Arqus Knowledge Pills

Arqus European University Alliance
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Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon 1, Maynooth, Minho, Padua, Vilnius and Wroclaw, together are Arqus, an Alliance that specifically focuses on people, on students, researchers, teachers and everyone who works in European higher education. Together we want to build a multicultural, multilingual and inclusive Europe that is ready for all the challenges to come. How do we want to do that? Well, join in and listen. This is the Arqus podcast. This is “Arqus Knowledge Pills”.

  1. #44: Disability rights in Europe: How can EU law make a difference?

    JAN 9

    #44: Disability rights in Europe: How can EU law make a difference?

    How does European Union law protect the rights of persons with disabilities? What role does the Court of Justice of the EU play in shaping disability rights across Member States? And why is it important to look at disability law through a truly European lens? These questions are at the heart of the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, featuring Bernardo Cortese, professor of European Union law at the University of Padua. In this episode,  Bernardo Cortese discusses his recent publication on the role of the Court of Justice of the European Union in adapting EU employment equality law to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He explains why EU law should be understood as a multi-layered system, where courts, legislators and institutions interact to progressively strengthen fundamental rights. The conversation also explores the most significant developments in EU disability law over the past decade, including advances in case law, legislation and soft law instruments. Special attention is given to particularly vulnerable groups, such as asylum seekers and third-country nationals with disabilities, who face multiple layers of discrimination and barriers to the protection of their dignity. The speaker also reflects on how his personal experience as a parent of a child with a severe disability has shaped his research, offering a powerful example of how legal concepts—such as discrimination by association—translate into real-life challenges. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of building a European culture of inclusion, empowerment and collective representation, and on how EU law can influence national systems to promote meaningful change. -------------- Bernardo Cortese is a Full Professor of European Union Law at the Department of Public, International and EU Law of the University of Padua. His research focuses on EU law in its institutional, judicial and substantive dimensions, with particular attention to the internal market, competition law, immigration, energy and environmental law. He previously served as Référendaire at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Among his many collaborations are those with the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Commission, the Directorate-General for Competition, and the European State Aid Observatory.

    37 min
  2. #43: Peace, power and reality: Can we still believe in pacifism?

    11/11/2025

    #43: Peace, power and reality: Can we still believe in pacifism?

    What if peace were not just a human affair? Can we still believe in pacifism? Explore these questions and rethink the very meaning of peace in the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast with Maximiliam Lakitsch (University of Graz).  In the 43rd episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, Maximiliam Lakitsch, a senior scientist at the Department of the Foundations of Law (Global Governance Section) at the University of Graz, explores how environmental realities are inseparable from political and social dynamics and how truly sustainable peace must include the non-human world as an active participant.  This episode discusses the understanding of peace that evolves across cultures and time, why it should be seen as an ongoing process rather than a final state, what role Europe plays in peacekeeping today, and Maximilian Lakitsch's idea of strategic optimism, a realistic outlook that acknowledges today’s challenges as opportunities to find more effective and inclusive paths towards peace, rather than reasons for despair. Maximilian Lakitsch is a senior scientist in the Department of the Foundations of Law (Global Governance Section) at the University of Graz, where he coordinates the Austrian Conflict, Peace and Democracy Cluster. His research and teaching centres on peace studies and international relations, with a particular interest in critical perspectives on international peace interventions and the integration of environmental and climate aspects into peace practice. He focuses on the Middle East and North Africa, particularly Syria, Lebanon, and Israel-Palestine. Maximilian Lakitsch also worked for various NGOs in Austria, Lebanon and has experience in development cooperation and peacebuilding.

    53 min
  3. #42: What does it really mean to learn autonomously?

    07/29/2025

    #42: What does it really mean to learn autonomously?

    Is learner autonomy just about studying alone or is it something much deeper, more collaborative and more critical? In today’s digital world, how do we support students in becoming truly autonomous learners? These questions are at the heart of the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast featuring Professor Marco Cappellini, specialist in Language Sciences at the University of Lyon 1 and co-editor of Learner Autonomy and Web 2.0. Drawing on years of research in language education, virtual exchanges and teacher training, Professor Cappellini explores how our understanding of autonomy has evolved from individual self-regulation to a more social and reflective process supported by peer interaction and digital tools. He introduces the idea of social autonomy, where learning is shaped not in isolation, but through meaningful collaboration and dialogue, especially in online environments. The conversation also touches on the role of teachers in fostering learner autonomy: not as distant facilitators, but as active mediators who scaffold learning, guide reflection, and help students navigate complex digital learning spaces.  How can we support all learners, including those with less access to resources or digital confidence, in becoming autonomous? What kinds of environments and policies are needed to make autonomy a real and equitable goal? Learn more about Marco Cappellini: Marco Cappellini is a Full Professor in Language Didactics at Claude Bernard University Lyon 1. He conducts research at the ICAR laboratory, focusing on telecollaboration and computer-assisted language learning. His work explores learner autonomy, teacher training, and metacognition in digital education contexts. He plays key roles in organisations such as Ranacles and UNICollaboration. He has published extensively on technology-enhanced language learning and supervises research in the field.

