Environment and Resource Management
Why study at VU University Amsterdam
ERM: understanding the causes of environmental change and helping to solve environmental problems
In this programme, environmental problems are often discussed from the perspective of environmental economics and governance, i.e. in terms of how to manage the competition for scarce resources and space. Theoretical concepts and analytical tools are applied to practical cases.
Current MSc thesis research topics:
- Climate change: Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Eastern Botswana.
- Energy market: An energy analysis of ethanol from sugar cane.
- Biodiversity: Compatibility of Norway’s environmental and whaling policy.
- Tourism: An analysis of the self-sufficiency of ecotourism projects in the Lake Naivasha area, Kenya.
- Water pollution: Environmental risks of microplastics in the North Sea.
Focus: environmental management
"This programme aims at providing a problem oriented approach to scientific research. It combines approaches and theories from different disciplines (economics, politics, biology, policy and law) at local through to global levels of environmental governance. ERM includes the possibility to specialise in specific issue areas (e.g. energy, climate & water policy, and ecosystem services & biodiversity) and concludes with a master's thesis in the area of the student's own choice. Furthermore, the exposure to living in Amsterdam, studying in a research institute with high profile research scientists, and meeting students from different parts of the world provides a cosmopolitan and academic experience -- one that students are not likely to forget".
Prof. Joyeeta Gupta, Director of the Masters Programme on Environment and Resource Management
Research Institute of Environmental Studies
The Master’s programme in Environment and Resource Management is organized by the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), which is considered to be one of Europe’s leading research institutes in environmental sciences. Its research projects include adaptation to climate change in the Netherlands and in developing countries, greening the gross domestic product, funding environmental services to farmers, and the use of civil juries to facilitate public participation in water management.
The aim of IVM is to build a critical mass in key disciplines and research themes by training well-rounded, independent and entrepreneurial researchers with a passion for combining scientific and excellence with societal engagement.
Research projects
Research publication
News and events
Accreditation
Environment and Resource Management is accredited by the NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders. This ensures the high quality of the Master's programme. More information: NVAO
Open and pleasant atmosphere
Staff members of the Institute for Environmental Studies are always available to provide support and guidance, and students experience the atmosphere as open and pleasant. The programme is taught in a modern academic environment.
