Highlights 2 013

Highlights 2013

TU Delft University of Technology Content

- 4 - Dirk Jan van den Berg Daan Bruggink

06 Foreword 32 ‘Ecological building should also be attractive’

Pieter van Gelder Marcel Fleuren

08 ‘Prevention is better 36 ‘I have always had the than repression’ urge to invent things’

Eline van der Kruk Hayley Hung 12 ‘I really go for it’ 40 Modelling human beha- viour in a social context

Mark van Loosdrecht Nynke Tromp

16 Remarkable 44 ‘Design can change bacteria society’

Arno Smets Edward Valstar

20 Free top-level 48 ‘On my own I would education achieve nothing’

Paulien Herder Tim de Morée en Wouter Lion

24 Over 700 52 ‘It’s all about the team’ energy scientists

Hans Hellendoorn en 28 Hans Welleman Keeping students on course Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 5 - Foreword

Dirk Jan van den Berg

‘We are proud to be

among the forerunners

in the field of e-learning,

a teaching method that

we are in the process of

expanding step by step’

- 6 - am very proud to present the TU Delft Highlights 2013. In be able to welcome such consistently high student numbers. 2014 our university, the oldest university of technology in Indeed, so great is the influx of students that we have to pull the Netherlands, will be celebrating its 172nd birthday. It out all the stops in order to be able to accommodate them all. Imay be old in years, but it has always been very much up This is an important sign that engineers are now highly sought to date in terms of its activities. Security, for example, is very after by the labour market even more than ever. It is still the much a contemporary theme, as witnessed by its extensive case that the vast majority of our graduates find employment coverage in the media. We are living in an increasingly complex more or less immediately. society, where new technology and old values clash and As high as the number of campus students may be, they form where our welfare is causing greater problems than is poverty but a drop in the ocean compared to the numbers of people elsewhere. In a society of this kind, issues relating to security we reach through online education. This is an experiment are becoming ever-more complex. The response to these that we believe in to the full. We are proud to be among the issues calls for a multidisciplinary approach to research. You can forerunners in the field of e-learning, a teaching method that we read more about this in the interview with Pieter van Gelder, are in the process of expanding step by step. Our own students professor of Safety Science and the Foundation Day Lecturer enjoy blended learning – a mix of face-to-face teaching and on the occasion of our 172nd anniversary, when he spoke online learning. In order to make outstanding education more exclusively on the topic of security. Multidisciplinarity brings accessible, we recently launched online Master’s courses. But rewards in other respects, too, as it is on the cutting edges our biggest success in 2013 was our Massive Online Open of different fields that outstanding new opportunities are to Courses on the renowned EdX platform: two courses on water be found. This is the view of Mark van Loosdrecht, who as a purification and solar energy attracted 24,000 and 53,000 professor of Environmental Biotechnology bridges boundaries enrolments respectively. Free top-level education, accessible to effortlessly, whether between fields, between research all. Arno Smets, who developed and teaches the MOOC Solar and application, or between government, entrepreneur and Energy, describes it in greater detail. research institute. Ultimately, what matters is that the results of our research Cooperation, collaboration, in every possible form, is in our and teaching work have an effect on society. An important way DNA. In our own organisation, we bring scientists and students for this to be achieved is through entrepreneurship, something from different disciplines together in our Delft Research we actively encourage in our curriculum. We also assist young Institutes Health, to focus on the societal themes of energy, entrepreneurs through the YES!Delft enterprise centre. This health, the living environment, and infrastructure & mobility. inspiring breeding ground for high-tech start-ups is actually To these have recently been added our TU Delft Institutes in so successful that it is almost growing out of its premises. the fields of climate, process technology, robotics, transport, Inventor and entrepreneur Marcel gives you a look behind the and safety & security. These institutes also serve as a platform scenes. for interfaculty contacts, knowledge sharing, and cooperation. These and other inspiring accounts in the TU Delft Highlights Looking beyond the campus, we are part of a cast-iron regional 2013 offer you a glimpse of what is going on at our great partnership with Leiden University and Erasmus University university, and give me every confidence that 2014 will prove to Rotterdam; meanwhile, we are engaged in collaborative be another year that is packed with highlights. ventures on the international stage too. New are the Joint Research Centres that we have opened in Brazil and China, an Drs. Dirk Jan van den Berg important step towards becoming a global university where President of the Executive Board science really does know no boundaries. TU Delft Education, after all, is our raison d’être, and it is pleasing to

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 7 - Pieter van Gelder Prevention is better than repression

On 1 October 2013, Professor Pieter van Gelder was appointed as Professor of Safety Science at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM). Before that, since 1994, he was affiliated with the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG), where he conducted research on probabilistic methods in hydraulic engineering and construction. He would now like to apply that knowledge to other security domains.

