What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
I have been thoroughly enjoying almost every course I have taken in my Master's, as well as my internship/thesis. Of course, hands-on courses with a practical focus are always great and very important in Ecology, but to my slight surprise I also really liked the ones with a more philosophical approach. They did challenge my previous opinions in many cases and made me think differently about science in some ways.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere in the Ecology department is super relaxed and the teachers and researchers are very motivated to pass on their knowledge to the students. In the classrooms there is also always room for debates and generally people are very active.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
In some cases it wasn't possible to take all the courses I wanted since they were all offered in the same time slots which derailed my planning for a bit. Besides that, it can be challenging to find an internship and it's important to start that process early.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
In my thesis I was studying microbial communities in Arctic lakes associated with methane cycling. We were hoping to shed more light on the processes there to ultimately improve future predictions of methane emissions from the Arctic which will become ever-more resilient under climate change.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
Especially in the current political and social climate, to me it's very important that there are people out there fighting for nature and spreading knowledge on how to protect it from the threats it's facing.