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

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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 mcl.msc@wur.nl

Study advisers: ▪ Annemarie Hage – annemarie.hage@wur.nl

▪ 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 Aktief.Slip@wur.nl

Student Coach – Bart van Valenberg studentcoachmcl@wur.nl

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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 Valenbergstudentcoachmcl@wur.nl

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