n 10 January 2000, Hydraulic Engineering at the time. flood defence. “We use optimisation Pieter van Gelder was The mathematical advisor from techniques for that, because the awarded the first TU Delft Rijkswaterstaat took some courses optimal dike height not only depends Odoctorate of the 21st first. “While I was still working for on the consequences of a breach, century. “One of the propositions in Rijkswaterstaat, I attended a number but also on the investment costs in a my PhD dissertation was that I might of lectures on civil engineering, sitting higher dike. So we make a cost-benefit not be able to defend it due to the among the first-year students. Over analysis,” explains Van Gelder. You can millennium bug,” explains Van Gelder. the years I began to feel like a civil also use models for the management Fortunately it didn’t come to that, and engineer myself,” says Van Gelder. and maintenance of dikes. “It’s a the irregular leap day 29 February His mathematical knowledge turned dynamic model. We take matters 2000 did not cause any problems out to be extremely useful, as his PhD such as rising sea levels and ageing either. Van Gelder knows all about research was about probability models. into account. The dike subsides over risk analysis, although in 2000 he “I studied the statistical models in time, in which case the model has to was more concerned with the risks order to assess the reliability of flood show that the safety is lower than the involved in hydraulic engineering than defences,” he explains. “We want to requirements and that measures need those in the digital domain. With a quantify those risks. In other words, to be taken.” background in mathematics, he spent we want to determine the probability As a Professor of Safety Science, his first few years working for the Road of an event and its consequences. Van Gelder wants to apply his and Hydraulic Engineering Division For example, you can calculate the experience in hydraulic engineering of Rijkswaterstaat. “After a while, strength of a structure and the load on to other domains. “The method used I got rather tired of all the reading it. This tells you about the hazard zone, to quantify risks can also be applied involved in such a civil service post,” the overlap between extreme load and to other sectors, such as transport, he admits. “I was constantly reading weak strength. But there are a number chemistry or occupational safety.” about what the Hydraulics Laboratory of uncertainties in the results of those However, this is not a simple process, or Deltares had done, and then I had to calculations. How can you properly as there is an important difference. provide feedback on it. I realised that assess the parameters of those “In hydraulic engineering we usually it would be more fun to do research distributions?” work with structures: bodies of soil, myself, instead of supervising and concrete walls, steel walls, etc. evaluating it.” Van Gelder found a Dynamic model That makes calculations relatively PhD position with Professor Vrijling, Ultimately, such a model should straightforward. However, the other who was a Professor of Constructive lead to the design of the optimal domains involve a human factor. Take

- 8 - Prevention is better than repression

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 9 - the transport domain for example: a the Dutch word for both terms is Lifelong Learning driver can make a mistake and cause ‘veiligheid’, security primarily refers to Pieter van Gelder also teaches, an accident, as can a pilot in a cockpit. protection against the risks of malicious not just regular students, High stress levels can lead to mistakes acts by humans. “For example, the but also professionals who being made, as can a lack of colleagues probability of a terrorist attack is far already have a good bit of work who can correct those mistakes. All of more difficult to assess than the experience. He does the latter as these elements play a role,” he explains. probability of a flood,” says Van Gelder. part of the Master’s programme Apart from technical failures and human “There are physical models we can in Public Safety offered by Delft error there is a third factor we refer to use for a flood; we can look at what the Top Tech, the TU Delft institute as organisational failure. “The safety outliers in nature are. But for a terrorist for post-initial education. “It culture in organisations plays a major attack all we know is whether or not it usually attracts people who role in accidents,” says van Gelder. The has happened before in the past.” This have already spent about five Faculty of TPM has developed a safety poses a challenge for the future, but years in the workforce. They ladder for this, with different levels of not one that Van Gelder is afraid of. “If want to keep their knowledge safety culture; from the lowest level, you want to weigh up risks, you have up to date in the framework of which looks only at whether the rules to quantify, no matter how difficult that lifelong learning. Delft Top Tech are met, to the highest. “A company may be.” To do this Van Gelder wants offers a huge range of study like Shell is really good at that and to seek contact with authorities such as programmes. I helped set up the exudes safety, as it were.” Is it actually the Ministry of Security and Justice and Public Safety programme and possible to model at all when you’re the National Coordinator for Security and taught mathematical techniques. dealing with human factors? It certainly Counterterrorism (NCTV). He would also You’re teaching people who is according to Van Gelder. “You can like to collaborate with other research provide their own interesting work with Bayesian models, in which disciplines. “Leiden University has a case studies and datasets from you can incorporate cause-and-effect Chair of Terrorism and Counterterrorism their work. Ordinary students relationships. You can combine technical and at Erasmus University Rotterdam often have very creative ideas. failure and human error in these. You there is a lot of expertise on the Students who take a very green can update such a model repeatedly economic consequences of incidents. In approach to a problem, or with observations from the field and you Delft we can then calculate the technical students who approach it with a can feed it with recommendations from measures you can take to reduce risks. lot of experience. It’s a lot of fun experts. This allows you to continually The three of us could work together to working with both,” says Pieter develop the model further and further make significant progress in this area.” van Gelder. so that you can make better predictions with it. There is still plenty of valuable Collaboration research to be conducted on these Collaboration is high on Van Gelder’s Bayesian networks in the coming agenda anyway, starting with his years”, says Van Gelder. “old home”, the CEG faculty. “I still give lectures at CEG when there are Human aspect interesting projects, and am happy The human aspect also plays a to join in to carry the collaboration leading role in the distinction between forward.” Then there is the recently safety and security. Because, although established TU Delft Institute for Safety

