Applicants should have a genuine interest in birds, nature, and sustainability, as well as the motivation to explore these topics in greater depth. Previous experience with birdwatching is not required; curiosity and an eagerness to learn are equally valued. The programme welcomes students and professionals from a range of backgrounds who wish to deepen their understanding of nature and sustainability.

In a series of six online seminars, you will explore birdlife around the world from the Marker Wadden, a human-made nature reserve in the Netherlands, to the farmland and forests of the Sahel and the wetlands of Vjosa–Narta in Albania.

You will meet representatives from organisations working to protect birds, their habitats, and other wildlife relevant to each seminar’s theme. These include Staatsbosbeheer, the Dutch government organisation that manages forests and nature reserves; the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest environmental network; and BirdLife International, which works to conserve birds and their habitats worldwide. Each partner organisation will set a specific conservation challenge. You will choose one and develop a project proposal to address it, which you will pitch in the final week of this three-week course.

Alongside the online sessions, you will complete independent assignments that encourage you to rediscover your local environment. What might you learn about birds you have never noticed before? How do your surroundings compare with those of your fellow students?

By the end of the course, you will have gained a broader global perspective on birdlife and a deeper appreciation of the birds in your own surroundings.

• This course will meet live via Zoom 3 times per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. All live lectures begin at 15.30 and will last around 2,5 hours (with a break included). Do you live outside of Europe? Calculate the time of the live sessions for your time zone.
• A preparatory assignment will be before the programme starts. 
• Students will also complete in-course assignments and a final paper due roughly two weeks after the course ends.
• Looking for more information? Visit our practical matters page to find out more.

Elias den Otter  

Birds have played a significant role in Elias’ life for many years. As a nature guide, he’s witnessed how birds enhance the beauty and wonder of the natural world, often right in people’s backyards or even on their balconies. This passion inspires him to serve as the chairman of a birding association in Alkmaar, and it drives his efforts to promote a more localized, nature-inclusive food system in his region. His view is that by fostering local food and birding communities, we create a deeper connection between people and nature. 

Elias has been connected to the UvA as a teacher in interdisciplinary social sciences since 2016 and developed a variety of innovative courses. Elias’ academic background is in Sociology. 

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