    49 min
  4. #41: What can sinkholes tell us about our planet’s future?

    07/07/2025

    #41: What can sinkholes tell us about our planet’s future?

    What causes the Earth to suddenly collapse beneath our feet? Can geophysics help us predict—and perhaps even prevent—natural disasters? These are just some of the fascinating questions explored in the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast with special guest Professor Djamil Al-Halbouni, expert in Applied Geophysics and Remote Sensing at Leipzig University. In this episode, Professor Al-Halbouni guides us through the invisible forces shaping our landscapes—from sinkholes in the Dead Sea region to erosion in Bronze Age archaeological sites. Drawing on his international research experience and innovative use of numerical simulation, remote sensing, and fieldwork, he explains how water-related processes such as subsidence and collapse can reveal urgent insights into both our past and future environments. The conversation also highlights his recent Arqus course in the Granada Geopark, where students explored how geophysical methods connect natural history with cultural heritage. Geoparks offer unique learning opportunities that bridge science, sustainability, and storytelling. Professor Al-Halbouni also discusses the social impact of natural hazards on vulnerable communities, especially those living along the receding shores of the Dead Sea. He reflects on the potential of new technologies, including AI and satellite data, to support early-warning systems and more resilient planning strategies. Learn more about Djamil Al-Halbouni: Djamil Al-Halbouni is a Junior Professor of Applied Near-Surface Geophysics and Remote Sensing at Leipzig University. His research focuses on geophysical modelling and monitoring of near-surface hazards, with particular expertise in sinkhole formation and subsidence processes. He played a leading role in the international project DESERVE, investigating sinkholes and landslides around the Dead Sea, one of the world’s most dynamic and vulnerable regions to such geohazards. Al-Halbouni holds a diploma in Geophysics from the University of Göttingen and completed his PhD at the University of Potsdam and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), including a research stay at the University of Adelaide and CSIRO in Australia. His work also spans groundwater dynamics in karst aquifers, hydromechanical modelling of canyon systems, and the stability of salt caverns in Brazil and Germany. Before joining Leipzig, he held postdoctoral positions at GFZ, GEOMAR, and the University of Malta.

    25 min
  5. #40: Are we ready for AI Twins? Legal and ethical challenges ahead: Innovation, privacy, and the future of digital identity

    05/30/2025

    #40: Are we ready for AI Twins? Legal and ethical challenges ahead: Innovation, privacy, and the future of digital identity

    Are We Ready for AI Twins? Legal and Ethical Challenges Ahead: Innovation, Privacy, and the Future of Digital Identity — Explore everything behind the topic in the latest Arqus podcast episode! What are AI twin assistants and how could they change the way we work, create, and interact? What legal and ethical questions do they raise around data privacy, ownership, and identity? These are the core questions addressed in this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast. In this brand-new episode, we welcome a very special guest: Dr Paulius Jurčys, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University and expert in data privacy, copyright, and emerging technologies. Together, we explore the fascinating world of AI twin assistants: digital versions of ourselves that can write, speak, and act on our behalf. How do they work? Who owns the content they generate? And what are the legal and ethical risks when our voices and identities can be cloned? From data ownership to AI-generated creativity, and from deepfakes to digital fairness, this episode dives into the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence, law, and innovation.  Tune in to discover how AI twins could reshape our understanding of creativity, fairness, and personal data in the digital future and why now is the time to think critically about the rules that will shape it. Learn more about Paulius Jurčys: Paulius Jurčys is a senior lecturer at Vilnius University Law Faculty where teaches data privacy and copyright law courses at Vilnius University Law Faculty and serves as an affiliate fellow with Harvard’s CopyrightX program. A technology lawyer and admitted to practice law in California. He is also a co-founder of Prifina, a San Francisco company that builds personal-data technologies for individuals. Paulius Jurčys holds an LL.M. from Harvard and a Ph.D. from Kyushu University, and in 2025 became a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley School of Law. In 2025, he won the MyData Global “Thought Leadership” award. He served as an expert member of the International Law Association committee on Intellectual Property, which drafted the 2021 Guidelines on Intellectual Property and Private International Law.

    25 min
  6. #39: What can Marriage Bars teach us about gender discrimination in the workplace?

    04/30/2025

    #39: What can Marriage Bars teach us about gender discrimination in the workplace?

