Extra Academic Emporium

Academic and extra-academic courses | Scientific consultancy | Invited talks

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

The Extra Academic Emporium was established in 2021 to provide novel education inside and outside academia, and to help scientists improve the quality of their research. We aim to improve people's understanding of the content they are studying or working on by making information accessible, concrete, and relating abstract knowledge to real-world situations. In our courses, critical skills are trained to achieve a deeper understanding of the material, rather than superficial knowledge.

our courses

Building Theories

An interactive course on creating scientific theories and evaluating explanations.

Why are theories so important for science?
Why are scientists so poor at making good theories?
How do you become better at making theories?

Levels: Layperson, undergraduate, (post)graduate

Length: 1 day, 2 days, or 4 days

Psychedelic Science

A course on modern research into psychedelics and its clinical applications.

What are the risks and benefits of psychedelic use?
Can MDMA-assisted therapy alleviate mental health problems?
How does LSD work in the body and the brain?

Levels: Layperson, undergraduate, (post)graduate

Length: 1 day, 2 days, or 4 days

The Good, the Bad, and the Science

A course on scientific and every-day reasoning.

What things that you think are true, are false?
What separates good from bad science?
How can you become a better thinker?

Levels: Layperson, undergraduate, (post)graduate

Length: 1 day, 2 days, or 4 days

Bayesian Statistics

An introductory course on Bayesian statistics.

How are Bayesian statistics different from frequentist statistics?
How can you apply Bayesian statistics in your research?
What does Bayesian statistics teach us about evidence?

Levels: Layperson, undergraduate, (post)graduate

Length: 1 day, 2 days, or 4 days

Do you want to know more about our courses or are you interested in hosting one?

Building Theories

“I really like this idea of creating your own theory and working with others to make it work. It was a very creative and unique course in my experience."

Bayesian Statistics

"The course was very interactive, the lecture provided room for students to make comments, as questions and get clarity."

Psychedelic Science

"10/10 loved this course, it was really interesting and I would definitely recommend it to all of my peers"

GBS

"The knowledge is useful and relevant in the modern world as well as can be applied in various areas of life."

Research Consultancy

Need expert guidance to design and execute high‑quality research? Our tailored consultancy offers end‑to‑end support—from crafting well‑structured empirical studies and managing data collection to performing advanced analyses and presenting your findings with confidence. Ideal for both new initiatives and ongoing work, we help ensure your research is methodologically sound and results-driven. Partner with Exaem to boost clarity, rigor, and impact in every project.

Research design

Data analisys

Result reporting

Do you want to know more about our consultancy service?

What Clients Say

I write accessible reports and articles about science for researchers and policymakers. When my work involves complex statistics, I call on Noah. He helps me to understand the analyses properly, checks whether my interpretations are correct, and helps me think about how I can write them up in a clear and accessible way. Noah not only has a flawless understanding of statistics, but also the talent to explain complex concepts in an understandable way. His sharp scientific-philosophical perspective also helps me to look beyond the numbers and explore the broader significance of the research findings. This makes my texts both more precise and more relevant.

Floor Bevaart - Significant Stories

the team

Dr.dr. N.N.N. van Dongen

Noah studied at the Erasmus University Rotterdam and graduated cum laude in Art and Cultural Sciences. After a double PhD track, he received his first doctorate for his thesis Investigations into Art Appreciation and his second doctorate for Methods and Philosophy: Doing Science. As a methodologist at the Amsterdam Law School (University of Amsterdam), he provides advice and assistance on research design, methods education, and grant acquisition. researcher at the University of Amsterdam he works on the challenge of making science more objective.

Dr. J. Zijlmans

Josjan studied Biological and Cognitive Psychology and graduated cum laude from the Erasmus University Rotterdam. He received his doctorate from the VU University Medical Center for his thesis Neural correlates of antisocial behavior in multi-problem young adults. He works as assistant professor at the department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of VUmc where he studies the mental health of children in psychiatric care. In addition, he works on furthering the understanding of psychedelic experiences and their uses.