, 50% are overweight and blood is in the normal range. On average, however, particles in their body, and these particles stick around coronavirus, but by far the second most 14% obese. These numbers, Goossens fears, will only they are much more likely to develop type 2 diabetes longer than in people of normal weight. Obese people prevalent group is people with obesity. increase with the current pandemic and the accompa- and cardiovascular disease within 10 years. Why one have a less effective immune response: the immune nying pile-on of ‘corona kilos’. “The lockdown measures obese person develops certain diseases more quickly system produces many inflammatory factors to They are more likely to contract a severe and quarantines have an impact on physical activity than another relates to factors such as age and gender. suppress the virus. In severe cases of COVID-19, this case of COVID-19, and more likely to die and eating behaviour. Sports activities and treatment What seems to play a key role in this is the ‘health’ of results in what’s known as a ‘cytokine storm’: an programmes for obese people—which are often the adipose tissue—that is, fat—and its distribution uncontrolled release of inflammatory molecules that from it. Gijs Goossens, associate professor organised in groups—have been severely restricted. around the body.” spread throughout the body, leading to organ damage.” of Human Biology, is studying whether Even in the short term, this can increase the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. And self-isolation means Over the last 15 years, Goossens has seen a rise in Adipose tissue as a possible reservoir for drugs that lower blood pressure can reduce that people are eating more food with a longer shelf studies focusing on the biology of the adipose tissue. the virus life instead of fresh produce. These foods often contain “Fat is really a metabolic organ; it not only stores excess In the first quarter of 2021, Goossens hopes to the risks. “Obesity is a major risk factor, so I more salt and fat; cause for concern when you know calories, but is also involved in many physiological publish the results of his research into the effect of would like to see the media emphasise not that every extra kilo can lead to additional health processes in the body. For example, obesity is associated valsartan on the number of ACE2 receptors in the problems.” with more inflammation of the adipose tissue and a abdominal fat of obese people. Valsartan is an only the prevention of infection, but also less effective immune system: the more adipose angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker that lowers the importance of a healthy lifestyle when Fat tissue is a metabolic organ tissue, the more inflammation. This contributes to blood pressure. Could this drug contribute to better Goossens’s research focuses on the metabolic disturbances in the metabolism of sugar and fat, treatment for COVID-19? “ACE2 is part of what is people are working from home or are in phenotyping of people with overweight and obesity. In which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and known as the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system other words, he tries to shed light on what goes wrong type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, it has become clear that (RAAS). The ACE2 receptor, the gateway for the quarantine.” in the metabolism and how this can differ from person obesity in particular—along with lung diseases, type 2 SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19, is also to person. “Up to 30% of obese people are still diabetes and high blood pressure—leads to more present on fat cells. We suspect that the increased fat ‘metabolically healthy’: they don’t have high blood severe symptoms and a higher risk of death from mass in obese people can serve as a reservoir for the Sciences pressure and the amount of fat and sugar in their COVID-19. Obese people often have more virus SARS-CoV-2 virus to multiply,” Goossens says. “In previous research, we showed that valsartan not only Text reduced blood pressure, but also had a positive effect ← Annelotte Huiskes on sugar metabolism. We also saw a reduction in Gijs Goossens is associate certain inflammatory cells in the adipose tissue.” If this Photography professor of Human tissue is indeed a reservoir for viral replication that Arjen Schmitz Biology at NUTRIM. He contributes to the intense inflammatory reactions in studied Health Sciences at patients with COVID-19, then—so the theory goes— Maastricht University, RAAS blockers like valsartan could influence the where he obtained his PhD multiplication process and thus the course of the in 2006 for his dissertation disease. “It won’t be the magic bullet, but it could help ‘The metabolic and to optimise the treatment of COVID-19 patients. haemodynamic effects of Several clinical studies are already underway. Our the renin-angiotensin research will contribute to a better understanding of system in obesity.’ He is how this process may work.” chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Wake-up call European Association for Goossens, who is also chair of the Scientific the Study of Obesity Advisory Board of the European Association for the (EASO) and, until July 2020, Study of Obesity (EASO), recently discussed the also chaired the Nether- relationship between obesity and COVID-19 with the lands Association for the World Health Organization. He stresses the urgency of Study of Obesity (NASO). action against the double obesity–COVID-19 pandem- ic. “The problem should be tackled at different levels in society. It starts with you: in just a few weeks, a healthy diet, stress reduction, and adequate sleep and exercise can lead to weight loss, lower blood pressure, better regulation of sugar levels and improved functioning of your immune system. But the obesity problem also requires an integrated approach by the government: developing a healthier living environ- ment by creating more playgrounds for children, incentivising product improvement and adjusting the tax on healthy and unhealthy foods. I hope the COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call that accelerates the fight against obesity. It’s time to join forces and devote more energy to the prevention and treatment of obesity.” <

