Education - prof.dr.ir. JW (Jan-Willem) van Groenigen

As a teacher, next to reaching the learning objectives of a course, I aim to convey a specific attitude towards science to the students. I try to show that I am enthusiastic about my work; that science is not the rather sterile, unfailing march towards truth that textbooks sometimes make it out to be, but that it is instead a messy process, done by real human beings with their own interests, obsessions, failures and triumphs. I try to illustrate this with examples from my own work, as well as that of other people in the scientific field. I do this not to degrade the scientific profession, but rather to make it appear more tangible and real. Most of all, I aspire to convince my students that science is incredibly interesting and great fun. 

I coordinate the course Biological Interactions in Soils (SOQ-32806). Next to that, I teach modules in the courses Nutrient Management (SOQ-31806) and The Carbon Dilemma (SOQ-35306).