“When I attended my first IES seminar I was an undergraduate student of literature who had no more than a vague curiosity about the principles of liberalism. I knew little or nothing about what makes laws consistent with rights, or how to distinguish sound economics from persuasive jargon. Ten years later, I cannot think of any other intellectual experience as eye opening and intellectually challenging as those two IES summer seminars I took part in. They allowed me to meet top scholars from several countries, learn more than I ever thought possible in one single week and make new great friends with whom I am still in touch. IES seminars affected my intellectual interests and career decisions in such a decisive way that it is hard to acknowledge in a few lines. And yes, they were great fun too!”