- 10 - ‘The probability of a terrorist attack is far more difficult to assess than the probability of a flood’

and Security. “It is an interfaculty further improve their security.” links with his previous position here. institute, in which most of the faculties Isn’t security the first area in which “Flood defence engineering of course participate. We would really like to get cutbacks are implemented? According involves design. How high does it need them all on board. I see overlapping to Van Gelder, that is disastrous short- to be and which materials should be areas of interest with all of them.” The term thinking. “In the long term, it is used? We use optimisation techniques institute can also play an important sensible to increase the security level for this, and standardisation also plays role in the tendering for calls for the as much as possible, in order to prevent a role. What is a safe standard? Once new European research programme disasters and tremendous damage. every thousand or ten thousand years, Horizon 2020. “That is a huge pot of Preventative action is better than or do we need even more stringent European funding, of which we hope mitigation.” Does he agree, then, with standards? All of these subjects have to get a share,” says Van Gelder. Han Vrijling who, on his retirement as a things in common with the world of “We are keeping a close eye on the professor, expressed his concerns that hydraulic engineering. On the other developments and are actively seeking flood control was no longer being taken hand, regulations to combat cybercrime collaborative partners, so that we can seriously? “Han Vrijling criticised the fact are far more complex. Although submit successful proposals later on.” that attention is shifting from prevention copying the approach used in hydraulic Where do the results of all that to repression; in other words, to dealing engineering is a nice starting point, there research wind up? “The Ministry of with the consequences – handing out are a lot of snags involved. That’s an Transport, Public Works and Water sandbags and survival gear, that type of interesting challenge for the next few Management is one of the main users thing. In his opinion, as long as there are decades,” Van Gelder philosophises. of the knowledge produced by the still large sections of dike that are not Fortunately, his range of interests has CEG’s Hydraulic Engineering research up to standard, it is far better to spend always been broad. “As a child I wanted group,” says Van Gelder. “After all, that money on prevention. Whether I to be a bank manager or a doctor. I liked it is responsible for protecting the share that criticism? While prevention counting money but I also enjoyed Netherlands from flooding. Deltares is very important, if things do go wrong browsing in atlases or anatomy books.” is another important partner in the we need to have thought about how we He can indulge these interests to the transfer of knowledge from research can normalise the situation as quickly full as a professor. “It’s a very broad to application. We also collaborate a lot as possible and how we can support field, and not just in terms of content. I with offshore companies and dredgers, people as well as possible to help them also have to coach employees, conduct and with engineering firms that are survive. So for that we also need to have financial management, bring in projects commissioned by other organisations.” models on the repression side,” says and maintain my network.” That can be New models for other domains could Van Gelder. quite tiring, especially in combination also be useful for the government. with raising a one-and-a-half year old. “Security is funded mainly by tax Plenty of work “So yes, I am in a turbulent phase at the revenues. The government should be Thus there is plenty of work to do moment. But professors and academic able to use our models to set priorities for Van Gelder who, in his capacity as staff are always busy anyway.” regarding how they can allocate that chair, will now also focus on subjects tax money as efficiently as possible. other than modelling risks. Other areas There is a need for this both among of research include regulations and government authorities and in the standardisation regarding security and private sector. Big businesses are also the inclusion of risks as a factor in the tackling the issue of how they can design process. Van Gelder also sees

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 11 - - 12 - Eline van der Kruk ‘I really go for it’

Eline van der Kruk studied for a Master’s degree in Biomechanical Engineering Design at the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (3mE). In 2013 she graduated with distinction in the Sports Engineering specialisation and became the Netherlands’ first sports engineer.

