Ethics of Medicine

  1. University
  2. Faculties
  3. Faculty of Medicine
  4. Chairs and professorships
  5. Institute for Ethics and History of Health in Society IEHHS
  6. Team
  7. Dr. Cristian Timmermann

Dr. Cristian Timmermann

Research associate
Ethics of Medicine
Phone: 0821 598 71003
Email:
Room: 04-EG.A004 (Faculty of Medicine / Gutenbergstraße 7)
Address: Gutenbergstraße 7, 86356 Neusäß
Postal address: Universitätsstraße 2, 86159 Augsburg

Climate change and public health ethics; social justice; food and agricultural ethics; artificial intelligence in healthcare.

 

Cristian Timmermann studied philosophy and political science at the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich and holds a PhD in Philosophy from Wageningen University (The Netherlands). He works as a political philosopher on issues related to life sciences and social justice, focussing both on theory and policy analysis. His research interests include poverty, meaningful work, public goods and science policy for agriculture, health care and climate mitigation and adaptation technologies, with regional expertise in Latin America and Europe. In the past he held research positions in Wageningen, Beersheva, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile and Ulm, with research stays at the Brocher Foundation, the Hastings Center, Rome, Salzburg, Brisbane, and Louvain-la-Neuve.

2025 Theda Rehbock's Susimetsa Philosophicum Residency, Estonia

2019 Research stay by the Hastings Center, United States

2019 Honorary Hoover Fellowship by the Hoover Chair, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium

2018 „Morton Deutsch Award“ for the best paper in Social Justice Research

2017-20 Post-doctoral fellowship by FONDECY, Chile

2016 Incoming Visiting Fellowship by the Austrian Academy of Sciences

2014-16 Post-doctoral fellowship by DGAPA-UNAM, Mexico

2013-14 Post-doctoral fellowship by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

2013 Research stay by the Fondation Brocher, Switzerland

Editorial Board: Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics; La Propiedad Inmaterial; BMC Medical Ethics.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2010