UMagazine / February 2021 34 35 February 2021 / UMagazine

Unfortunate events are nothing new to Lebanon, the international community, trusts the government thought I would become a clinician. But I became but 2020 was an all-time low. The country suffered an anymore. They rely on local or international NGOs to fascinated by health professions education.” She still economic meltdown, the value of the Lebanese pound make sure that donations end up in the right place.” has strong connections with teachers and classmates nosedived, and in August the port of Beirut was rocked Dimassi also calls for international support for from Maastricht. “They give you an open line to by a major explosion that killed hundreds, injured academics, who are working under difficult circum- contact them if you have questions and are always thousands and left hundreds of thousands homeless. stances, barely able to publish: “Keep them involved. willing to support your research projects. Whenever “Some of us are more privileged than others, but we’re Academic leaders should reach out to graduates I’m at a conference, people know my former profes- ‘A few’ (or all just getting by day by day,” Dimassi says. “We avoid around the world where resources are meagre and sors, who are genuine gurus in medical education, making long-term plans. We’ve cut down on expenses academic opportunities scarcer.” having developed well-known frameworks in medical because the cost of living has tripled. And we rely on education. All SHE students have the privilege of being personal support from our community, family and Enriching time at UM influenced by these academics, who are making a rather, many) friends. Thankfully, Lebanon still has a good social Dimassi does not regret coming to Maastricht for worldwide contribution to the field.” fabric. Some people have close relatives living abroad, her master’s degree. On the contrary, “It was the best who transfer money to their families here to help experience of my life on many levels. We got the Good citizens everywhere sustain them. Personally, I’m considering leaving to opportunity to interact with teachers and classmates “If I do manage to find good opportunities abroad, good people continue my career abroad. I want to be able to provide from all over the world. SHE is special in terms of how I would want to return home, maybe in ten years or so, for my parents, who are getting older, and for whom knowledge is delivered and who delivers it. You can and be part of a constructive change in medical leaving Lebanon, where they’ve lived their entire lives, have the best programme in the world, but if the education across the country and the region. I call on is virtually impossible.” teachers are not up to the challenge, you achieve the international community to open their arms to ↓ in Lebanon nothing. Our teachers were always keen on getting our Lebanese people who seek chances abroad. A lot of us Seeds of change feedback, always there to listen.” Her advice to current want to stay here and make this country a better place. Zakia Dimassi, MD, MHPE, The people of Lebanon stood up to the govern- students at SHE: “When you go back home, don’t be We want to invest what we know in improving the is assistant professor of Her home country is reeling from one crisis ment over its dismal performance and corruption—to dismayed if you can’t immediately apply everything various disciplines and build a better future for Clinical Teaching, no avail. “We resorted to social and political activism, you learned. I know you can’t wait to implement it all younger generations, but the circumstances are not in Simulation and Paediatrics after the other. After earning her master’s protesting in the streets, but in a system that is corrupt and make your country the best in the world. But our favour. So I really hope the international communi- at Saint George Hospital degree at the UM School of Health Profes- through and through, it takes a long time to induce change doesn’t happen in big steps. Take the culture ty looks at the good people, good citizens, who are University Medical Center change. Intellectually, people have started to look at into account and tailor your ideas to it.” genuinely passionate about their country. If they don’t in Beirut. She previously sions Education (SHE), Zakia Dimassi is now things differently. You can sense the seeds of change stay here—which is unfortunate—maybe they can be worked as co-coordinator back in Beirut, Lebanon, where she is an beginning to take root. But true change will only Gurus in health professions education good citizens somewhere else.” < and instructor, as well as happen a few generations down the line.” After the Dimassi’s choice for UM was based on the advice co-director, of the assistant professor at Saint George Hospital blast, the international community was supportive: of a professor from the US at the American University Standardized Patient University Medical Center. There, she hopes “We received so many donations and even manpower of Beirut. “I was building my career in medicine, had programme at the to help us recover from the tragedy. Nobody here, even already graduated as a paediatrician, and everyone American University of to put her knowledge to good use, contribut- Beirut. ing to better healthcare and education. “I want to get across that there are a few good people here—as in the film A Few Good Men—who are struggling to make ends meet and keep the country from being devoured by the corrupt.”

