This website is created by the joined efforts of a group of honours students from the Radboud University. Our group has been part of the Interdisciplinary Honours Programme “Global Problems” for Bachelor students at the Radboud University (NL). This programme has the aim to look at a global problem from a broad perspective. Our group was assigned to the topic of biodiversity and how it is affected by human action.

 

The first phase of the programme consisted of attending lectures by scientific experts and inspiring speakers from the field. These lectures helped us to gain up to date knowledge about biodiversity, its importance and its threats. Knowledge about decreasing biodiversity as a global problem proved to be crucial for the second phase of the programme, forming a think tank.

 

During the second phase of the programme, our group formed a think tank and worked on a biodiversity specific problem from a client, in our case the influence of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on biodiversity. Weekly meetings, interviews and a trip abroad helped us to explore the inner workings of CAP and its consequences for biodiversity. The think tank challenged us to work with students from other study programmes, to develop important skills and expand our network.

 

The last phase of the programme was to fabricate a creative end product that contains a new perspective or solution regarding the global problem. This website is part of our end product as it contains all the research and outcomes of our think tank.

 

Participating in an honours programme besides our regular study programme was a challenge for our personal agenda, but nevertheless worth it. The programme gained us experience outside the university at research institutes, companies and public organisations in and outside the Netherlands. It also awarded us with additional knowledge and the ability to apply scientific knowledge to global themes and problems. We must conclude that our think tank has been a great success, both for the public interest and for our own development.

 

Our special thanks go to Floor Brinkhorst (Program Director at the Radboud Honours Academy) and Martin Drenthen (Associate Professor in Philosophy at Radboud University) for their continuous support. 

 

We also thank Joop Schaminée (Professor Plant Ecology Radboud and Wageningen University), and Nils van Rooijen (Postdoc Plant Ecology and Physiology Radboud University) for sharing their knowledge.

 

Visit the Radboud Honours Academy website to learn more about the programme.