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Darwin identified at least two triggers of evolution: either shocks that hit a system from the outside or ‘mutant’ shocks that sprout up from within a system. The Gaja cyclone that hit the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu state in India on Friday 16 November 2018 is a typical example of the former, while...

A new report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) provides updated evidence on the trends of internal migration within Mongolia. UNU-MERIT researcher Dr. Craig Loschmann contributed to the study by assisting the Population Training and Research Centre (PTRC) of the National Univer...

A few years ago a Turkish PhD fellow said to me rather wistfully: ‘I would like to have your job. It seems very nice.’ At the time I was inclined to agree with him, though I knew this was tempting fate. The question is, what did he really know of my job beyond what he’d seen on the website or at a w...

At present the cold war between Russia and Europe is at its most intense since the Cold War of 1950 to 1980. Russia is rapidly rearming and placing new intermediate range missiles aimed at Europe along its borders. It is developing new – supposedly undetectable – nuclear weapons. It is promoting ris...

I have always been interested in pursuing a PhD. After working for a number of years and having a family, I felt that I needed a programme that would allow me to pursue my PhD and my career, while not having to interrupt either in any way. GPAC2 was the programme that appeared to fit the most....

The UN’s research and training institute in the Netherlands, UNU-MERIT, has introduced a carbon ‘tax’ on air travel for its more than 100 staff and researchers. As of 1 January 2019, all business travel by plane will incur an additional premium, which will be used to offset carbon emissions. Part of...

A 22-year-old student on our Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development (MPP) has won the first ever Maastricht Student Entrepreneur Award. Laura Nieboer took home the prize for her ‘Pieke Broodbier’ – a “really fruity” British Golden Ale with a “strong bite” and a novel twist: it is b...

Every 18 December, the UN celebrates International Migrants Day to recognise the efforts, contributions, and rights of migrants worldwide. A perfect moment to speak with Arjen Leerkes, who was appointed Professor of ‘Migration, Securitisation and Social Cohesion’ at Maastricht University and U...

My migration story began in Honduras, a beautiful country, at the heart of the Americas. This is the land where the sacred pyramids of our Mayan ancestors stand tall among the jungle canopy, and where the coffee beans grow strong at the skirt of our mountains. We are mestizos, which is Spanish for ‘...

When I drive to work every day, most of my journey is recorded by cameras. Information about my route and speed of travel, as well as that of other people on the road at the time, can be used by governments to improve our national infrastructure, among many other things. It is the job of politicians...

Migration risks bringing Europe to a breaking point. It is about refugee boats, borders, Islam — about us and them. These are themes that not only concern society and politics, but also science and academia. … For more than 13 years, Prof. Melissa Siegel has been working on the theme of ...

A joint post by Tamara Kool and Theresa Ammann In this blog post we connect the current political climate with our current research project that systematically analyses the existing literature on ‘Gender’ and ‘Human Security’. … The global rise of authoritarian movements and the entry of far-r...

Imagine you, a researcher, are given a bag of money, unlimited time and personnel. What research would you do? Dr. Zina Nimeh, university lecturer of Social Protection and Human Development, wants to discover why people no longer appreciate the welfare state. … Solidarity is the basis of the w...

The Russian navy captured three Ukrainian military vessels and detained about 20 soldiers in the Kerch Strait in November 2018. Since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the Russians have controlled this unique passage — shared by both countries — between the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov. ...

I had been searching for a programme that allowed me to combine my specific research interests with a rather busy work schedule. The blended format with in-person classes and distance learning modules worked very well for me, by providing a good balance between flexibility of schedule and the opport...

Our researchers regularly give policy recommendations to the UN and its Member States — not just in emerging economies but also across Europe. In November 2018, Prof. Melissa Siegel spoke before the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, where she briefed members on the migration situation, s...

For this sixth edition of our Science Reporting Workshop, Reach and Turn, we partnered with UNESCO, the City of Knowledge Foundation, and the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation — returning to Panama as a side event of the second Latin America and Caribbean Open Science...

A joint post by Profs. René Kemp and Shyama V. Ramani From entertainment to healthcare, innovation is everywhere. Yet, what is the end goal of all these new products and processes — and what should be the EU’s policy priorities? Should ‘we’ improve sustainability among rich c...

I’ve worked for UNICEF on programme planning, monitoring and evaluation, focusing not only on countries in development but also humanitarian contexts. This has given me a deep understanding of how to tailor programmes in order to ensure a timely and effective response – especially in emergency situa...

A joint post by Prof. Louis Volante and Dr. John Jerrim Educators around the world, particularly those in secondary schools, often default to a compelling story when they are trying to motivate their students: Work hard, achieve well and you will secure a successful future with attractive job prospe...