Text Margot Krijnen

Photography Zakia Dimassi

UMagazine / February 2021 36 www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/alumni 37 February 2021 / UMagazine Cognitive Neuroscience alum Job van den Hurk works as a data scientist and scientific Superhero powers He may be a nerd, but he is one with a calling. Van manager at the MRI centre den Hurk aims to popularise neuroscience. “Even as a Scannexus. He is also ‘the student, I used to speak at Open Days on how cool the brain is and what scanners can do. Teaching is one of prof’ in Brainstorm, a youth my passions.” He gives lectures at schools, writes for television programme on NPO the online magazine KAF, and co-founded the interactive app and website BrainMatters, which Zapp. His passion: making makes the latest brain research accessible to laypeople and students. One thing led to another, and he was neuroscience accessible. invited to make segments for youth TV programmes “We have to teach children to such as Het Klokhuis and Willem Wever.

develop a bullshit detector.” Six months ago, Van den Hurk became a co-presenter of Brainstorm, a new children’s programme about the brain. As ‘the prof’, he performs all kinds of brain experiments. Why do we lose our appetite when we see blue spaghetti? Why does the brain function less well in a freezing cold or hot environment? One of his favourite experiments concerns whether humans have Nerd superhero-like powers. “There are stories about a daughter who sees her father trapped under the wheels of a car, and lifts up the car by herself. Is that possible? Yes, it is: a boost of adrenaline and stress with a hormones can give you extra strength.” Bullshit detector “It’s important that children are introduced to science at a young age,” Van den Hurk says. “On social media, they’re too focused on what they should think. calling Instead, they need to learn how to think. What is probable, what is not? Which information can you ↑ Why psychology, why Maastricht? “Well .” After a A sensitive breast reconstruction trust, what’s not reliable? You see how things go moment of hesitation, he decides that the truth must Job van den Hurk studied After his PhD, Van den Hurk was asked to conduct wrong in the US, and in the Netherlands too. Fake be told. “It was Dr Phil. Watching Dr Phil, I saw that Cognitive Neuroscience at research at the MRI centre Scannexus. He manages news, conspiracy theories—these are the greatest apparently you could study thoughts, feelings and Maastricht University. He innovative projects in the field of functional brain dangers of our time. We have to teach children to behaviour at a deep level. And at an Open Day in works as a data scientist research. Often these involve possible future treat- develop a bullshit detector.” Maastricht, I discovered that you could combine and scientific manager at ments, such as a breast reconstruction that allows for psychology with other interesting programmes, like the MRI institute physical sensation. “When new breasts are created He believes that scientists have to take joint action. law and medicine. I was a typical high schooler who Scannexus. He is also after a mastectomy, the main nerve pathways and “There are many misconceptions about science. That didn’t know what to study. But I went to a lecture by co-founder and editor-in- blood vessels are connected to those of the transplant- it’s an elitist hobby for people who get to decide what the legal psychologist Marko Jelicic, who talked about chief of the neuroscientif- ed skin of the new breasts. This way, women regain the ‘truth’ is, when really it’s just about predicting how the fallibility of memory and the reliability of ic platform BrainMatters feeling in their breasts. What we’re investigating is reality works through models.” This skewed perception witnesses in a court case. I wanted to learn about cool and co-presenter of whether the sensation that a woman feels in a specific is reinforced by the uncertainty surrounding the stuff like that.” Brainstorm, a children’s breast area after such surgery is also visible neurologi- coronavirus. Academics cannot let this go unchal- programme on NPO Zapp. cally, as it is in healthy women. Can they distinguish lenged, he says. “They have a duty to show how During his studies, Van den Hurk became more and between the stimulation of different parts of the fascinating science is and to help society learn to think more intrigued by the brain, in particular the MRI breast? What’s nice is that it’s not only about the brain, better. They need to join forces and take a stand technique that facilitates functional brain research. but also about the consequences for a person’s life.” against the conspiracy theories on social media.” “I find it fascinating how brain matter—neurons—give rise to the human mind.” His teachers were his role Van den Hurk most enjoys writing complex computer Best of both worlds models. “I was impressed by their knowledge and skills. algorithms that extract the information he needs from Does his future lie in the television world and a life People like Federico de Martino have always inspired a dataset. “To be honest, I’m a proper nerd. I get a kick of celebrity, or will he stick to the nerdy world of me. He may even be the reason I got involved in out of learning to understand things from complex science? “I don’t want to have to choose between the Text artificial intelligence as a way to approach brain data.” patterns of information. Here we do that with the help two,” he says. “If I were only a television presenter, I’d Hans van Vinkeveen of the latest scanners. It’s exciting to use advanced miss immersing myself in science, and I’d no longer be computer techniques to produce data from the an expert. I’d like to combine both worlds. That’s also Photography body—you discover parts of reality that you didn’t ideal when it comes to bridging the gap between Harry Heuts know existed.” science and the general public.” <