line van der Kruk had almost worked out well too - she graduated they’re on the track. “We want to be studied medicine instead. with distinction thanks to her able to give skaters direct feedback on “I had high marks for maths graduation project on a dynamic model how they’re performing, and tell them Eand physics, so I already for skating motion. what they should be doing - perhaps had a place. Then I went to an Open with the help of smart glasses à la Day at Delft and realised that I was Achievement Google. Because when you’re bent actually more interested in innovation High marks and awards; if there’s forward over the ice, it’s not easy to and design,” Van der Kruk explains. one word that defines Van der see what your coach wants you to do.” At the last moment she switched to Kruk’s burgeoning career, then it’s But she’s not there yet. Van der Kruk Industrial Design Engineering. It’s a “achievement”. She wants to get explains: “First, we have to be able to loss for the world of medicine, but the best out of everyone - including make very precise measurements, but a gain for the world of design. Her herself. “When I’m aiming for the instruments we need don’t really idea for the “Tukkie” - a cushion with something, I really go for it.” That exist yet. I already looked into this for suction pads and a speaker that sticks mindset will certainly be an asset in my graduation project.” The problem is to the window of a car - was awarded her work with top athletes. The period that there isn’t yet suitable equipment a 9 by TU Delft, but unfortunately leading up to her graduation was a for making three-dimensional failed to win the design challenge tense one, but luckily things soon measurements in an enclosed space, run by HEMA, a chain store in the became clear: she could continue and there definitely isn’t a system Netherlands. Her final-year Bachelor’s her graduation research as a PhD that can cope with the high skating project - innovative earplugs - earned student. “Half-way to graduation I speeds involved. “At the moment her a UfD-Imtech Bachelor Grant 2012. found out that the project proposal had we’re looking at iGPS, a system that Despite the flying start, Industrial been approved.” In that project she uses infra-red signals. But it wasn’t Design was not to be the final goal. is working on her three-dimensional designed for sport, so we’d have to “After a year I started to miss the skating model in collaboration with adapt it. We’re planning to test part of technical side of things - IDE isn’t the KNSB (Dutch Speed Skating the system on the track soon.” very technical. I took extra modules Federation), InnoSportlab and various Apart from the question of how to in mechanical engineering so that metering companies. She also has measure, the researchers still need I could switch after my Bachelor’s a counterpart at the VU University to work out precisely what should be degree.” That switch was to the Amsterdam. “The PhD student at the measured. The aim is to tell skaters Master’s degree programme in VU is working on the physiological what they need to do to improve their Biomechanical Engineering Design. side of the project – they’re strong in performance, but first we need to The Sports Engineering specialisation Human Movement Sciences there. define the “optimum” performance. was introduced a year later, and it all We’re working on the technical and “We use our model to simulate skating came together for Van der Kruk. “I was mechanical side. We’re translating motion, and we do all sorts of tests on a sports internship in Birmingham. people into systems, for example by with that. What happens when the I enjoyed it so much that I decided to envisaging the muscles as a spring- push-off is faster or slower, or if the switch. What I’m doing now combines damper system.” skater pushes out less far? What technology, innovation, design and The aim of the project is to adapt Van precisely happens when ice friction the human body. It has everything,” der Kruk’s model so that it provides is very high? Should you lengthen she says enthusiastically. And this has real-time feedback to skaters when or shorten your strokes? We want

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 13 - ‘What I’m doing now combines technology, innovation, design and the human body. It has everything’

to be able to determine that for each throughout the project. “We want to EchoStop skater.” We’re already gaining many work towards ‘quick wins’, and not For her final-year Bachelor’s new insights, but there’s another step spend four years on research before we project, Eline van der Kruk we need to make. “We can already tell the world: here it is, we’ve done it.” designed earplugs to be worn at determine how fast a skater would go An example of an interim product could parties. “I’d just been wearing in certain conditions, but actually we be a buzzer that gives skaters feedback earplugs myself for a long time want to do the opposite. We want to be about the position of their back. “They’ll after a surfing accident that able to say: this is the speed he wants to receive a signal telling them their back damaged my eardrums. I used achieve, and these are the parameters is too high. We’ll also be looking at how to wear them when I went out, that are necessary. That’s the most back position affects their course on but the trouble is that your own difficult step, because it means we the track. It might well be one of the voice sounds so loud. Research have to invert the model,” Van der Kruk parameters we’re looking for.” has confirmed that when people explains. wear earplugs, many of them The problem is that there are still too Regulations hear their own voice more many potential parameters. “Which Would the regulations allow skaters loudly. It can sound as much of them are the right ones? You can to use a buzzer like this? “As long as as twelve times louder than use them all, but which ones are the regulations don’t expressly forbid normal. That’s why people don’t important?”, wonders Van der Kruk. “Is it, then it’s allowed,” explains Van der use them. I looked into whether the skater’s body mass important, or Kruk. “Take the women’s hockey team that effect could be prevented how much he steers back? We need to - they used earpieces for a year before with a filter. I found something find the three or four parameters that these were forbidden. And even if it’s that enables you to hear music make the difference.” not allowed in competition, it can be and other people, but not that Obviously, we’re doing this in close used in training to teach skaters to skate ‘underwater’ sound of your own consultation with people in the skating as efficiently as possible.” And what voice. I’m thinking of setting world. “Naturally, skaters and coaches about the skating suits we hear so much up my own business to market also have ideas about the sort of about? “We’re not studying those. If we the EchoStop earplugs. Hearing feedback they’d like.” But it’s not that know how they affect drag, for example, disorders in young people are an simple, in her opinion. “We shouldn’t we can use that in the model, but it’s underestimated problem.” start researching something that not something we’re focusing on. isn’t of interest to sportspeople. On What we’re concentrating on is skating the other hand, we shouldn’t simply technique, namely how to improve it measure something that they want to without adapting the materials in any know about if it doesn’t add value to way. There must still be something to the model.” Interim results will play be gained from that.” According to Van an important role in terms of keeping der Kruk, it’s high time attention was skaters and researchers motivated focused on skating motions themselves.

