The Science of Beer

The Science of Beer is a groundbreaking MOOC developed by Wageningen University & Research students as part of the university's 100-year anniversary celebration. The course, which has attracted over 47,000 participants and was recognized among the top 10 MOOCs worldwide on edX in 2019, covers the complete science of beer across four comprehensive modules. Created by honors students Sander Breevaart, Florence Scherer, Nico van der Veen, and Esther Kunst under the guidance of professors and industry experts, the course explores beer production processes, raw materials, marketing strategies, and health effects. This six-week program requires 2-4 hours of study per week and exemplifies an innovative "flipped classroom" approach where students become educators. The course is designed for anyone interested in understanding the science behind beer, from its production to its effects on human health, offering both free access and a verified certificate option. Through video lectures, assignments, and interactive content, participants gain a deep understanding of beer science while learning from their peers in a unique educational format that bridges theoretical knowledge with practical applications.

Esther Kunst serves as a student teacher at Wageningen University & Research, where she played an integral role in developing "The Science of Beer" MOOC, one of the top 10 MOOCs worldwide on edX in 2019. As part of a team of four honors students, including Sander Breevaart, Florence Scherer, and Nico van der Veen, she helped create this groundbreaking course that explores the complete production chain of beer across four modules. The project emerged from their Honours Investigation Project examining 'the ideal university' and was funded as part of Wageningen University's centenary celebration. Her work demonstrates the innovative "students-as-teachers" approach, where she not only helped develop course content but also appeared on camera and engaged directly with participants. This pioneering educational model showcases how students can transition from learners to educators, creating engaging content while receiving guidance from experts in food production, health, marketing, and sustainable supply chains.

Nico van der Veen serves as a student teacher at Wageningen University & Research, where he played a pivotal role in developing "The Science of Beer" MOOC, which was recognized among the top 10 MOOCs worldwide on edX in 2019. As one of four honors students, alongside Sander Breevaart, Florence Scherer, and Esther Kunst, he helped conceptualize and create this innovative course during their Honours Investigation Project exploring 'the ideal university.' The project, funded by the Executive Board as part of Wageningen University's 100-year anniversary celebration, covers the entire production chain of beer across four comprehensive modules, including production processes, raw materials, marketing, and health effects. Van der Veen's contribution exemplifies a unique educational approach where students become educators, appearing on camera and directly engaging with course participants while receiving guidance from professors and experts in food production, health risks, marketing, logistics, and sustainable supply chains.

Florence Scherer serves as a student teacher at Wageningen University & Research, where she played a pioneering role in developing "The Science of Beer" MOOC, which was recognized as one of the top 10 MOOCs worldwide on edX in 2019. As part of a team of four honors students, including Sander Breevaart, Nico van der Veen, and Esther Kunst, she helped create this innovative course that covers the entire production chain of beer across four comprehensive modules. The project, which was funded by the Executive Board as part of Wageningen University's 100-year anniversary celebration, represents a unique educational approach where students become educators. Under the guidance of professors and experts in food production, health risks, marketing, logistics, and sustainable supply chains, she helped develop course content while also appearing on camera and engaging directly with participants, demonstrating a new model of peer-to-peer education in higher learning.

Sander Breevaart is a student teacher and researcher at Wageningen University & Research, where he has made significant contributions to both education and research in food science and data analytics. He played a key role in developing the innovative MOOC "The Science of Beer," which was recognized as one of the top 10 MOOCs worldwide on the edX platform in 2019. This course, created entirely by students under faculty guidance, covers the entire production chain of beer across four modules and exemplifies a novel approach to education where students become educators. Beyond this achievement, Breevaart has expanded his teaching portfolio to include courses in the Data Science minor and Sustainable Supply Chain Management. His academic interests span data science applications in food and consumer science, supply chain analytics, and advanced Python programming. As a lecturer in the Information Technology group, he contributes to courses such as Data Science Applications for Food and Consumer Science, Supply Chain Analytics, and Business Information Analytics. Breevaart's work demonstrates a commitment to bridging theoretical knowledge with practical applications in the food industry, as evidenced by his internship at the Unilever Foods Innovation Centre in Wageningen.