Despite having worked with Arren for less than four months, I can safely say this has been the most rewarding academic experience I have undertaken. A mind as eccentric as brilliant, Arren managed to build a thriving research group, driven by what I immediately recognised as a unique spirit of meritocracy. If you showed effort and dedication to Science, he would meet, discuss and work with you, regardless of whether you were an experienced scientist or, like me, just an undergraduate student. From the very beginning of my internship, I was deeply fascinated by Arren’s knowledge and approach to Synthetic Biology. His systems-level, rational thinking radically changed my vision of the subject and was decisive in orienting my future goals as a Bioengineer. I could not be more grateful to him for this, and feel honoured to have met him. Arren left us too early to see his vision of the world become a reality, but his ideas have not left. Loud and ambitious, as he was, they resonate into everyone who had the amazing opportunity to work with him. In the future, I will commit my abilities to spread, contribute, and help give life to these ideas. Thanks Arren. Marco