2025
Kortetmäki Teea, Timmermann Cristian, Tribaldos Theresa. Just transition boundaries: clarifying the meaning of just transition. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 2025;55:100957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2024.100957
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Lever Annabelle, Timmermann Cristian. Justice in global intellectual property governance. In: Berger Axel, Brandi Clara, Kollar Eszter, editors. Justice in global economic governance: normative and empirical perspectives on promoting fairer globalisation. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press; 2025. p. 215-224.
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Timmermann Cristian. Moving from climate conscious to critical climate conscious clinical medical ethics. The American Journal of Bioethics 2025;25(7):42-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2025.2509925
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Timmermann Cristian, Wild Verina. The place of justice and vulnerability in climate resilience. International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics 2025;18(1):9-33. https://doi.org/10.3138/ijfab-2024-0023
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2024
Timmermann Cristian, Wabnitz Katharina, Wild Verina. Ethical approaches at the intersection of climate change, the environment and health. Augsburg: Institute for Ethics and History of Health in Society, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg; 2024.
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Ursin Frank, Timmermann Cristian, Benzinger Lasse, Salloch Sabine, Tietze Fabian-Alexander. Intraoperative application of mixed and augmented reality for digital surgery: a systematic review of ethical issues. Frontiers in Surgery 2024;11:1287218. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2024.1287218
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Timmermann Cristian, Wild Verina. Sustainability transitions in university hospitals: contextualising research incentives and ethical responsibilities. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society 2024;33(4):351-356. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.33.4.5
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2023
Timmermann Cristian. Climate change and the ethics of agriculture. In: Pellegrino Gianfranco, Di Paola Marcello, editors. Handbook of the philosophy of climate change. Cham: Springer; 2023. p. 871-883. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07002-0_70
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Atenas Javiera, Havemann Leo, Kuhn Caroline, Timmermann Cristian. Critical data literacy in higher education: teaching and research for data ethics and justice. In: Raffaghelli Juliana E., Sangrà Albert, editors. Data cultures in higher education: emergent practices and the challenge ahead. Cham: Springer; 2023. p. 293-311. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24193-2_12
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Ursin Frank, Lindner Felix, Ropinski Timo, Salloch Sabine, Timmermann Cristian. Levels of explicability for medical artificial intelligence: what do we normatively need and what can we technically reach?. Ethik in der Medizin 2023;35:173-199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00481-023-00761-x
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Timmermann Cristian. More carrots, less sticks: encouraging good stewardship in the global antimicrobial commons. Health Care Analysis 2023;31:53-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-023-00455-x
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Atenas Javiera, Havemann Leo, Timmermann Cristian. Reframing data ethics in research methods education: a pathway to critical data literacy. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education 2023;20(1):11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-023-00380-y
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Sartelli Massimo, Barie Philip S., Coccolini Federico, Abbas Mohamed, Abbo Lilian M., Abdukhalilova Gulnora K., Abraham Yishak, Abubakar Salisu, Abu-Zidan Fikri M., Adebisi Yusuff Adebayo, Adamou Harissou, Afandiyeva Gulara, Agastra Ervis, Alfouzan Wadha A., Al-Hasan Majdi N., Ali Sajjad, Ali Syed Muhammad, Allaw Fatima, Allwell-Brown Gbemisola, Amir Afreenish, Amponsah Obed Kwabena Offe, Al Omari Abdelkarim, Ansaloni Luca, Ansari Shamshul, Arauz Ana Belen, Augustin Goran, Awazi Bih, Azfar Mohammad, Bah Mamadou Saliou Bailo, Bala Miklosh, Banagala Anura S. K., Baral Suman, Bassetti Matteo, Bavestrello Luis, Beilman Gregory, Bekele Kebebe, Benboubker Moussa, Beović Bojana, Bergamasco Maria Daniela, Bertagnolio Silvia, Biffl Walter L., Blot Stijn, Boermeester Marja A., Bonomo Robert A., Brink Adrian, Brusaferro Silvio, Butemba Jonathan, Caínzos Miguel A., Camacho-Ortiz Adrian, Canton Rafael, Cascio Antonio, Cassini Alessandro, Cástro-Sanchez Enrique, Catarci Marco, Catena Rodolfo, Chamani-Tabriz Leili, Chandy Sujith J., Charani Esmita, Cheadle William G., Chebet Diana, Chikowe Ibrahim, Chiara Francesca, Cheng Vincent Chi-Chung, Chioti Anna, Cocuz Maria Elena, Coimbra Raul, Cortese Francesco, Timmermann Cristian. Ten golden rules for optimal antibiotic use in hospital settings: the WARNING call to action. World Journal of Emergency Surgery 2023;18:50. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-023-00518-3
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Authored by the Worldwide Antimicrobial Resistance National/International Network Group (WARNING) Collaborators. For full author list please see publisher website or PDF.
Voit Katja, Timmermann Cristian, Orzechowski Marcin, Steger Florian. Voluntariness or legal obligation? An ethical analysis of two instruments for fairer global access to COVID-19 vaccines. Frontiers in Public Health 2023;11:995683. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.995683
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2022
Wigand Moritz E., Timmermann Cristian, Scherp Ansgar, Becker Thomas, Steger Florian. Climate change, pollution, deforestation and mental health: research trends, gaps and ethical considerations. GeoHealth 2022;6(11):e2022GH000632. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022gh000632
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Predel Christopher, Timmermann Cristian, Ursin Frank, Orzechowski Marcin, Ropinski Timo, Steger Florian. Conflicting aims and values in the application of smart sensors in geriatric rehabilitation: ethical analysis. JMIR mHealth and uHealth 2022;10(6):e32910. https://doi.org/10.2196/32910
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Timmermann Cristian, Noboa Eduardo. Energy sovereignty: a values-based conceptual analysis. Science and Engineering Ethics 2022;28(6):54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-022-00409-x
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Ursin Frank, Timmermann Cristian, Steger Florian. Explicability of artificial intelligence in radiology: is a fifth bioethical principle conceptually necessary?. Bioethics 2022;36(2):143-153. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12918
