Aquatic Ecotechnology

During the first six months, you follow lectures with all Water Management students at the same time. You learn about water challenges such as climate change and sustainable development. You will also become acquainted with all three study tracks, so that after the first semester you can choose which track suits you best. If you choose Aquatic Ecotechnology in the second semester, you will take courses that belong to this track.

• First quarter
  This quarter is about water quality and the ecology of natural water systems. In this module you will analyze causes and effects of changes in water quality. In short you learn about the most up to date knowledge and tools to analyze and solve water quality issues all around the world. There is a field study week included where you will apply the things you learn in this module.
• Second quarter
  You become acquainted with water technology: purifying water for different applications for people and animals, industry and nature. Where can you obtain sufficient fresh water and how can you safeguard the water quality? You learn how to remove and purify wastewater.
• Third quarter
  Hydrology is about the water cycle. You will learn about water in rivers, in the soil and ground water, and how to manage water levels. Another topic is climate change and the effect on the amount of water. How do we make sure we have enough water for agriculture and nature? Also calculations on running and stagnant open water and groundwater is included.
• Fourth quarter
  Building with nature will be the central focus point during the third quarter. Traditional solutions, such as concrete flood defenses, are often less environmentally friendly. Ecological solutions are therefore now becoming increasingly more important. We are keeping our feet dry, the solution is often more beautiful and nature is central. You learn to calculate whether this solution will still be resistant enough in 100 years’ time. This is done with the use of computer models.

You follow a six month minor during the third year of the programme. A minor will deepen or broaden your knowledge and skills. You can complete the minor with the research groups from water courses at the HZ, at another HZ programme or you can opt for another university either in the Netherlands or abroad. You will be doing a work experience placement during the second half of the year at an organization in your specific field. You can choose where you want to do this work experience. You could, for example, opt for a placement in the Caribbean in order to restore a coral area, or work on fish farming based on energy and nutrients supplied by nature in the Netherlands.

In the fourth year, everything you have learnt so far comes together. In the first semester you participate in the Coastal Challenge. Together with students from the Civil Engineering, Architecture and from the three study tracks of Water Management, you will work on a project for a ‘real’ client. You learn to work together in an interdisciplinary and international environment. In addition, you choose two more courses, such as aquaculture, water technology, urban water management or ecological risk assessment, combining theory, practical cases and lab or field work. A challenging and inspiring semester!

Graduation phase

You spend the last part of your study graduating at an organization of your choice either in the Netherlands or abroad. You can also graduate with one of the research groups. You will need to hand in a research project at the end of the fourth year, which demonstrates that you have the Bachelor level. This research can include, for example, which requirements water needs to satisfy in the town in order to avoid it being bad for the public’s health, or the development of a method which a nature organization can use to assess water, allowing it to implement a suitable fish policy.