- 14 - “We’ve been skating for centuries, but I noticed that we’re actually quite a no-one really knows how the technique way ahead of other universities. We works. When you run, you push back, do more than modelling - we also try but when you skate you push to the to predict. That is our strong side. The side. Isn’t that a bit odd?” VU does that too, but luckily we’re collaborating with them on this project.” Prediction Otherwise, we can only guess at what TU Delft has all the resources in- the competition’s doing. “The problem house to unravel the mysteries of with sport is that you can’t just go ahead skating motions. In Van der Kruk’s view, and publish everything,” says Van der modelling is one of the university’s Kruk. “It’s quite possible that we might strengths. “Earlier this year I went discover something, but won’t be able to a research meeting in Italy for to publish anything about it until after all European study programmes in the Olympic Games. And then we might Sports Engineering. We spent a week discover that another country has done researching skiing and snowboarding. the same thing.” Van der Kruk isn’t thinking about what happens after the Olympic Games and her PhD award. “I only started a couple Not a clap skate but a measuring skate of weeks ago. I enjoy research now, The project includes the further development of a skate with a built-in meter and I’m also interested in education and for measuring forces during skating. The measuring skate, which was how to improve it. Launching products originally developed in Delft too, must be made into a wireless device. Eline on the market and setting up a profitable van der Kruk wants to use it to further verify her model. business also appeals to me. Not for the “Think of a rowing machine. You row a few strokes with at a certain force, money, but for the challenge. Perhaps and the machine tells you how many metres you’ve rowed. That’s much one day I’ll be able to combine the two more difficult with a skate,” explains Van der Kruk. “We now have sensors - research and business. For the time fitted to both skates and to the upper body. They measure the distance from being, I’m where I want to be.” That the skate to the upper body, and the height of the upper body. Using that is why she is initially concentrating on information, we can calculate how fast a skater is moving on the ice.” research. “Very soon we’ll be starting The model should soon be able to predict how much force a skater needs to with measurements on the track. I apply. Van der Kruk wants to verify the model by using the measuring skate already have an internship student and to find out precisely how much force is applied to the skate. “Apart from a final-year student.” That’s how fast that, skaters like to know how much force they can exert, so we can also use things can move - even in the academic this to provide feedback.” world.

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 15 - - 16 - Mark van Loosdrecht Remarkable bacteria

Professor Mark van Loosdrecht is a professor of environmental biotechnology at the Faculty of Applied Sciences. He and his research group were there at the birth of two major new water purification technologies, Anammox and granular sludge technology. It was for this reason that Technology Foundation STW honoured him in October 2013 with the most important Dutch award for scientific and technical research, the Simon Stevin Meester prize.

he key to success, believes insight, as it is precisely the process processes in the reactor, so that you Mark van Loosdrecht, is conditions that can be controlled in know if you are going to get flakes or to do what you like doing. industrial applications. According grains. It is your design of the system T“If you enjoy your work, it to Van Loosdrecht, the practical that determines what happens.” usually means you are also good at application of knowledge is inextricably Metabolic and growth processes it.” For him, that meant something linked to the work of engineers. “As an also play a role. To get grains, you have to do with biology, he realised after engineer, it is important that you solve to select micro-organisms that grow finishing secondary school. “A pure problems, and that you actually help slowly. Under what process conditions biology programme did not appeal contribute towards change, and in my can that be done? “You can first let the to me, as that was too fact-based. case that is in environmental biology. bacteria absorb food from the waste In Wageningen, I was able to do Most of what we do therefore has two water and then stop the water flowing environmental hygiene, which included components: one scientific, and one in. So first fatten them up by allowing physics and chemistry as well as applied.” them to absorb all the organic material, biology,” he says. “That combination and then let them grow. Growth from shows up in my Master’s dissertation Granular sludge technology reserves of fat is slower, as a result and in my PhD research. And in fact, The applied side is aimed at the of which the bacteria will divide less that is still the area in which I work.” purification of waste water, among quickly. This is how grains can be Van Loosdrecht gained his PhD in other things. Purification plants often formed,” explains van Loosdrecht. bacterial adhesion, the phenomenon use micro-organisms, which digest This ‘fattening and starving’ process where bacteria attach themselves the waste substances. Normally, is part of the successful Nereda to each other or as a layer of mucus these organisms clump together technology that is being applied in - biofilms - to a surface. “I have in flakes, which then slowly settle. more and more purification plants always been interested in why One breakthrough achieved by Van in and outside the Netherlands. All a system functions and what its Loosdrecht and his colleagues is the processes in the cycle of feeding underlying mechanisms are.” From that they let the bacteria grow into with waste water, oxygenation and his PhD and subsequent research compact grains, which settle quickly. settling take place inside one reactor, into the morphogenesis of biofilms, What actually determines whether it is whereas in the past several reactors it appeared that these mechanisms flakes or grains that form? If we look at and a settling tank were needed. That are primarily physical in nature rather precipitation, then we see that it falls means that the process is less time- than biological, as had long been as grains or flakes as well – as hail or consuming and plants can be much thought. “Biologists assume a priori snow. The physical principles behind more compact. It also saves energy, that the micro-organisms determine the formation of crystals are similar as no water flows have to be pumped the structure. That is not the case; the to what happens in the purification around, from tank to tank. role of the organisms is subordinate reactor. “If you understand the basic to the process conditions during the principles of crystallisation, you can Exchanging ideas formation of biofilms.” This is a crucial apply them in order to control the The formation of granular sludge