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Timmermann Cristian, Orzechowski Marcin, Kosenko Oxana, Woniak Katarzyna, Steger Florian. Informed consent in clinical studies involving human participants: ethical insights of medical researchers in Germany and Poland. Frontiers in Medicine 2022;9:901059. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.901059
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Timmermann Cristian, Wabnitz Katharina, Wild Verina. Responding to the climate crisis – bridging the gap between public health ethics and environmental ethics. Public Health Forum 2022;30(1):37-40. https://doi.org/10.1515/pubhef-2021-0141
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2021
Orzechowski Marcin, Timmermann Cristian, Woniak Katarzyna, Kosenko Oxana, Mikirtichan Galina Lvovna, Lichtshangof Alexandr Zinovievich, Steger Florian. Access to prenatal testing and ethically informed counselling in Germany, Poland and Russia. Journal of Personalized Medicine 2021;11(9):937. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11090937
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Timmermann Cristian. Adapting agriculture to a changing climate: a social justice perspective. In: Schübel Hanna, Wallimann-Helmer Ivo, editors. Justice and food security in a changing climate: EurSafe 2021, Fribourg, Switzerland, 24-26 June 2021. The Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2021. p. 31-35. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-915-2_2
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Timmermann Cristian, Ursin Frank, Predel Christopher, Steger Florian. Aligning patient's ideas of a good life with medically indicated therapies in geriatric rehabilitation using smart sensors. Sensors 2021;21(24):8479. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21248479
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Ursin Frank, Timmermann Cristian, Orzechowski Marcin, Steger Florian. Diagnosing diabetic retinopathy with artificial intelligence: what information should be included to ensure ethical informed consent?. Frontiers in Medicine 2021;8:695217. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.695217
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Ursin Frank, Timmermann Cristian, Steger Florian. Ethical implications of Alzheimer's disease prediction in asymptomatic individuals through artificial intelligence. Diagnostics 2021;11(3):440. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11030440
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Voit Katja, Timmermann Cristian, Steger Florian. Medication of hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir and convalescent plasma during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an ethical analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021;18(11):5685. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115685
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Orzechowski Marcin, Woniak Katarzyna, Timmermann Cristian, Steger Florian. Normative framework of informed consent in clinical research in Germany, Poland, and Russia. BMC Medical Ethics 2021;22(1):53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-021-00622-6
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Timmermann Cristian. Property claims on antibiotic effectiveness. Public Health Ethics 2021;14(3):256-267. https://doi.org/10.1093/phe/phab015
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Robaey Z. H., Timmermann Cristian. Who owns the taste of coffee – examining implications of biobased means of production in food. In: Schübel Hanna, Wallimann-Helmer Ivo, editors. Justice and food security in a changing climate. The Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2021. p. 85-90. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-915-2_10
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2020
Atenas Javiera, Havemann Leo, Timmermann Cristian. Critical literacies for a datafied society: academic development and curriculum design in higher education. Research in Learning Technology 2020;28:2468. https://doi.org/10.25304/rlt.v28.2468
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Timmermann Cristian. Epistemic ignorance, poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian Bioethics Review 2020;12(4):519-527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41649-020-00140-4
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Timmermann Cristian. Pandemic preparedness and cooperative justice. Developing World Bioethics 2020;21(4):201-210. https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12289
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Timmermann Cristian. Reseña: LOEWE D. Ética y coronavirus. Acta Bioethica 2020;26(2):264-265. https://doi.org/10.4067/S1726-569X2020000200264
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Timmermann Cristian. Social justice and agricultural innovation. Cham: Springer; 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56193-2
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2019
Timmermann Cristian. A Latin American perspective to agricultural ethics. In: Rivera-López Eduardo, Hevia Martin, editors. Controversies in Latin American Bioethics. Cham: Springer; 2019. p. 203-217. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17963-2_11
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Timmermann Cristian. Citizen science for biomedical research and contributive justice. The American Journal of Bioethics 2019;19(8):60-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2019.1619875
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Timmermann Cristian, Félix Georges F.. Ethical issues involving long-term land leases: a soil sciences perspective. In: Vinnari Eija, Vinnari Markus, editors. Sustainable governance and management of food systems: ethical perspectives. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2019. p. 287-292. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-892-6_40
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Timmermann Cristian. Patel R. & MOORE J.W. A history of the world in seven cheap things: a guide to capitalism, nature, and the future of the planet. Acta Bioethica 2019;25(1):141-142. https://doi.org/10.4067/S1726-569X2019000100141
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2018
Robaey Z., Timmermann Cristian. Fair agricultural innovation for a changing climate. In: Gilson E., Kenehan S., editors. Food, environment, and climate change: justice at the intersections. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield International; 2018. p. 213-230.
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Timmermann Cristian. Food security as a global public good. In: Vivero-Pol Jose Luis, Ferrando Tomaso, De Schutter Olivier, Mattei Ugo, editors. Routledge handbook of food as a commons. Oxon: Routledge; 2018. p. 85-100. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315161495-6
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Timmermann Cristian, Félix Georges F., Tittonell Pablo. Food sovereignty and consumer sovereignty: two antagonistic goals?. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 2018;42(3):274-298. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2017.1359807
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Félix Georges F., Diedhiou Ibrahima, Le Garff Marie, Timmermann Cristian, Clermont-Dauphin Cathy, Cournac Laurent, Groot Jeroen C.J., Tittonell Pablo. Use and management of biodiversity by smallholder farmers in semi-arid West Africa. Global Food Security 2018;18:76-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2018.08.005
