Biotechnology and the Societal Challenge
This course explores how biotechnology can address key societal challenges identified by the European Union. These include health and demographic change, food security and sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and climate action. Students are introduced to plant and microbial biotechnology, ethical considerations, and patent systems. As part of the course, students formulate their own biotechnology-based solutions
Transitions, Innovation en Governance
TRIG provides an overview of frameworks and methods to study and guide sustainable innovation, sustainability transitions, in particular socio-technical transitions and their governance, as these are all important to bring about sustainability and transitions to sustainability. Increasing the understanding of the underlying societal mechanisms and processes of sustainable innovation and sustainability transitions is important in
Agroecology
The course focuses on agroecological principles to analyse and design sustainable and productive farming systems. Agroecological principles include: Recycling and efficiency; Living Soils; Biodiversity; Ecosystem services and multi-functionality; Resilience; Fair Markets; Culture & spirituality; Youth & Women; Adequate Policies & governance; Knowledge co-creation and collaboration. Students will explore how agroecological farming systems are developed across
Introduction to Responsible AI Engineering
Introduction to AI and Responsible AI Engineering (hereafter Responsible AI for short) introduces students to the history of AI development and how it got entrenched in society, as well as to the range of ethical issues that tend to arise during the development, design and application of AI in society.
Biotechnology and Society
Biotechnologie is het gebruik van biologische principes, organismen en hun producten voor praktische doeleinden. De mens bedrijft al eeuwenlang biotechnologie, bijvoorbeeld bij het maken van bier of brood. De ontwikkeling van nieuwe technieken, zoals de recombinant DNA technologie, en de enorme toename van onze kennis over biologische systemen heeft ertoe geleid dat dit veld in
New Trends in Plant Breeding
This course aims at sparking interest in a wide array of topics, which can be useful for a career in plant breeding industry or in science. Subjects treated are at a higher integration level, not only taking into account plant breeding aspects, but regarding all aspects involved, such as environmental issues, products and chain issues,
Transforming Food Systems
General description of the content This course will focus on the dynamics in food systems globally from a governance and transition studies perspective. We will identify the different actors involved, their roles and interests, and their relationships and interactions. Next, we will focus on processes of transformations towards more sustainable and healthy food systems (at
Innoveren in en met de Maatschappij
Vanaf april 2025 biedt het Copernicus Instituut een spannende en innovatieve nieuwe cursus aan: Innoveren in en met de Maatschappij. Innovatieonderzoek richt zich vaak op de markt (bedrijven), of juist de publieke sector (universiteiten en beleid). Maar uit onderzoek blijkt dat het veelal burgers en andere gebruikers zijn die een leidende rol spelen bij het
Sustainable food systems
Our current globalized food system is often at the core of the pressure on sustainable development goals such as life on land, life below water, and water and sanitation, while failing to meet goals such as zero hunger and no poverty. Understanding the causes of the current unsustainable situation and developing solutions to stimulate a
Perspectives on Information and Society
The main aim of the course is to critically reflect on concepts central to Information Studies in terms of assumptions, limitations, and social and ethical implications. As information is the central notion of Information Studies we start with information. We approach information by using hermeneutics; this perspective highlights the characteristics of human understanding and is