msc climate studies 20200430 - wur...2020/04/30 · msc climate studies: character international...
TRANSCRIPT
MSc Climate Studies Earth, Life, and SocietyMarjo Lexmond - Programme Director
Saskia van Bavel - Study Adviser Annemarie Hage - Study Adviser
30 April 2020
Dearvisitor,welcometoourprogrammepresentationfortheOpenDay2020!
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Today’s programme
MCL-programme
▪ Character
▪ Programme outline
▪ Job opportunities
▪ Admission
Students experiences by:
Bart van Valenberg (2nd year MCL student)
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MSc Climate Studies: Character
Combines the knowledge and expertise of three domains:
▪ earth sciences
▪ life sciences
▪ social sciences
ClimateStudies
TheClimateStudiesprogrammeconsistsoftheabovesciences.Theyareallrelevantandoverlapeachother.
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MSc Climate Studies: Character
earth life
society
radiationwindrainfallsnow/iceoceans
biotaagriculturesoilwater
industriescitiestransportpoliticsmarketscommunication
ClimateStudiescombinestheknowledgeandexpertiseofearthsciences(e.g.atmosphericdynamcis,meteorolgy,hydrology),lifesciences(e.g.ecology,carboncycle,cropssystems)andsocialsciences(e.g.policy,governance,economics)
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MSc Climate Studies: Character
Natural scienceexpertise
Social science expertise
Climate change(global change)
Combination of broad scope and expert
knowledge
▪ Education by top experts▪ Comprehensive▪ Choose from 5
specialisations▪ 12-18 credits free choice
Climatestudiesisaninterdisciplinaryprogramme,becausebothnaturalandsocialcausesexplainclimatechangeinaglobalcontext.Apartfromaspecializationyouarealsotaughttohaveabroadviewonthisissue.
Apartfromeducationourlecturersareinvolvedinresearch.Theycanusetheirexperiencesandresearchinclass.
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MSc Climate Studies: Character
International orientation
▪Academic partner of Climate-KIC
▪ Internship and/or thesis research abroad (extended network, even more now the global CCAFS office moved to Wageningen)
▪Students from all over the world
Nationality MCL
graduates 2010-2016
5%
7%
8%
22% 58%
DutchEuropean, non-DutchAsianAfricanLatin AmericanNorth American
MasterClimateStudieshasaninternationalcharacter.MCLstudentscanopttojointheClimate-KICmasterlabelprogramme,meantforstudentswhoareentrepreneurialorwanttodiscoverwhethertheyare.Tolearnhowtoapplytheknowledgethattheygaintosocietyandalsomakemoneyoutofthisandwiththisbecomeasustainableentrepreneur.
InternshipsandthesisarebothpartoftheprogrammeandcanbecarriedoutintheNetherlands/Wageningenbutalsoabroad.Thereisanextendednetworkforthis,supportedbytheCCAFSofficewhichorganisesallkindofactivitiesbasedonclimatesciences.
Wehavestudentsfromallovertheworld.ThemajorityofstudentsisDutch,butthereisavastvarietyofnationalities,whichisimportantbecauseclimateissuesareglobalissuesandthereforeweneedtheperspectivesfromtheothercountries.
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MSc Climate Studies: Character
Hot issues for a better world
▪Global warming: What do we know? Global mean land-ocean temperature index
Wedonotknowmuchaboutclimatechangeyet,butwedoknowtemperatureisrising.Thisfigureshowsthelineplotofglobalaverageland-oceantemperatureindex,1880topresent,withthebaseperiod1951-1980.Thedottedblacklineistheannualmeanandthesolidredlineisthefive-yearmean.Thebluebarsshowuncertaintyestimates.Wecanseetemperatureisrisingandthatthiscoincidingwithindustrialisation.Thesearemeasurements(facts)andnobodycandoubtthem.
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MSc Climate Studies: Character
Hot issues for a better world
▪Global warming: causes
Industry,traffic(cars&aviation)andnaturaldisasters(leadingtoeruptionofaerosols)influenceourclimate
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MSc Climate Studies: Character
Hot issues for a better world
▪Global warming: causes and effects 1978
1996
Wecanvisualisemanyeffectsofclimatechange.Abigimpactisshownonourtundra'swheretheiceismelting(leftpicture).Furthermorethepermanentlyfrozensoilismeltinganddisappearingbyerosionandduetothissinkholesarising.Consequentlythecaptivatedmethaneisbeingreleased.