UMagazine / February 2021 38 www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/alumni 39 February 2021 / UMagazine

Professor Jeanine Verbunt and

Hanna Hesemans of Maastricht Sounds good in theory, but ... Both initiatives are essentially about making good University are working on innovative matches: patient with care provider, young with old. Is this hard for HomeSharing, now that we all have to projects to contribute to a healthier keep our distance? “People shouldn’t be afraid to participate,” Hesemans says. “Naturally, we take the and better society. Verbunt is deve- corona measures into account throughout the process. We select all students and homeowners carefully, and loping a ‘corona aftercare instrument’, we visit regularly after the match to check that things are going smoothly and safely.” Hesemans an initiative that brings If she has doubts, they are about the funding of the together young people and senior project. The corona crisis means that fewer financial resources are available to finalise the development citizens. To help them reach the phase—for Hesemans and Verbunt alike. This is why both projects are featured in the campaign ‘For Each Other 2020’ of the University Fund Limburg/SWOL. finish line, they are enlisting the ← Her great-aunts and great-uncle got Hanna Verbunt: “There’s already a hardcopy version of our help of the university community. Jeanine Verbunt is Hesemans thinking. “As a child, I was able to experi- aftercare instrument, which was developed with the professor of Rehabilitation ence through them how valuable it is for young and help of healthcare professionals. Based on this, we Medicine and head of the old to come into contact with a different generation. know that the instrument does help general practi- Department of Rehabili- Talking to them, I learnt a lot about resilience and the tioners, but that a hardcopy version also creates extra tation at Maastricht importance of a warm family relationship. I wanted to pressure within a general practice. So we’d like to get University. She also works pass on that experience to others. When I heard on started with the app, but that’s only possible with as a rehabilitation doctor television about the international concept HomeShare, additional financial support.” A different for the Adelante healthcare where young people live with senior citizens in need of group. Verbunt studied support, I was immediately inspired.” Scotland-bound medicine and health Verbunt is looking forward to the day she can get sciences in Nijmegen The Maastricht version of the concept, Match out and about to see friends, patients and colleagues before relocating to HomeSharing, is now almost ready. The idea is that ‘for real’. “I’d like to travel again, take a city trip. And in kind of Maastricht for her PhD. students move in with older city residents. “Obviously, terms of work, I’d like to set up new rehabilitation to get to know one another and learn from each other, treatments with young professionals, so that more but HomeSharing has other benefits too,” says patients can participate in society again. It’s always ← Hesemans, the project coordinator. “Many people in great when you can treat people and give them a Hanna Hesemans was our society, especially senior citizens, are lonely and better quality of life.” matchmaker raised in Maastricht and need social contact or help around the house. At the studied at University same time, students are looking for an affordable, Hesemans, too, is feeling ambitious. “We hope to College Maastricht, pleasant place to live. We help to create a nice home launch HomeSharing this year with eight matches followed by the master’s for both parties.” between students and senior citizens. If the project is a in Art, Culture and success, we’d like to expand it, maybe to other cities.” Heritage at FASoS. She An informed choice When the pandemic is over, she plans to go to Scotland began working for Match With more and more people at risk of becoming to visit a friend she has not seen for a long time. “The Maastricht as a student. socially isolated, the corona pandemic makes crisis is a good reminder of how important it is to look Match Maastricht is an HomeSharing more relevant than ever. Similarly, out for others. So: pay attention to one another, now initiative of Maastricht Jeanine Verbunt’s initiative seeks to improve the and in the future. Ask your neighbour how they are, University and the City of quality of life during and after corona. With her call your great-aunt, have a coffee with your uncle . Maastricht that brings colleagues, the professor of Rehabilitation Medicine is and stay strong!” < University Fund together students and developing a digital ‘corona aftercare instrument’ for Limburg / SWOL other city residents, for general practitioners. “Many people who have had example through the corona report to their doctor later feeling anxious, The University Fund Limburg / SWOL provides support Text HomeSharing project. fatigued or depressed. The broad range of residual and inspiration to entrepreneurial UM students. The Milou Schreuders www.matchmaastricht.nl complaints makes it difficult to decide on the fund awards grants to student activities four times a appropriate aftercare,” Verbunt explains. “Through our year, contributes financially to the Student Idea Photography You can donate to Verbunt’s and app, patients can already answer a number of Competition, and includes scholarships and student Appie Derks and Hesemans’s projects at questions about their health at home. This gives GPs projects–such as the recycling machines–in its annual Martijn Weyenberg more insight into the symptoms, allows them to ask fundraising campaign ‘For Each Other’. www.umcrowd.nl better questions during the consultation, and ultimately helps them make an informed choice of www.ufl-swol.nl treatment.”