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 17 - had been observed before in aerobic the purification of industrial waste Publish or perish? water purification plants, but it was water. Together with Professor Gijs Mark van Loosdrecht has not used for anything. “It occurred Kuenen, TU Delft scientists discovered hundreds of scientific spontaneously, but nobody saw fit to at that time the remarkable anammox publications to his name, and ask any questions about it,” says Van bacterium, which directly converts as the editor-in-chief of the Loosdrecht. There was none of the ammonium and nitrate into harmless journal ‘Water Research’, he curiosity that engineers need in their nitrogen. The discovery opened the sees many more cross his work, he believes. “Anyone who is way to the anammox process, which is desk. So how does he feel interested in what they see happening now applied in dozens of plants all over about the much-discussed urge should dig deeper. Nine times out of the world. That process has, in turn, to publish? “It is not too bad ten there will be a simple explanation, led to compact granular sludge plants in the Netherlands. At Water but on the tenth occasion - bingo! that consume less energy and raw

Research, I notice that things - and you find yourself discovering materials and emit much less CO2. are different in some countries, something new. As an engineer, you Nereda and anammox are now however. In China, for example, have to interpret your observations mature technologies, but they were Master’s students must have and convert them into knowledge.” preceded by years of intensive had something published Interaction with other subject fields cooperation with water boards and the internationally in order to be able can be helpful here. “When, as a industry. In the case of Nereda it was to graduate.” Personally, he has process technician, chemist, or mostly with DHV, and with anammox it never perceived it as pressure. biologist, you observe something new, was with the firm Paques B.V. “You just have to enjoy your you have to talk about it. The solution This certainly does not mean that subject so much that you are is often found at the interface of the research is now over: there are simply happy to share it with disciplines.” still enough research questions on others and therefore publish it. Moreover, the exchange of ideas with the subject of granular sludge. In the And if you keep breaking new colleagues from other fields can lead to Nereda grains, for example, there are ground, then you continue to interesting new subjects. A few years two highly promising biopolymers: publish, which also makes it ago, for example, the Geosciences alginates, and polyhydroxyalkanoates easier to get funding. I think department approached Van (PHAs). “Alginate is currently extracted the urge to publish is caused Loosdrecht with the idea for BioGrout, from algae and harvested at sea, in part by people who want to a method for strengthening sand by but there is just as much alginate in compare their achievements and turning it into sandstone with the help granular sludge as there is in algae, indicators with each other.” In of bacteria. “Usually, there is not much around 20%. We can harvest it, but we that respect, Van Loosdrecht did contact between civil engineers and can also examine whether we could not perform so well in the past. microbiologists, but it can create some optimise the process and perhaps “If you do something new, such interesting leads. There are all kinds get that up to 40 to 50%. PHAs are as with aerobic granular sludge, of possibilities offered by the process: actually a bioplastic. This shows how then there will only be three or you can build tunnels and retaining one subject leads you on to the next,” four groups worldwide who are walls, or strengthen foundations.” explains Van Loosdrecht. “We are now working on that subject, and There is now an extensive BioGeoCivil looking not at how to get the bacteria you will not be cited very much. research programme in place, which to grow as slowly as possible, but at We were very lucky that a group receives a grant from the STW how we can get as many polymers in in Singapore published on the Perspective programme. the cells as possible, so that we can adsorption of each individual use waste water for raw materials.” element on aerobic granular Anammox sludge. The periodic table is In the 1980s, Arnold Mulder of Gist- Production of raw materials rather large.” Brocades did contact TU Delft when he Van Loosdrecht is still working on observed an unfamiliar process during making breakthroughs, now in the