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MSc Climate Studies: Character
Hot issues for a better world
▪Global warming: causes and effects ▪ Extreme weather events: hurricanes, floods, droughts
Otherissuesare,amongothers,theextremeweathereventscausedbythechangingclimate.Thisisaffectingalotofareasintheworldwheretheyalreadythreatenhumanityandthelivingenvironment.
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MSc Climate Studies: Character
Hot issues for a better world
▪Global warming: causes and effects ▪ Extreme weather events: hurricanes, floods, droughts ▪ Interface between science and politics
Thecharacterisnotonlyaboutthesciencebutalsoabouttheinterfacebetweenthescienceandthepoliticsbecauseweneedtohelpsocietytomakesomechanges
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What do we understand?
Allkindofnaturalprocessesarelinkedandhavesomesideeffectsthatwemaynotencounter.Thereisacirculationofeffectsthatononehandcanleadtowarmingupandontheotherhandleadtocoolingdown.Wedonotyetunderstandalltheeffects.Intheabovepictureyoucanseeouractuallevelofunderstandingofthedifferentprocessesgoingon.
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Field research needed
Togetaclearerviewweneedtodomoreresearch.Notonlyinthelabandbyusingmodels,butalsointhefield.Welinktheresultstowhatishappeninginthearea.
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Summarizing character
▪Combining natural and social science
▪Work with top climate experts
▪ International orientation
▪Hot issues for a better world
▪Many issues not yet understood; a lot to discover!
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MSc Climate Studies: Programme
▪2-Year training programme (120 European Credit points) leading to the degree of Master of Science in Climate Studies
▪Imparting advanced scientific knowledge, insight and skills in such a way that the graduate Master is:
- capable of starting a professional career requiring independent scientific performance
- well equipped to continue academic training in a PhD programme
Our2-yearprogrammeisdesignedtoequipyouforaprofessionalcareeroracontinuationtheacademictraining.Theprogrammeistailormade.Youcandesigntheprogramme,basedonyourpreviouwknowledgeandinterests.WageningenUniversityisknownforitsproblemsolvingskills.Ourstudentsdonotjustlearnhowtoanalysebutalsohowtocometosolutions.
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MSc Climate Studies: Programme
▪Advanced academic training, emphasizing the development of a critical attitude and analytical and problem-solving skills
▪Advanced knowledge of ● the most important geophysical and
biogeochemical processes involved in climate change (the mechanisms); ● the socio-economic aspects of causes and effects; ● adaptation (adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or
changing environment) and mitigation (actions to limit the magnitude or rate of long-term climate change) as the main categories of societal response.
OnonehandinClimateStudieswewantyoutospecialize.TheprogrammehasfivespecializationsrangingfromthePhysicalClimateSystemtothespecializationClimate,SocietyandEconomics.Withinthesespecializationswehavemultiplethesistracks.So,youcanspecializeverywell.However,ontheotherhand,climatestudiesisaninterdisciplinaryprogramme.Wewantyoutohaveknowledgefrombothsocialandnaturalsciences.Forexample,ifyouwanttospecializeinmeteorologyorecologicalsystems,relatedtoclimatechange,thatiswellpossible.Nevertheless,wewantyoutohavebasicknowledgeofclimatepolicyandeconomicstoknowwhatmovespeopletoinfluenceclimatechange.Andtheotherwayaround,ifyouwanttospecializeinclimatepolicy,wewantyoutohaveabasicknowledgeaboutearthandecosystemstohaveaclueaboutthecausesofclimatechange.Webelievethatthiswayyouarepreparedforjobs,inwhichyouoftenmustcommunicatewithstakeholders,colleagues,policymakersetcetera.
