Testimonials

Read what current and former students say about their study choice and experiences with the programme.

• Roy van den Berg, student
• Anete Salmane, student
• Geanne van Arkel, Head of Sustainable Development interface
• Antoine Heideveld, Director of Het Groene Brein 

Roy van den Berg, student

"Nature has been doing R&D for over 3 billion years, and we’re just trying to learn from that"

Why did you choose this Master’s?

When I saw the brochure of this programme stating: a mixture of nature, sustainability and innovation, I was sold. According to me, the combination of these three fields is the key to saving the world in the long run. Sustainability cannot go without innovation and looking at nature. In fact, nature has been doing R&D for over 3 billion years, and we’re just trying to learn from that. My hesitations for this Master’s were particularly based on my background, but with a crash course in biology it was no problem anymore.

What characterizes this Master?

A thing to keep in mind about this Master’s programme is the amount of self-reliance. This Master's programme dives right into a totally new area of science and research. And as much as pioneering comes with new opportunities and exiting prospects, it also implies the responsibility to design your own study path and to decide what you want to get out of this programme.

What is the relevance of your study?

This study is, in my opinion, the most relevant one can dive into. In the long run, at least, it is all about making sure there will be an earth to live on for future generations, and that is exactly what we’re trying to figure out. It is thrilling to engage in such a field of knowledge and potential. In my opinion, this field will exponentially grow in the next few years. Jobs are to be found everywhere, and in virtually every industry, since changing the world means changing everything. You could be a researcher for the airplane industry, or an expert in organic clothing fabrics: as long as you engage in the study for the right reasons; to make the world more sustainable and circular, by learning from nature.

If you had to do it over, would you select this Master’s again?

I would definitely select this Master’s again, since the field of Biomimicry is even more exciting than I expected, and possibilities in terms of combining nature, sustainability and innovation are endless. Besides that, the people linked to this study – students and staff – are very nice and always willing to help. However, I would strongly recommend to keep in mind that this Master’s is very young, implying that things are not always very structured and straightforward. This might be confusing. However, with the right proactive attitude, everything is possible.

Anete Salmene, student

"Biologists will be able to directly contribute to a more sustainable world"

What do you like about the Master's programme?

The programme is very flexible and you can tailor your curriculum to fit your interests. This is particularly advantageous for those that have managed to define their topic of interest even in broader terms. Yet, I would not say that the BII programme is only for the ones that have a specific path in their mind. I started off uncertain of my field of interest, but during my studies developed a fascination for the production of biomaterials around which I have evolved most of my curriculum.

As an alumn, what do you hope for the future?

I believe that we have reached a point in the global development where people are aware of the necessity of having the human made processes be in sync with the natural ones. Therefore biologists, in particular those trained in interdisciplinary work, will be able to directly contribute to a more sustainable co-inhabitation of this planet. For example, in future I see myself developing alternatives to the oil based materials that are dominant in the modern day society.

Geanne van Arkel, Head of Sustainable Development Interface

"Biomimicry has inspired Interface to find its way in the circular economy"

Working like an ecosystem and sharing lessons from nature is crucial in today's challenging times. It not only brought us market leadership in the field of modular flooring, but also a more resilient company. Already in the 90's, biomimicry has inspired Interface to find its way in the circular economy. Great to see that there will be more biologists a the design table thanks to this programme, being able to bridge the language barrier between science, business and society.

Antoine Heideveld, Director of Het Groene Brein

"We can only solve the issues of the future if we work across disciplines and learn from the way nature is working"

At ‘the Green Minds’ we are working on the new economy by bringing scientist and companies together. Together, they handle complex issues, aiming for a positive societal, ecological and financial impact. We face the problem that most knowledge is driven by a single discipline, while most problems in the world are interdisciplinary of origin. We can therefore only solve the issues of the future if we work across disciplines and learn from the way nature is working. We are more than happy that there will be a new interdisciplinary Master’s programme with a focus on learning from nature. We are looking forward to come in contact and to work together in specific projects. We need you guys.