- 18 - ‘As an engineer, you have to interpret your observations and convert them into knowledge’

field of extracting raw materials. bags from biodegradable waste that many processes emerge from TU This, too, includes new fundamental are actually used for collecting the Delft. “The industrial microbiology insights that lie at the basis of possible biodegradable waste, thereby creating sector works with known organisms applications. “Until now, there was a closed loop. Part of that process and modifies them. But of all the a different explanation for the role of involves another special bacterium microbial life on earth, the proportion storage polymers. It was thought that discovered in Van Loosdrecht’s with which we are familiar amounts fat reserves were the result of limiting laboratory, the plasticicumulans, which to just a few per cent. We use the full conditions, such as the availability of has the unique ability to convert the 100%, and from that selection there is nutrients. However, it is actually an fatty acids that are released during inevitably an organism that produces intrinsic mechanism for adapting to the fermentation of biodegradable to an optimum level, and usually it dynamic conditions, such as day and waste into the bioplastic PHA. Another was not previously known. Most night rhythms and the effects of the example is a new method for enabling researchers think at the metabolic and tides. This means that bacteria do not algae to produce lipids in a highly genome level. We look at the ecology, have to grow as quickly as possible efficient manner. This could represent and that is unique.” in order to win the competition in an a breakthrough for the large-scale ecosystem. They have developed all production of dietary fats or biodiesel. kinds of mechanisms for making the “Anyone wishing to produce biodiesel most of those variable conditions.” usually looks for an organism that These are the mechanisms of is well able to do so and applies it in which he wishes to gain a greater axenic cultures. We take a slightly understanding, and which he wishes different approach. We do not simply to apply. “We are now looking at conduct a search and then work in a whether we can make processes sterile manner. We are investigating based around that kind of specialised the role of lipids in microbial ecology bacteria. It concerns not just waste and then set up an ecosystem in which water, but also other waste flows. The the organism that makes more lipids quantities of organic material that are than another is more successful. We lost, in the cultivation of tomatoes, call it ‘survival of the fattest’.” This for example, are enormous. You can ecology-based approach is, believes remove the fibres from the stems, Van Loosdrecht, the reason that so but that still leaves a type of pea soup containing a complex mass of all kinds of organic compounds. We Trophy cabinet are looking for ways of making one The Simon Stevin Meester prize 2013 is by no means the first award that or two usable compounds from that Mark van Loosdrecht has won. In 2012, he was awarded the prestigious Lee body of organic material that have Kuan Yew Water Prize in Singapore, and in 2011 he became a Knight in the multiple applications.” Alginates, Order of the Netherlands Lion. In 2010, he received an honorary doctorate for example, can serve as a raw from the Swiss university of technology, ETH Zurich, and before that, in material in the production of paper, 2007, the Dow Energy Prize. These are just a few examples. Van Loosdrecht textiles, foodstuffs, cosmetics, and hastens to add that the honour is not just his, and neither are the prizes. medications. “Fortunately, Nereda wins many prizes, so everyone at least has a turn.” Much is happening in this field as Also of note is that this year the American Association of Environmental well. TU Delft recently concluded a Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) named Van Loosdrecht so-called Green Deal with Attero, the Distinguished Lecturer of the Year. “I will be visiting the twenty leading Venlo city council, and bioplastics environmental study programmes to give lectures and to talk with the company Novamont, among others, students and staff.” for making biodegradable plastic

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 19 - Arno Smets Free top-level education

Arno Smets is an associate professor in the department of Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD) of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science (EEMCS). In 2013, he launched a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on solar energy on the prestigious EdX platform, on which more than 50,000 participants have enrolled. “When I was four, I wanted to be a postman. Now I actually deliver lectures to people in their homes”, says Arno Smets.

hotovoltaic, what does concept where we combine a solar cell they are on the back so that they do not that mean? with a catalysis surface that also works cast a shadow. We are also working on Photovoltaics (PV) is the on sunlight. We can use it to convert thin-film technologies, or solar cell foil, Ptechnology where you water into oxygen and hydrogen, for which much less semi-conductor convert sunlight into electricity using thereby creating hydrogen gas as material is needed. The yield from thin semi-conductor materials. PV is slowly ‘solar fuel’. That can then be stored, silicon solar cells is now eleven per becoming a mature technology, which or you can convert it into a methane cent, which is not much less than that