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MSc Climate Studies: Programme
▪Multidisciplinary education with a problem-driven and problem-oriented character ● Human dimensions of climate change ● Interaction between biological, chemical, physical and
socio-economic processes
▪Focussing on both knowledge transfer and application of the acquired knowledge
▪Thesis-oriented and individually tailored
▪Students learn to function well in a multicultural environment
Wedowantstudentsnotonlytobeequippedwiththeknowledgebutalsotobeabletodosomethingwiththis:implementit,comeupwithsolutions,applyinresearch.Thisistrainedinclassroom,practicalsandduringthethesisandinternship.Thesiswillcover6monthofyourstudy,tailoredtoyourowndesign.Addressingclimaterelatedissuesrequirestheskilltorelatetoothers,sincethisisaglobalproblem.Theseskillswillbeworkeduponaswellduringtheprogramme
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MSc Climate Studies: Programme
General programme structure
▪Year 1: Coursework ● Compulsory courses – depending on preparatory training ● Restrictive optional courses – depending on specialisation
and thesis subject ● 12 credit points devoted to academic skills development
in a multidisciplinary context ● Elective (optional) courses – 12 to 18 credit points
▪Year 2: Academic internship (24 credit points) and major thesis (36 credit points)
Total 120 credit points
Thefirstyearcontainsthecourses.Compulsorycourses,restrictiveoptionalcourses(dependingonspecialisationandalsoonthethesiswhichyouwanttodo)andalsoelectivecourses.Theacademicinternshipmeansapracticalexperienceoutsidetheuniversity(oftenabroad).Thethesisisoftencarriedoutwithintheuniversityoraresearchinstitute
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MSc Climate Studies: Programme
Five specialisations:
1. The Physical Climate Systems
2. Biogeochemical Cycles
3. Human-Environmental Interactions
4. Ecological and Agroecological Systems
5. Climate, Society and Economics
TheprogrammehasfivespecializationsrangingfromthePhysicalClimateSystemtothespecializationClimate,SocietyandEconomics.Withinthesespecializationswehavemultiplethesistracks.
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MSc Climate Studies: Programme Coherence between & position of specialisations
Earth Life
SocietyClimate,
Society and Economics
E
The Physical Climate System
A
Human-Environment Interactions
D
(Agro-) Ecological Systems
C
Biogeochemical Cycles
B
WecanlookatthesespecialisationsinperspectiveoftheEarth,LifeandSocietycircles,whichtogetherformtheClimatestudiesProgrammeasshowninthebeginningofthispresentation
Physicalclimatesystemismainlyintheearthsciencespart.Biochemicalcyclesismostlyintheearthpartbutalsolinkedtothelifesciencepart.Agro-ecologicalsystemshasastrongelementoflifesciencesinit.Human-environmentInteractionsisthecoreoftheprogrammeandlinkedinallofthemtogether.AndClimate,societyandeconomicsismainlyinthesocietypart.
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MCL – thesis tracks
▪Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry ▪Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management ▪Meteorology ▪Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality ▪Soil Biology ▪Water Systems and Global Change ▪ Environmental Systems Analysis ▪Crop and Weed Ecology ▪ Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation ▪ Environmental Economics and Natural Resources ▪ Environmental Policy
Viathedifferentspecialisations,11thesistracksareoffered.Thisisaveryimportantpartforstudentstodecide.(Someofthetracksareofferedinmorethan1specialisation)
ThethesistrackAirQualityandAtmosphericChemistry,thethesistrackHydrologyandthethesistrackQuantitativeWaterManagement&MeteorologyarepartofthephysicalClimateSystemspecialisation.
ThethesistrackSoilChemistryandChemicalSoilQuality,thethesistrackSoilBiologyandthethesistrackWaterSystems&GlobalChangearepartoftheBiogeochemicalCyclesspecialisation.
TheHuman–EnvironmentspecialisationisformedbythethesistrackWaterSystemsandthethesistrackGlobalChange,EnvironmentalSystemsAnalysis.
ThethesistrackSoilChemistryandChemicalSoilQuality,thethesistrackSoilBiology,Crop&WeedEcologyandthethesistrackPlantEcology&NatureConservationtogetherformthebasisoftheAgro-ecologicalsystemsspecialisation.
EnvironmentalEconomics&NaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalPolicyarerelatedtotheClimate,SocietyandEconomicsspecialisation.
Youdon’thavetochooseyourthesistrackatthebeginningofyourstudies,althoughyoualreadymighthaveanidea.Inthe3rdweekafterthestartofthestudies,therewillbeathesisinformationevening,wherethechairgroupsexplainwhatstudentscanexpectwhentheychoosetheirtrack.Thismighthelpyoutoclarifythepossibilitiesandmakingachoice.