UMagazine / February 2021 40 41 February 2021 / UMagazine underestimate this problem, by 2050, 10 Profile Colophon million people worldwide will die every year Materials techno- from the effects of AMR,” Arts says, “and Education and research at Maastricht Faculty of Psychology and Publisher that’s a conservative estimate. In the last 20 University is organised primarily on the Neuroscience © Maastricht University logy in the fight years, no new antibiotics have entered the basis of faculties, schools and institutes. • Graduate School of Cognitive and Clinical market. That’s why it’s so important that we Neuroscience Chief Editor against antibiotic start researching alternative technologies to Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences • Clinical Psychological Science Annelotte Huiskes reduce the use of antibiotics.” The research • Politics and Culture in Europe • Cognitive Neuroscience (CN) resistance will focus on the development of materials • Science, Technology and Society • Experimental Psychopathology (EPP) Editorial Board that prevent bacterial growth. < • Arts, Media and Culture • Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology Rianne Letschert (President), Fons News Consortium receives €11 million • Globalisation, Transnationalism • Work & Social Psychology Elbersen, Carla Haelermans, Carolien grant for research and development and Development • Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (M-BIC) Martijn, Mirjam oude Egbrink, Hildegard Schneider, Jo Wachelder. An interdisciplinary international consor- Faculty of Health, Medicine and School of Business and Economics tium led by Maastricht UMC+ researcher Dr Life Sciences • Graduate School of Business and Texts Chris Arts will spend the next six years • School of Nutrition and Translational Economics (GSBE) Jos Cortenraad, Annelotte Huiskes, researching new technological solutions to Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM) • Research Centre for Education and the Femke Kools, Margot Krijnen, Jolien the rapidly growing problem of antimicrobial • School for Cardiovascular Diseases Labour Market (ROA) Linssen, Florian Raith, Milou Schreuders, resistance (AMR). The research focuses on (CARIM) • Network Social Innovation (NSI) Hans van Vinkeveen. Professor Harm social awareness of AMR and the develop- • School for Public Health and Primary • Limburg Institute of Financial Economics ment of alternatives to traditional antibiot- Care (CAPHRI) (LIFE) Photography and Illustration Hospers retires ics through the use of new materials • School for Mental Health and • The Maastricht Academic Centre for Appie Derks, Marieke Duijsters, Harry technology. Neuroscience (MHeNS) Research in Services (MAXX) Heuts, Rafaël Philippen, Joey Roberts, Arjen Professor Harm Hospers retired on • School for Oncology and Developmental • Accounting, Auditing & Information Schmitz, Ted Struwer, Hugo Thomassen, 1 January. He was an enthusiastic Vice Rector AMR, in which bacteria are increasingly Biology (GROW) Management Research Centre (MARC) Paul van der Veer, Martijn Weyenberg. for Education and a competent administrator. resistant to antibiotics, is a major and • School of Health Professions Education • European Centre for Corporate growing problem worldwide. It increases the (SHE) Engagement (ECCE) Translations and English editing Hospers was appointed dean of University risk of life-threatening infections after Tans Medal for • Institute for Education • United Nations University – Maastricht Alison Edwards College Maastricht in 2009. Two years later surgery, resulting in poorer treatment Economic Research Institute on he became dean of the Faculty of Humani- outcomes and an increase in healthcare Professor Albert Faculty