Marine Master Studies in NL

Graduate Studies in Marine Masters in the Netherlands

Extra assignment: ‘Marine Scientist of the Netherlands’

Introduction

Synopsis: A multidisciplinary and integrated Marine Sciences program, based on integration of marine physics, marine (bio)chemistry, marine (micro)biology and marine geology was recently lacking in The Netherlands. Yet, given the major role of the oceans in climate processes, resources, transport, health, food supply, biodiversity, biogeochemical cycling, etc., the potential of such an integrated programme is clear. To fill this gap, the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), Groningen University (RUG), Utrecht University (UU) and the marine institutes NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and the Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW/CEME), present a national programme in Marine Sciences, which is based on existing master and bachelor programs with a substantial marine component.

This document describes the ingredients, possibilities and conditions of such an integrated program for master students following one of the existing master tracks in the marine sciences and offers them the possibility to become assigned as a “Marine Scientist of the Netherlands” on top of their Masters degree. This assignment will be recorded on the Masters bull or on a bull supplement depending on the University.

General background: Although two-thirds of the Earth is covered by oceans on average 3.7 km deep, our knowledge of marine processes, phenomena and ecosystems is still very limited. Yet, the oceans are a major player in current global issues regarding e.g. economy, climate, health, hazards and biodiversity related issues. The life and work of 65% of the world’s population is directly related to the oceans. Understanding marine physical, chemical, biological and geological processes, as well as deciphering the functioning of marine ecosystems are critical aspects of the planet’s ecology and climatology and is also vital for a sound, science-based ocean and coastal zone management.

Scientific background: Marine environments are still very poorly studied and understood; recent scientific discoveries underscore this issue. For example, it is becoming increasingly evident that marine microbes, in particular Bacteria, Archaea, Protista and associated viruses, of untold diversity, account for 98 % of the marine primary production. Moreover, they represent over 90 % of the total oceanic biomass and are responsible for the far greater part of food web processes and the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, other elements and nutrients. It is only very recently that we start to realize that the microbial biodiversity is phenomenal and may differ very considerably in different marine habitats (depth, latitude, salinity, temperature, pressure, etc.), including sub-seafloor ecosystems. Furthermore, it is also becoming clear that the deep oceans appear to play a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, other elements and nutrients, represent high species diversity and probably contain important biological, mineral and chemical resources. Moreover, the ocean floor interfaces the bio- and geosphere thus representing the niche of important biogeochemical and geochemical processes. The slow growth, the long life span and late maturity of many eukaryotes make the system extremely vulnerable for human activities. Another example involves the climatic and socio-economic consequences of the future relatively rapid rise in anthropogenic atmospheric CO₂. The uptake of ca 40% of the anthropogenic CO₂ by the oceans so far has a major impact on the ocean chemistry and biology. The pH is decreasing, the CaCO₃ compensation depth is shoaling, and the biodiversity will probably change dramatically causing unexpected changes in biogeochemical cycling and thus climate. Moreover, over the last years a number of observations, mostly based on long-term monitoring of physical, chemical and biological parameters, have been explained by ecological mismatches due to global change. For example, the rapid increase by 2 ^oC of the seawater temperature over the last two decades in the Dutch Wadden Sea, caused a much earlier appearance of larvae of benthic species like Macoma baltica in the water column. This while their food, algal biomass regulated mainly by the light regime, was virtually absent and their predators, North Sea crabs, were already present. As a consequence, benthic shellfish gradually decrease, impacting a.o. bird populations and also shells fisheries. There are strong indications that these kinds of mismatches are much more general than expected and that they will dramatically increase in the decades to come, thus impacting significantly sustainable exploration of marine resources.

In addition, the last decades have also witnessed an expanding exploitation of the marine sedimentary archives, where e.g. palaeoceanography, palaeoclimatology, palaeobiology and geomicrobiology, together or individually, made significant contributions to understanding past, but also present, and future global climate change.

The above illustrates that Marine Sciences have developed and will continue to develop as a science of sciences by integrating classical scientific disciplines. A modern marine scientist should thus be trained in what we term the ‘big four’, i.e. marine (micro) biology, physical oceanography, marine (bio) chemistry and their ‘palaeo’-counterparts. The combined Dutch universities and institute facilities, laboratories, and expertise in these fields should be explored to constitute a national educational program in the marine sciences.

Participating Master Tracks and Institutions:

A. Physical Oceanography

A.1. Meteorology, Physical Oceanography and Climate (MPOC); UU-Dept. Physics and Astronomy.

A.2. Coastal and Fluvial Systems; UU-Dept. Physical Geography

B. Biological Oceanography

B.1 Limnology & Oceanography; UvA-Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)

B.2. Marine Biology & Oceanography; RUG-Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES).

C. Paleoceanography

C.1. Biogeology; UU- Depts. of Earth Sciences and Palaeoecology.

C.2. Plant Biology: UU- Depts. of Earth Sciences and Palaeoecology.

C.3. Palaeo-Climate and Geo-systems; VU-Dept. Palaeoclimatology & Geomorphology.

D. Multidisciplinary Oceanography

D.1. Integrated sea-going course; organised by 'Fundamental Research Sea and Coast'; FOKUZ, a joint venture of NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and the Netherlands Institute for Ecology, Centre for Estuarine Marine Research (NIOO-KNAW/CEME). This course will be organised every year from June 2009 onwards. More information and the possibility for registration at www.fokuz.nl .

National Dutch Marine Sciences Educational Program

General Introduction

The program is based on existing master tracks with a substantial, i.e. 50% or more, marine signature and thus consists of approved master and bachelor courses. If the master student voluntarily chooses to follow this program he or she should successfully follow one of the marine-oriented master tracks (see above). At least 15 ECTs of such a master track should be spent on courses in one or two of the sister disciplines and/or integrated courses. The research period should be dedicated entirely to marine sciences and some experience in sea-going research is required.

The detailed information per existing master track and bachelor or master courses in sister disciplines is indicated hereafter.

After successful completion of the program the student will obtain the master degree of his/her own university plus additionally be assigned as “Marine Scientist of the Netherlands”.

Description of the program

The master tracks and relevant bachelor courses are discussed per discipline, i.e.

A. Physical Oceanography

B. Biological Oceanography

C. Palaeoceanography

D. Integrated FOKUZ sea-going course

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