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MSc Climate Studies: Programme
Core curriculum 30 ecIntroduction to Climate Change in a Global Change Context
6
Principles of Earth and Ecosystem Science or Principles of Climate Change Economics and Policy
6
Biogeochemical Cycles and Climate Change Mitigation or Climate Governance
6
Design of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies or Academic Consultancy Training & Modular Skills Training
12
Allstudentshavetotakethecourse‘IntroductiontoClimateChangeinaglobalchangecontent”DependingonyourbackgroundyouhavetotakeeitheroneofthetwoPrinciplescourses.IfyouhaveasocialbackgroundthePrinciplesofEarthandEcosystemSciencecourseiscompulsory,whereasthePrinciplesofClimateChangeEconomicsandPolicyisforstudentswithanaturalscience/biologybackground.
Thisisbecausewewantallstudentstobeabletolinktotheotherandspeakeachotherslanguage.Thiswayyouallwillbeabletoworktogetherinaglobalcontext.AllstudentshavetotakeoneofthecoursesBiochemicalCycles&ClimateChangeMitigationorClimateGovernance.Dependingonyourspecializationoneortheotheriscompulsory
AllprogrammesdohavetheAcademicMasterClustercourse.ForClimateStudiesthe‘DesignofClimateChangeMitigationandadaptationisdesigned.NeverthelessyoucanalsochoosethemoregeneralAcademicConsultancyTrainingandModularSkillsTraining
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MSc Climate Studies: Programme
Elective (optional) courses (12-18 credit points)
▪Restrictive optional courses from other thesis tracks in the Climate Studies programme
▪Courses at MSc level offered by Wageningen University or by another university in The Netherlands or abroad (subject to approval by study adviser and Examining Board)
CoursesthatyoucanchooseaselectivecoursesarethecoursesfromtheotherspecialisationsandalsofromtheotherprogrammesinWageningenaslongasyouwillendupwithacoherentprogrammewithasufficientmasterlevelandyourprogrammeisapprovedbystudyadvisorandExaminingboard
Some examples of a MSc Climate Studies programme
▪And how to ‘read’ them?
▪Check the MCL website for all schedules
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AnexampleforthespecialisationPhysicalClimateSystem.Notallthe"green"coursesareobligatory.Youcanreplacepartofthesecoursesbyelectivecourses,dependingonyourthesistrack.
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ThisiswhatyourprogrammecouldlooklikeifyouchoseHuman-EnvironmentInteractionspecialisation
First job of Climate Studies graduates by market sector
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Based on 2003-2016
Read alumni and student stories on the mcl website
Fabian–TraineeshipDutchNationalThinkTank
Lena–PhDcandidateWageningenUniversity
ManyoftheClimateStudiesstudentschosetodostarttheircareerinresearch(institutes,companies,PhDetc.)butitisalsopossibletofindajobinavarietyofotherareasandallovertheworld.
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Unconditional admission
WU BSc degree: ● Soil, Water, Atmosphere (BSW) ● Forest and Nature Conservation (BBN) ● International Land and Water Management (BIL) ● Landscape Architecture and Planning (BLP) ● Environmental Sciences (BES)
MSc Climate Studies: Admission
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MSc Climate Studies: Admission Conditional admission – all others like
▪WU BSc degree Biology (BBI), Economics and Governance (BEB), International Development Studies (BIN), Plant Sciences (BPW)
▪WO B degree: Biology (Ecology), Earth Sciences, Economics, Natural and Social Sciences of the Environment, Human Geography and Planning, Future Planet Studies, ...
▪ Universities of Applied Science (HBO): Aquatic ecotechnology, Forest and Nature Conservation, Coastal and Marine Management, Land- and Water Management, Environmental Sciences, Spatial Planning and Design, Applied Biology
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MSc Climate Studies: Admission General admission requirements:
▪Grade Point Average (GPA) of 70% or higher
▪ Fluency in English
▪Working knowledge of calculus and statistics
▪Computer skills
▪Motivation
Admission Board looks at deficiencies Admission Board is advised by study adviser
Crucial question “Is the applicant expected to be capable of completing the programme within 2 years?”
Youcanalreadyaskforpermissionnow,justtofindoutwhetheryouareadmissible.Youwillgetananswerusuallyaftertwoweeks.