of Science and Engineering Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT) Graphic concept and Design ties and Sciences, where he held the chair in costs. “If almost everyone continues to • University College Maastricht (UCM) • Social Innovation for Competitiveness, Zuiderlicht Maastricht Applied Health Psychology. He was then Scherpbier • University College Venlo (UCV) Organisational Performance and human appointed director of EDLAB and, in February • Maastricht Science Programme (MSP) Excellence (NSCOPE) Print 2015, Vice Rector of Education. During his farewell as dean of the • Department of Data Science and • Marketing-Finance Research Lab Drukkerij Zalsman B.V., Zwolle Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences Knowledge Engineering (DKE) • Service Science Factory (SSF) Alongside this role, he was the driving force and vice president of the Board of Directors • Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased • Maastricht Sustainability Institute (MSI) Maastricht University magazine is behind various projects and initiatives. One of the Maastricht UMC+, Professor Albert Materials (AMIBM) • Maastricht Graduate School of published in February, June and October. of these was the creation of an intensive Scherpbier received the highest distinction Governance (MGSoG) It is sent on demand to UM alumni and to partnership to support refugees. Hospers UM in Keuzegids at UM, the Dr J.G.H. Tans Medal. He also Faculty of Law • UMIO - executive branch external relations. developed a unique network to help received the Maastricht UMC+ Award. • Institute for Globalisation and • Education Institute newcomers integrate by accessing the appro- guide to Dutch Scherpbier was presented with the awards International Regulation (IGIR) Editorial Office priate education. < by the UM president (Tans Medal) and the • Institute for Transnational Legal Research Interfaculty institutes Marketing & Communications universities 2021 president of the Board of Directors of the (METRO) • The Maastricht Forensic Institute (tMFI) Postbus 616, 6200 MD Maastricht Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+ Award). < • Institute for Corporate Law, Governance • MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired T +31 43 388 5238 / +31 43 388 5222 Five Maastricht University bachelor’s and Innovation Policies (ICGI) Regenerative Medicine E [email protected] programmes are ranked first in their • Maastricht Centre for European Law • The Maastricht Centre for Citizenship, category in the new Keuzegids Universiteiten (MCEL) Migration and Development (MACIMIDE) ISSN (Dutch universities guide) 2021: Data • Maastricht Centre for Human Rights • Maastricht MultiModal Molecular 2210-5212 Science and Artificial Intelligence, European • Maastricht Centre for Taxation (MCT) Imaging Institute (M4I) Studies, Tax Law, Fiscal Economics and the • Maastricht European Private Law • Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology Online Maastricht Science Programme. The latter Institute (MEPLI) (MaCSBio) webmagazine.maastrichtuniversity.nl retains the designation ‘top-rated • Maastricht Graduate School of Law • Maastricht Centre for Arts and Culture, programme’, a quality label also held by the • Montesquieu Institute Maastricht Conservation and Heritage (MACCH) Facebook two university colleges (Maastricht and • Centre for European Research in facebook.com/maastricht.university Venlo). UM as a whole placed fourth in the Maastricht (CERIM) ranking of Dutch universities. < • Institute for Transnational and Euregional cross border cooperation and Mobility (ITEM) • Institute of Data Science (IDS) • Brightlands Institute for Smart Society (BISS)

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