MVRDV co-founder Winy Maas has been selected as the curator for the Strelka Institute’s 2014-2015 academic year. Maas also lectures and teaches all over the world, most recently serving as a visiting professor of architectural design at the ETH and as a professor of architecture and urban design at Delft University of Technology.

This academic year the Strelka Institute will be implementing a new approach where instead of selecting one theme to focus on for the year, they will select 10 fundamental questions about life in the future and the larger issues affecting both Russia and the word. As the curator for the academic year, Maas will help formulate these 10 questions.

Located in Moscow, the Strelka Institute is a non-governmental research institute that uses multidisciplinary techniques from fields as varied as sociology, economics, architecture, political and cultural studies. July 26 is the last day to apply for free study at the Strelka Institute, with each successful candidate receiving a monthly scholarship to focus on their studies. You can apply via the Strelka Institute’s website.