BSc Minor Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Society (WUCLC) / BSc
▪ Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Society (CS) - 1MO
▪ Adaptation to Climate Change (CS) - 3WD
Choose 2 courses, consult the minor coordinator
▪ Principles of Climate Change Economics and Policy - 1AF
▪ Principles of Earth and Ecosystem Science - 1AF
▪ Introduction to Environmental Systems Analysis - 2AF
▪ System Earth: Climate and Global Change - 2AF
▪ Sustainability Transitions: Concepts, Issues and Indicators - 2MO
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IfyourbackgroundisnotreallyyoucanchoosetodothisBScminor,withtwocompulsorycoursesandchoosingtwocoursesdependingonyourbackground.Thiswillnotguaranteeanadmissionbutcouldcertainlyhelp,especiallywhenthegradesarehigh.
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Questions and more information
Programme: ▪ www.wur.eu/mcl or e-mail [email protected]
Study advisers: ▪ Annemarie Hage – [email protected]
▪ Saskia van Bavel saskia.vanbavel@ wur.nl
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More information
Wageningen University & Research www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/master.htm
Possibilities to be a student for a day Join a master student during a regular study day www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/master/Registration-Student-for-day.htm
Study Association Aktief Slip: www.aktiefslip.nl or e-mail [email protected]
Student Coach – Bart van Valenberg [email protected]
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Students experiences
Bart van Valenberg
…from Eindhoven to Wageningen
30 April 2020, Bart van Valenberg
Study Journey…
CONTENT
▪My journey – experiences, tips & tricks.
● How did I make my decision for MCL? ● How do I like it so far?
▪Warning! It is about how I made this decision, it might not fit your personality and/or situation.
IwilltellyoumypersonalstoryhowIcamehereandwhatchoicesIhavemade.
Eindhoven to Wageningen
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MyprofessionalstudystartedintheDutchcityEindhovenwithMBO(secondaryvocationaleducation)clinicalchemicallaboratoryanalyst.SinceIwaslookingformorechallengeandjobgrowthopportunities,Icontinuedstudying.ItwasherewhenIswitchedandbecameinterestedintheenvironmentalstatusandstartedmyHBO(bachelor)EnvironmentalScienceatHASUniversityofAppliedSciencesin‘s-Hertogenbosch.HereIlearnedaboutthemanyenvironmentalissueswefaceinthismodern-daysocietyanddevelopedwaystocopeormitigatetheseissuesbyapplyingscientificknowledge.Nevertheless,Imissedthebroaderunderstandingofclimatechangeandthecomplexityofitseffectsinoursociety.ThiswasmymaindrivertostarttheMasterClimateStudieshereatWageningenUniversity.Additionally,aftermyHBO,IstilldidnotknowwhatjobIwantednorIwasreadytostartworking.
BSc./HBO Environmental Sciences
HAS University of Applied Sciences
SOIL / WATER / AIR / ENERGYPOLICY / ECONOMY / SUSTAINABILITY
TECHNOLOGY
AfteradoubtbetweentwoHBOstudies,IdecidedtogoforHBOEnvironmentalScienceattheHASUniversityofAppliedSciences.HereIlearnedaboutthefourspheresofourenvironment:Soil,Water,AirandEnergy.Withapracticalview,thesewereplacedinthesocietalcontextwithpolicy,economy,sustainabilityandtechnologiesforreducingpollutingeffectsoractivities.Climatechangewasalwaysinthebackgroundwhentalkingaboutairpollution.However,anin-depthexplanationonthemechanismsinplaywithclimatechangeandhowitinteractswithallEarth’ssystemswasmissing.HBOwasfocusingoncouplingsciencewithsolutions,whichisstillveryvaluableformeasInoticedthisismissinginuniversities.
MY CRITERIASOCIAL & NATURAL SCIENCE /
INTEGRATED / INTERNATIONAL / TWO YEARS / CLIMATE CHANGE /
IMPACTFUL / EXPAND KNOWLEDGE
So,furtherbuildingmycurriculum,Iwantedtobroadenmyknowledgeontheenvironmentbyaddingclimate(change)knowledge.IwantedtogainabetterunderstandingofhowtheclimateanditschangeworksbutalsoitsinteractionswiththemanysystemsonEarth(soil,water,floraandfaunabutalsosocialsystems).ThisledmetotheMasterClimateStudiesatWageningenUniversityasitcoversboththesocialandnaturalsciencebehindclimatechange.Additionally,ItastedoftheimportanceandfruitfulnessofinternationalexperiencesandviewsduringmyHBOinternshipabroad(seenextslide).WithWageningen’sinternationallyknownreputationandstudentpopulation,thiswasdefinitelyapro.Lastly,withtheknowledgefromthismasterIhopetocombineitwiththeskillslearnedfrommyHBOtorealiseanimpactfulcareer.
