Testimonials
I really enjoyed the atmosphere in class, I found plenty of like-minded people, with whom we are still in touch.
- Previous education
- Bachelor's in Regional Studies, Saint Petersburg State University of Economics
- Programme
- Local Environmental Change and Sustainable Cities
- Country of previous education
- Russia
- Study start date
'I like the programme of Environmental Society studies, especially the lectures that have been given to us throughout the courses. I enjoyed listening to the professional experience of the teachers that can be useful in the nearest future. Although I faced challenges, especially when it comes to the level of independency. My previous university was rather supervising, here I feel more freedom, but also responsibility.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere in class, I found plenty of like-minded people, with whom we are still in touch. Teachers were all professionals, nevertheless, they were always able to answer the questions, if I had any.
In this Master's programme, a lot of assignments involve only a brief description, therefore, you mostly have to choose a topic and work on your own, even though the task is not always clear or concrete. Most of them were in groups as well, so sometimes it led to plenty of wasted time to make adjustments considering all the viewpoints.
Currently, I am doing an internship in RU Green Office, I am writing a thesis on how to increase biodiversity on campus. I am really grateful for this opportunity, and my supervisors are really flexible about my schedule and the direction of the research I want to choose.
I believe sustainability is the priority direction for almost all the establishments at this point, therefore, these kinds of specialists are in need right now. I would really like to try to work in this field, maybe I will look for something less theoretical and more practical to implement my knowledge.'
To find effective solutions, it's essential to have individuals who understand how these problems arise and the various factors that contribute to them.
- Previous education
- Environmental Sciences (Policy & Economics) (WUR)
- Programme
- Local Environmental Change and Sustainable Cities
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme and why? How has the programme challenged you in relation to your previous education?
In my Bachelor's degree (Environmental Sciences, specialising in policy and economics), I built a strong foundation in environmental policy. This Master's programme offers the opportunity to delve deeper into policy-related topics. The curriculum presents a great combination of courses that address environmental issues, alongside those that focus on broader challenges faced by governments. Since the programme allows you to choose two elective courses, you have the chance to specialise in the areas that interest you most.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere in the classroom is relaxed. You feel comfortable asking questions, and the teacher is approachable. The students are also very helpful towards one another.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s?
There is one aspect of this Master's programme that I find less ideal, and that’s the way the courses are scheduled. In the first block, it’s fairly light (12 ECTS and one preparatory course for the thesis), while in the second block, the workload suddenly increases significantly (18 ECTS and submitting your thesis proposal). Because the courses take up so much time, it’s almost impossible to focus on writing the proposal. Additionally, the preparatory course for the thesis requires a lot of time (preparing presentations, submitting assignments).
Are you currently doing an internship?
I will be starting an internship at the Province of Overijssel, where they are focused on developing policies to promote the scaling up of organic agriculture. Denmark has been highly successful in this area, so I will be researching the policy frameworks that supported the growth of organic agriculture there. The goal is to identify key lessons that can be applied to the Dutch context.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree?
I believe it's crucial to have people with a deep understanding of the environmental challenges we face today. While many are aware of these issues, this Master's programme really emphasises how complex they are. To find effective solutions, it's essential to have individuals who understand how these problems arise and the various factors that contribute to them.
I’m interested in the ways that innovations and policy reforms to property, land tenure and land transfers may facilitate food system transformations.
- Nationality
- USA
- Programme
- Local Environmental Change and Sustainable Cities
Can you introduce yourself?
I am an Assistant Professor of Environmental Governance and Politics in the Geography, Planning and Environment group at Radboud University in the Netherlands.
I study the barriers that prevent transition to a more just, sustainable, and ecologically resilient food system. Namely, I focus on the way systems of land tenure, norms of property, and complexities of land access tend to water down and frustrate efforts to reform food systems. This dynamic, land governance shaping food and farming outcomes, is the Land Food Nexus. I’m interested in the ways that innovations and policy reforms to property, land tenure and land transfers may facilitate food system transformations.
Currently, my two major projects are a monograph about the land politics of the food movement and an investigation into how green transition policies are mediated by property regimes. My research on these topics has been published in journals including Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, The Journal of Peasant Studies, Agriculture and Human Values, Gastronomica, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, and the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Food Studies. I have also written about land governance and food system sustainability for publications including The Green European Journal, The Sustainable Food Trust, and The San Francisco Chronicle.
I hold a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of California, Berkeley, where my research explored how land access challenges in California hinder beginning farmers' aspirations. Previously, I was a researcher at the James Hutton Institute in Scotland, studying the emerging land reform policy agenda and its environmental implications. My work has been supported by funding from the UKRI Landscape Decisions Programme, the Belmont Forum, the US Fulbright Program, UC Cooperative Extension, and Horizon Europe.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
Can the EU achieve its sustainability agenda without regulating land markets? Regulating land markets to achieve the EU sustainability agenda: https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/ajh4v_v1.
I also communicate my research through the Land Food Nexus Newsletter and in the Landscapes Podcast.
What is the best part of working with students?
Guiding them through a thesis project, where at the end they have made original insights about environmental issues important to them.