Fairness, Accountability, Confidentiality and Transparency in AI
Artificial Intelligence and data science are increasingly being used to power decision making in settings that are highly consequential for people and society. Algorithmic decision making promises great benefits across sectors and domains. At the same time, there are many high-profile stories about the potential harms of algorithms, for individuals, population groups, and society at
Biological Discovery through Computation
Multiple types of -omics data are rapidly changing the face of biological research. In the Bioinformatics minor, students have been exposed to fundamental computational techniques to analyse and visualise omics data. Students enrolled in the Omics minor have also explored technologies and data analysis methods to deal with the “wet” and “dry” components of omics
Seed Science and Technology
Seeds are not only the world’s major source of human and animal nutrition but also provide the basis for improving agricultural practices and managing genetic resources. High-quality seeds are required for successful crop production, propagation and breeding. Seed quality comprises a multitude of processes and events that occur during the successive stages of seed development,
Computational Biology
This course focuses on using computational modelling to explore biological systems and test specific hypotheses. Students learn to construct exact models and analyse their behaviour to gain insight into the original biological system. The course draws on a broad range of biological questions across evolutionary, developmental, ecological, and molecular biology. Topics include evolutionary dynamics such
Genomics and Bioinformatics
Genomics is a new area of research that relates to holistic study of the genome a the gene, transcript, protein and metabolite levels. Due to the large amounts of data involved in this study computer tools are extensively used. During the course we will present basic concepts of genomics and introduce students to the problems
Gene Regulation
Eukaryotic genomes contain thousands of genes and transposons. To function optimally, genes must be expressed at the right time and place, and transposons inactivated. This course explores the complex mechanisms involved in gene regulation, including DNA sequences, proteins, RNAs, genetic and epigenetic processes, and newly discovered mechanisms like phase separation. Techniques used to study gene
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
Advanced Crop Physiology
Understanding crop physiology is of utmost importance for adapting agriculture to the challenges associated to climate change and environmental degradation. While molecular biology has made impressive strides in elucidating the regulation of processes in plants, the challenge remains to understand what this means for processes in real crops as this is the level at which
Planten in Context
Het centrale thema in de cursus is de interactie van de plant met zijn omgeving en de verschillende (sub)disciplines die bij deze interacties betrokken zijn. In de eerste 5 weken zal er elke week een ander thema zijn, namelijk Bodemontwikkeling & Water, Wortel & Nutriënten, Bodemleven, Stressfysiologie & Plasticiteit en Competitie & Biodiversiteit, waarbij de
Data Science and Biology
This course focuses on applying data science methods to biological data. With the rise of high-throughput techniques in biology, massive datasets are now common, including genomes, metagenomes, transcriptomes, and more. The course equips students with the theoretical and practical skills to extract insights from such data. Students learn to work with the command-line interface, write