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2017
Timmermann Cristian. Contributive justice: an exploration of a wider provision of meaningful work. Social Justice Research 2017;31(1):85-111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-017-0293-2
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Timmermann Cristian. Embracing the nature of complex interactions: climate change and human survival - Anthony McMichael with Alistair Woodward and Cameron Muir: Climate change and the health of nations: famines, fevers, and the fate of populations. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017, 392pp, £29.99 HB. Metascience 2017;27(1):155-157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11016-017-0273-z
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Timmermann Cristian. Harvesting the uncollected fruits of other people’s intellectual labour. Acta bioethica 2017;23(2):259-269. https://doi.org/10.4067/s1726-569x2017000200259
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Timmermann Cristian. Language impairment and legal literacy: is a degree of perfectionism unavoidable?. AJOB Neuroscience 2017;8(1):43-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/21507740.2017.1285829
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Timmermann Cristian. Registro de variedades según el modelo de creative commons. La Jornada Ecológica 2017;212:18-19.
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Timmermann Cristian. The precautionary principle and the social institution of blood donation. The American Journal of Bioethics 2017;17(3):52-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2016.1274801
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2016
Timmermann Cristian, Robaey Zoë. Agrobiodiversity under different property regimes. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 2016;29(2):285-303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-016-9602-2
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Timmermann Cristian, Robaey Zoe. Agrobiodiversität, das Gemeinschaftserbe-Prinzip und Marktanreize. In: Brandl Barbara, Schleissing Stephan, editors. Biopatente: Saatgut als Ware und als öffentliches Gut. Baden-Baden: Nomos; 2016. p. 109-132. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845275246-108
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Timmermann Cristian, Félix Georges F.. Food sovereignty and the Global South. In: Kaplan David M., editor. Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics. Dordrecht: Springer; 2016. p. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6167-4_524-1
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2015
Timmermann Cristian, Félix Georges F.. Adapting food production to climate change: an inclusive approach. In: Di Paola M., Kamal D., editors. Climate Change and Human Rights: The 2015 Paris Conference and the Task of Protecting People on a Warming Planet. Durham: Global Policy; 2015.
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Timmermann Cristian. Addressing a duty to preserve biodiversity, not genetic integrity. Ethics, Policy and Environment 2015;18(3):262-264. https://doi.org/10.1080/21550085.2015.1111624
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Timmermann Cristian, Félix Georges F.. Agroecology as a vehicle for contributive justice. Agriculture and Human Values 2015;32(3):523-538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-014-9581-8
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Timmermann Cristian. Pesticides and the patent bargain. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 2015;28(1):1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-014-9515-x
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2014
Timmermann Cristian. An assessment of prominent proposals to amend intellectual property regimes using a human rights framework. La Propiedad Inmaterial 2014;18:221-253.
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Timmermann Cristian. Limiting and facilitating access to innovations in medicine and agriculture: a brief exposition of the ethical arguments. Life Sciences, Society and Policy 2014;10(1):8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40504-014-0008-5
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2013
Félix Georges F., Timmermann Cristian. Agro-ecology: beyond food. Farming Matters 2013;29(4):30-31.
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Timmermann Cristian, van den Belt Henk. Intellectual property and global health: from corporate social responsibility to the access to knowledge movement. Liverpool Law Review 2013;34(1):47-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-013-9129-9
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Timmermann Cristian. Justifying pro-poor innovation in the life sciences: a brief overview of the ethical landscape. In: Röcklinsberg Helena, Sandin Per, editors. The ethics of consumption: the citizen, the market and the law. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2013. p. 341-346. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-784-4_54
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Timmermann Cristian. Life sciences, intellectual property regimes and global justice. Wangeningen: Wangeningen University; 2013.
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Dissertation Wageningen University, 2013
Timmermann Cristian. Sharing in or benefiting from scientific advancement?. Science and Engineering Ethics 2013;20(1):111-133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-013-9438-3
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Félix Georges F., Timmermann Cristian. 生态农业:超越粮食生产. 可持续农业 [LEISA China] 2013;6(4):18-19.
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2012
Timmermann Cristian, van den Belt H.. Climate change, intellectual property rights and global justice. In: Potthast Thomas, Meisch Simon, editors. Climate change and sustainable development: ethical perspectives on land use and food production. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2012. p. 75-79. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-753-0_9
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Timmermann Cristian, van den Belt Henk. Global justice considerations for a proposed "Climate Impact Fund". Public Reason  2012;4(1-2):182-196.
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Korthals Michiel, Timmermann Cristian. Reflections on the International Networking Conference “Ethical and social aspects of intellectual property rights – agrifood and health” held in Brussels, September 2011. Synesis 2012;3:G66-73.
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Timmermann Cristian. The Health Impact Fund and the right to participate in the advancement of science. European Journal of Applied Ethics 2012;1(1).
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2010
Timmermann Cristian, van den Belt H., Korthals M.. Climate-ready GM crops, intellectual property and global justice. In: Romeo Casabona C. M., San Epifanio L. E., Cirion A. E., editors. Global food security: ethical and legal challenges. Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2010. p. 153-158.
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