How do the U.S. Constitution and its Courts shape the environment in which American business and science operate?
In honor of America's 250th anniversary, the Rutgers Master of Business and Science degree program will host a three-part lecture series entitled The Constitution and the Courts: 250 Years of Law Shaping American Science and Business, led by MBS instructor Ronald J. Levine.
The lecture series will explore how the United States Constitution and federal courts have shaped American commerce, science, and innovation—and how principles written more than two centuries ago are confronting the technologies of tomorrow. The series will take learning beyond the classroom with a visit to a federal courthouse and an opportunity to hear directly from a sitting federal magistrate judge and a former magistrate judge.
“The central message is that the Constitution isn't a civics abstraction,” said Levine. “It's the system that makes American business and scientific innovation possible.”
Ronald J. Levine, an attorney, is a senior litigation attorney with the Herrick, Feinstein LLP law firm, with offices in New York and Newark, where he has served as General Counsel and co-chair of the Litigation Department. A Harvard Law graduate with over four decades of experience in complex commercial litigation, he concentrates in class action defense, product liability and crisis management. At MBS, he is a co-instructor for the “Current Regulation Standards for Foods” and “Special Topics: Alcoholic Beverage Regulation: Wine, Beer and Spirits” courses.
The Legal Side of Innovation
The Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree educates students at the intersection of science and business, where law and regulation frequently determine how innovation moves from an idea to the marketplace.
“Innovation doesn't happen in a vacuum,” said Levine. “A scientist who develops a breakthrough drug still has to navigate the FDA. A startup that raises capital still operates under Federal securities rules. A researcher whose data is subpoenaed has Fourth and Fifth Amendment protections that matter enormously.”
For MBS students, the practical implication is that they will almost certainly encounter government agencies, regulations, and courts in their careers. Below are just a few examples of courses where MBS students study how law, regulation, ethics, and policy influence the path from discovery to application:
- Ethics for Science and Technology Management: Covers ethical issues in STEM organizations, including corporate responsibility, whistleblowing, and federal guidelines.
- Fundamentals of Intellectual Property: Examines patents, copyrights, trademarks, licensing, technology transfer, and commercialization strategy. This course includes an annual trip to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia, for a day of lectures and networking with USPTO officials.
- Science and Technology Management Capstone: Applies business, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property concepts to real-world technology innovation.
- Introduction to Toxicology and Safety Science for Regulatory Professionals: Introduces toxicology, risk assessment, safety testing, regulatory submissions, and compliance in life sciences industries. This course is part of our new Regulatory Science concentration, which prepares students for careers in the fast-growing regulatory affairs sector in the pharmaceutical, food, and consumer products industries.
“The Constitution is not a bureaucratic disadvantage,” said Levine. “It is one of the great competitive advantages of operating in the American system. The Constitution provides confidence, confidence leads to investment, and investment equals innovation.”
A Look Inside the Lecture Series
To enjoy this series, no prior legal training is required. However, students are encouraged to review the U.S. Constitution and its amendments in advance of the first lecture.
Part 1: The Constitution as a Business and Science Document
September 23 at 5:30 pm | Labor Education Center and Zoom
This session sets the stage for understanding the U.S. Constitution as both a political framework and an economic reform project. Explore how the commercial failures of the Articles of Confederation—including state tariffs, unstable currency, and dishonored contracts—helped drive the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and shaped provisions designed to create a unified national market.
Part 2: The Courts and Commerce: A visit to the Federal Bench (Registration Required)
October 1 at 4:00 pm | US District Court for the District of New Jersey
“We will have the unique opportunity to visit a U.S. Court and hear from Federal Judges,” said Levine. “Anyone following current events knows the critical role our Courts play in upholding our Constitution.”
In this installment, students visit a real federal courtroom at the Federal Courthouse in Newark for a firsthand look at the role of the judiciary in American economic life. Two federal judges will share remarks on how the federal courts shape commercial activity, bringing course concepts into a real-world setting.
This courthouse visit is a valuable opportunity for experiential learning. Students will engage directly with the institutions and professionals shaping science, business, and innovation. We thank Federal Judge Hon. Leda Dunn Wettre for welcoming students into the Judge’s courtroom.
America at 250: A 3 Part Lecture Series | Part 3: The Next 250 Years
November 17 at 5:30 pm | Labor Education Center and Zoom
Looking ahead to the Constitution’s next 250 years, this session explores how enduring constitutional principles may apply to emerging challenges in AI governance, data privacy, and digital commerce.
This session will also feature Jennifer Finnegan, Managing Director on the Loss Prevention team of the Professional Services Practice at Aon in North America. She brings over two decades of experience in complex commercial litigation, product liability, and legal professional ethics.
“The U.S. Constitution is the oldest active written national constitution in the world,” said Levine. “I am looking forward to exploring some of the many ways it is so special and important in all of our careers and lives.“
For the MBS community, the America at 250 lecture series is an invitation to look ahead with confidence. We hope that you will join us to understand the legal, ethical, and institutional environments that help innovation flourish.