Christian - specialisation The Physical Climate System

Study programme

If you are interested in studying the MSc Climate Studies at Wageningen University, then allow me to share my impression. The increasing complexity of models demands for users and developers with multi-disciplinary backgrounds, ranging from geo- and bio- to computer sciences. MSc Climate Studies offers the student to explore and integrate very distinct areas of research related to global change. My motivation to study Climate Studies was to obtain integrative knowledge in geo- and bio-sciences with applicability in nature conservation.

Thesis

I wrote my MSc thesis in Meteorology on quantifying actual evapotranspiration of a Bolivian river basin using satellite data. The methodology allows for the quantification of hydrological services provided by natural ecosystems. At the time of writing, I am employed by a Bolivian NGO for nature conservation running and validating a regional climate model for Bolivia. The research explores likely climate change scenarios for Bolivia and their possible impacts on vegetation dynamics. Having completed the MSc Climate Studies programme, I feel sufficiently prepared for this task. The program is not intended to make you an expert on all subjects. MSc Climate Studies at Wageningen University teaches you the necessary scientific basis allowing you to work in different disciplines simultaneously. If you wish to obtain broad background knowledge in geo- and biosciences and don’t mind saying “I’m an Earth System Scientist” (which always leaves a question mark in the face of the one who is asking) then join MSc Climate Studies at Wageningen University.