Universidade Federal de Viçosa
AnotherprewasthatMCLisveryinternationallyorientedasclimatechangedoesnotstop(likemostenvironmentalissues)atnationalboarders.Withinthismasterthereisthepossibilitytodoaninternshipabroad.Duringmy(mandatory)HBOinternshipabroaditreallyappealedtometoapplymyknowledgeindifferentculturalsettingandlearnedalotbyfacingallthedifferentchallengesthataroseduetotheculturedifference.Followingthismasterwithaninternationalclasswillguaranteesimilarchallengesanddifferencesinviewswhichisveryimportanttorecogniseifwewanttomitigateclimatechange(effects).
ANNUAL INTRO DAYSMEET STUDENTS / UNIVERSITY
/ CITY / ASSOCIATIONS / …
AftertheprocessofselectingmynewmasterstudyIjoinedtheintroductiondays(AID)inWageningen.Thisisagreatopportunitytomeetnewstudents,includingstudentsfromotherprogrammes.Also,yougettoknowtheuniversityandthecityandtheassociationsyoucanbecomeamemberof.Forthesereasons,itisstronglyrecommendedtojoin!TherearetwotypesofAID,oneisforallwhoareintoallthefunandpartyingactivitieswhereyouwillgetanAIDfamilydirectlybondingwithstudentsattheuniversity.TheotherAIDtypeisforthosewholiketotakeitmoreeasy,youcanjointheAIDactivitiesonyourownandavoidstheintenseandspecialstudentpartiesorganisedbythestudentassociations.
IT STARTSMORNING & AFTERNOON (& EVENING)
LECTURES / TUTORIALS / FULL WEEKS / READING /
MORE READING / EVEN MORE READING
Andthenitreallystarts...Inthefirstperiodthereisalotofinformationtodigest.Thewholeweekisfullybookedbylecturesandalotofreading.Idiscovereditisimportanttoactivelyparticipateinthelecturestosucceedthefirstyear.Thereadingisoftenmandatory,however,itmostofthetimeservesasinformationthebetterunderstandtheinformation.IhadahardtimeinthisperiodtogetwellacquaintedwiththewayofstudyingatanuniversityasitwasquitedifferentfrommyHBO.However,overtheyearthisdevelopsquiterapidlyandyouareusedtoitinnotime!
Year 1
Duringthe1styearofClimateStudiesIgainedamuchclearerviewonhowtheworldisdoingonclimateandotherenvironmentalissues,especiallybecauseClimatesStudiesoffersthethreedomainsofLifeSciences,EarthSciencesandSocialSciences.Withinthefirstyearyoualsohavetodecideyourspecialisation(outoffiveintotal).IcouldnotreallychooseaspecialisationbecauseIfoundthemallveryinteresting.Nevertheless,eventuallybyjustselectingthecoursesthatIthoughtweremostinteresting,IrolledintothespecialisationHuman-EnvironmentalInteractions.ToguaranteethatIcouldstartathesiswithinthechairgroupsavailableinthespecialisationIonlyhadtomakesureIfollowedthepre-requistecourses.
PERIOD 1&2 INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL CHANGE /
PRINCIPLES OF CLIMATE CHANGE ECONOMICS & POLICY
AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES & CLIMATE
CHANGE MITIGATION/ INTEGRATED
WATER MANAGEMENT
Thefirstperiodconsistsofcompulsorycourses,ifyouaremorenaturalsciencebackgrounded(likeIam)youareexpectedtofollowthesocialscienceoriented“PrinciplesofClimateChangeEconomics&Policy”.Ifyouaremoresocialsciencebackgrounded,youhavetofollowaprinciplesofnaturalsciencecourse.ThecourseIntroductionofGlobalChangegivesadirectviewofwhatishappeningintheworld.ThecoursePrinciplesofClimatechangeEconomics&Policycontainedalotofreadingwork,neverthelessitwasveryinteresting.BothcoursesnicelybuildforthonmyHBOknowledgeandhelpedmetobetterunderstandtheglobalchallengesandcomplexitiesoftheenvironmentinoursociety.
