Quantitative Environmental Science

The specialized Master in Quantitative Environmental Sciences aims at providing a conceptual framework to understand the response of natural communities to anthropogenic influences in a time of major change. The program builds upon the basics of natural science – ecology, biology, and earth sciences – in the context of today’s environmental challenges. These challenges are complex and require novel approaches. As a consequence, the program has a strong interdisciplinary and quantitative dimension, which serves to present new directions in this field. The global problems of climate change, landscape fragmentation, and biological invasions are leading to a rapid loss of biodiversity. Indeed, we have now entered the Anthropocene, where human activities have begun to leave an indelible mark on the Biosphere. To be an environmental scientist, it is necessary to gain a broad understanding of natural systems. This understanding originates from a diverse range of approximations such as observation, experiments, synthesis, and theory. Observations can be made through direct fieldwork, but also through remote sensing and long-term data collection. The courses within this Master are designed to provide students with the cutting-edge conceptual tools to better understand the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, its multiple services, and its erosion due to global environmental change.