    What can Marriage Bars teach us about gender discrimination in the workplace? Explore this forgotten policy and its surprising legacy in the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast! In the 20th century, many countries enforced so-called "Marriage Bars" – rules that required women to leave their jobs once they got married. While most countries abolished these policies by the 1950s, Ireland maintained its Marriage Bar until the 1970s. What impact did this have on the lives of Irish women, and what can we learn from it today? In the 39th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, Dr Irene Mosca, lecturer in Economics at Maynooth University, takes us on a journey through her research on Marriage Bars in Ireland and beyond. Drawing on data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), she reveals the lasting economic and social consequences of this institutionalised form of gender discrimination. Dr Mosca explains how women affected by the Irish Marriage Bar tended to have shorter working lives and lower personal incomes, yet also more children, more educated children, and – paradoxically – greater household wealth. She also sheds light on the political and social arguments that kept such policies in place and reflects on how the legacy of the Marriage Bar still echoes in today’s debates on gender equality. Learn more about Irene Mosca: Dr Irene Mosca is a lecturer in Economics at Maynooth University and has a strong track record in applied health, population, and labour economics. She is also a research fellow at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics and the Global Labor Organisation, and an Executive Committee Member of the Irish Society for Women in Economics.

    18 min
  7. #38: Why strengthening bonds between generations is key to our future?

    03/25/2025

    #38: Why strengthening bonds between generations is key to our future?

    What impact do intergenerational relations have on our society? What initiatives are needed between generations to ensure the effective transfer of knowledge, education, and resources? How can we fight ageism and discrimination to create a more inclusive world? These are the key questions explored in this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast.  In this episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, we explore these critical questions with Carolina Campos, a researcher at the Macrosad Chair in Intergenerational Studies at the University of Granada. Dedicated to bridging the gap between generations, the Macrosad Chair plays a vital role in shaping policies and programs that ensure knowledge is shared, education is strengthened, and wealth is distributed sustainably across time—between those who have been, those who are, and those who will be. Carolina shares insights on the significance of intergenerational research, the challenges of fostering meaningful connections, and how knowledge transfer can drive real-world impact. She also highlights a key issue: despite the clear benefits and urgent need for these connections, institutional and legal frameworks often create barriers that separate age groups rather than bringing them together—whether in education, housing, or care systems. As the world rapidly changes, ensuring sustainability over time requires meaningful connections between people of all ages. Tune in to this insightful conversation and discover how we can build a more connected and inclusive future—together. Learn more about Carolina Campos Rueda: Carolina Campos Rueda is member of the Macrosad Chair in Intergenerational Studies at the University of Granada, where she has been a research staff member since 2019. Graduated in Occupational Therapy and specialised in Intergenerational Projects, she has specific training in intergenerationality, such as the certificate “Together Old and Young: An Intergenerational Approach”, or the “International Certificate in Intergenerational Learning”, as well as training in qualitative and quantitative research techniques. At the Chair, she carries out research, training and dissemination work, as well as all those activities that derive from the lines of action of the Chair. Her work is also closely connected to CINTER (Macrosad's Intergenerational Reference Centre in Albolote, Granada); to the research projects led by the Chair (currently focused on the validation of Intergenerational Contact Zones in Andalusia and Extremadura, or on the development of quality indicators in intergenerational practices and spaces); and to practical actions such as the intergenerational project “Harmonía” or the national coordination of the worldwide movement “Global Intergenerational Week”.

    18 min
  8. #37: Can we win the fight against antibiotic resistance?

    03/05/2025

    #37: Can we win the fight against antibiotic resistance?

    Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine, threatening the effectiveness of treatments and putting millions at risk. But what if the key to overcoming this crisis lies in nature itself? This month’s episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast features Dr Agata Dorotkiewicz-Jach, a microbiologist at the University of Wrocław, who explores groundbreaking and sustainable antibacterial therapies. Dr Dorotkiewicz-Jach discusses alternative treatments such as bacteriophages, plant-based compounds, and anti-virulent therapies, highlighting their potential in fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. She also shares insights on the impact of climate change on antimicrobial resistance and the need for global cooperation. For the 37th episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, Agata explores how research and interdisciplinary approaches can help shape the future of medicine. Learn more about Dr Agata Dorotkiewicz-Jach: Dr Dorotkiewicz-Jach specializes in alternative antibacterial therapies at the University of Wrocław. She has led research on innovative treatment strategies and plays an active role in the Arqus Alliance, coordinating climate change and sustainability initiatives.

    27 min
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About

Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon 1, Maynooth, Minho, Padua, Vilnius and Wroclaw, together are Arqus, an Alliance that specifically focuses on people, on students, researchers, teachers and everyone who works in European higher education. Together we want to build a multicultural, multilingual and inclusive Europe that is ready for all the challenges to come. How do we want to do that? Well, join in and listen. This is the Arqus podcast. This is “Arqus Knowledge Pills”.

Information

  • Creator
    Arqus European University Alliance
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Arqus European University Alliance
  • Show Website
    Arqus Knowledge Pills