Inthesecondperiod,thecourseBiogeochemicalcycles&climatechangemitigationwaspersonallymymostfavouritecourseIdid.Itisasemi-compulsorycoursedependingonwhatspecialisationyoufocusonwithinthemaster.Thecourseexplainsalltheenvironmentalsystemsandhowtheyarelinkedwitheachother.Integratedwatermanagementisaveryusefulcourse,unfortunatelyformetherewasalotofoverlapwithmybachelorstudies.
PERIOD 3&4 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR
POLLUTION MANAGEMENT
AND EMPOWERMENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Period3&4areperiodsoffourweeksinwhichyouattendonlyonecourseperperiod.Forperiod3IchoseEnvironmentalAssessmentforPollutionManagement.Areallynicecourse.Itcontainedgroupworkwithaninternationalgroupofstudentsfromdifferentmasters.Welearnedtodesignamodelthatintegratesmultiplepollutionsandlooksathowtheyinteractwitheachother.Inperiod4,sinceIwantedtospecializeinthedirectionofmitigation,ItookthecourseEmpowermentforSustainabilityasafeechoicecourse.Ithandsyoutoolsonhowtoempoweryourselfandteachesyoutolookattheenvironmentalproblemsdifferentlyenablingyoutorecognisethatyouasasinglepersoncanactuallymakeadifference.
PERIOD 5&6 INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT FOR REGIONAL MANAGEMENT / DESIGN
OF CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION & ADAPTATION STRATEGIES (12 WEEK
GROUP PROJECT)
‘PARIS PROOF EXPORT’
AND TEACHING, LEARNING & CAPACITY
BUILDING FOR SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT
Inperiod5IattainedthecourseIntegratedEcosystemAssessmentforRegionalManagement.Withinthiscourseyoulearntoolstoshowhowvaluablenatureisandthatweshouldprotectthis.TheAcademicMasterClustercourse–AcademicConsultancyTraining(ACT):DesignofclimateChangeMitigation&AdaptationStrategiesIattainedinperiod5/6containedaprojectforanNGO.Thisisacourseconsistingofgroupworkonlywhereyouexecuteaprojectforacompanythathasrealinterestintheoutcome.TheACTisacompulsorycourse.Thefreechoicecourseinperiod6thatIchosewas:Teaching,learning&CapacityBuildingforSustainableDevelopment.HereIhadtowriteatrainingmanualdesignedwithanenvironmentalissueinmindtotackle.
Year 2Thesis:
DESIGNING A ZERO-EMISSION ENERGY SYSTEM FOR 2050’s EU-28
+Internship:
?
Aftersuccessfullyfinishingmyfirstyear,IstartedthesecondyeardoingmythesisattheEnvironmentalSystemsAnalysischairgroup.Ispecificallywantedtodoaresearchthesisfocussingmoreonmitigation,soIendedupwiththethesistitle:“Designingazero-emissionenergysystemfor2050EU-28”.ThishasbeenquiteachallengingpuzzleandIreallyenjoyedcombiningthesocialandnaturalscienceaspectsofthethesis.
Choosingyourthesis,youcaneitherpickanavailablethesisresearchofferedbyyourchairgroupor,likeIdid,createyourownthesistopicandresearchandfindamatchingchairgroupandwillingsupervisor.Thethesisisyourmomenttofindoutwhetheryoulikedoingresearchornotanditisaccordingtoresearchersoneofyourfewchancestoresearchsomethingyoufindreallyinteresting.ForthesereasonsIwouldrecommendyoutotryfind/createyourownthesis,whichrequiresabitmorework.
Thesecondhalfofthe2ndyearIplannedfortheinternship.Thecontentandlocationofmyinternshipisyettodefine.ButcurrentlyIamclosetoarrangeaninternshipwithinASNBanktoworkalongwiththedepartmentresponsibleforassessinginvestmentworthycompaniesontheirsustainabilityperformance.
Next to my studies I am studentcoach for MCL students
Bart van [email protected]
Ifyouhaveanyfurtherquestionsaboutthestudy,student-lifeoranythingelserelated,feelfreetocontactme.
What else can you do at this open day?
▪Chat with study advisers and students
▪Check our FAQ’s about application, housing, scholarships, visa, costs, introduction days, Wageningen, student for a day, corona and more
▪ Take a virtual tour with one or more of our students who will show you their life
▪Watch videos with tips for choosing a study programme, about student life and study experiences