The International Centre for Integrative Studies at Maastricht University is an international research centre for Integrated Assessment, and was established in 1998. The centre addresses the increasing need for integrated analyses of environments (such as cities and regions) and complex issues (e.g. sustainable development, human health and global change, tourism, water and biodiversity). Such integrative studies involve analysis of the causes, effects and the mutual interlinkages between economic, environmental, institutional and socio-cultural processes associated with a specific environment or complex issue. These interdisciplinary analyses complemented with participatory processes involving stakeholders usually form the basis for the development of visions and long-term strategies. The mission of the centre is to support awareness processes with regard to integrative thinking and action in policy circles, the business community and society at large.

Pim Martens is Director of the International Centre for Integrative Studies. He holds the chair 'Sustainable Development' at the University of Maastricht/Open University Netherlands/ Zuyd University. Prof. Martens is project-leader and principal investigator of several projects related to sustainable development, globalisation, environmental change and society, funded by, amongst others, the Dutch National Research Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme and the European Community. Pim Martens is Executive Editor of the International Forum on Science and Technology for Sustainability, and co-editor-in-chief of the International Journal Ecohealth. Dr. Martens is a Fulbright New Century Scholar within the programme 'Health in a Borderless World' and winner of the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel-Forschungspreis.

Maud Huynen studied Environmental Health Sciences, received a Master Degree in Environmental Health Science in 2001 and a Master Degree in Epidemiology in 2003. She worked on the project ‘Globalisation, Environmental Change and Human Health’ as part of her PhD and is coordinator of the taught course ‘Globalisation, Environment and Society’. Other research projects have included health impacts of climate change, the health impacts of biodiversity loss and the global fresh water problem. Her research interests also include global change, sustainability, scenarios and integrated assessment.