Human impact on our planet has reached unprecedented proportions. This severely affects biodiversity, geo-ecosystems and the services they provide to humanity. We urgently need an in-depth understanding of the functioning of geo-ecosystems, to predict the effects of local and global change (land use change, eutrophication, pollution, climate change) and to successfully manage Earth's systems (e.g. through integrated land management, spatial planning, nature and soil conservation). Only then can we rely on the use of ecosystem services in a sustainable way.

This Master?s track teaches cutting-edge, quantitative methods (including observations, modelling and big data analysis) and how to apply these methods to global challenges. Specific attention is given to the identification of where scientific knowledge falls short of contributing to solutions for the grand challenges we are facing.