is rapidly growing - at a rate of around gas, absorbing CO2 in the process as for the lower-priced normal panels. 40% per year worldwide, no less. If well. That is the idea, but it is still in we extrapolate the trend from the its infancy. We have already achieved You have also devised a lot of past five years, then solar energy will some good results in the laboratory. course material… account for a substantial proportion of Using bismuth vanadate as a catalyst, Yes, during the past two years, we our energy production in 2020. That is together with a thin silicon solar cell, have developed a special photovoltaics a good thing, of course, but technical we have achieved a yield of around graduation profile for the Electrical problems shift. You will have to deal five per cent, the highest so far for a Engineering and Sustainable Energy with fluctuation problems, because catalyst of this kind. Technology Master’s programmes. you sometimes have a lot, and Students learn about everything from sometimes none at all. We therefore When will concepts of this type the various materials and technologies have to learn to be careful in how we come onto the market? to the as yet unproven third-generation buffer and store solar energy. There are all kinds of innovative concepts. Our approach to the latter concepts which probably will not get is very fundamental. We know what How could we do that? anywhere, even if they are improved the limits are of the materials that At present, there are no effective on the short term. Ninety per cent of we currently use, and we are looking ways of storing solar energy. Batteries, what is now on the market are the for materials or structures that may for example, are still fairly expensive, solar cells that everyone is familiar possess characteristics that could with limited energy density. We are with, made with crystalline silicon enable them to function better. This better off looking for alternatives. You wafers. That will remain the most is a challenge, because in practice could convert solar energy directly into usual type of technology for the there is no chance of that happening a solar fuel. It took nature millions of next twenty years, as we are able with 99 per cent of them. Students years to do so, via photosynthesis and to produce it inexpensively and the are very attracted to the subject of PV. the compression of bio waste; maybe best yields are about twenty per cent We now have 25 graduates carrying we will soon be able to do this very at panel level, but it will depend on a out research from lab level to system quickly. Together with the Materials for learning curve lasting several decades. level. That is like having a small army Energy Conversion and Storage groep In addition, the panels are improving all of people at your disposal, and their (MECS) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum the time: for example, many now have work often produces new research Berlin (HZB), we have developed a contacts on the front, but it is better if proposals.

- 20 - Free top-level education

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 21 - ‘If 3,000 people ultimately gain a certificate, then that represents sixty years’ work. It is fair to describe that as massive’

And all this can be learnt in eight took a media training course, because How did you end up at weeks in the MOOC? you have to know how to be yourself PVMD? We deal with the same subjects as when you are standing in front of a I studied applied physics in in the Master’s programme – basic camera with 50,000 people watching Eindhoven and gained my PhD principles, materials, technologies and you. I deliberately did not watch other in plasma physics. Plasma is systems, but I only give an introduction. MOOCs, because I believe I have to be ionised material – it consists of You cannot really go in-depth, but it is myself. Later on, I will look to see how a gas in which some electrons still a tough course. It is based on my other people have done it. Our films pass through unimpeded. minor in Solar Cells, so it is at the level are organised in short blocks, created Fluorescent lamps contain of a third-year Bachelor’s. We actually in such a way that they could also be plasma, for example. You can do more than in the minor: we also look viewed as infotainment. We have use plasma to deposit materials at solar fuel and solar heating systems. some great animations as well, which in very thin layers. In my Students who complete it have a good explain things much more clearly than research for my PhD, I applied basis that enables them to understand when I talk about them for an hour. We this in order to deposit silicon PV and solar energy, and read up on the also spent a lot of time devising the layers, which you can use for more detailed subjects in the literature. exercises. You have to ensure that you solar cells. That is how I came appeal to different audiences, so that into it. After gaining my PhD It is a resounding success … both the serious students and those and doing a postdoc, I spent You could say that, yes. More than viewing out of interest receive top- five years working in Japan at 53,000 people have enrolled for it. That quality teaching. It is harder to generate AIST in the Research Center for includes people who want to watch the enthusiasm among people online than Photovoltaics. In 2010, I came films out of interest, as well as students those in a classroom, but then again, to Delft to set up the PVMD who take it very seriously and want to there is a forum where students can department under the guidance obtain their certificate. The dropout rate help each other. of Professor Miro Zeman. The is high, but 45% of those who enrolled department has since grown actually started the course, around What happens on the forum? considerably. 25,000 people. That does not seem You might ask a question on a subject many when compared to the total of that has been covered, such as the 53,000, but in relation to the numbers future of solar energy. Thousands of day students, it is a lot. Every year, of people then have their say on the around fifty TU Delft Bachelor’s students challenges for this technology of the complete the subject. If three thousand future. And slowly, you see the main people ultimately gain a certificate, then points starting to emerge. that represents sixty years’ work. It is It is a self-regulating discussion fair to describe that as ‘massive’. between all those participating. You only need to look at it. If a student is How do you construct a MOOC struggling to understand something, of this kind? there will be ten others who can By investing a huge amount of time: explain it. If someone gives an incorrect I have been working on this day and explanation, then he will be corrected. night for the past four months. I first I also made a film about the history of

- 22 - PV, but covering this in ten minutes a role. We have five or six hundred the interim and practice exercises, that hardly does the subject justice. So you participants who are right on schedule, kind of thing. We can use that next year ask the people what they themselves and you can see that they are very when we organise the course again. For considered the most important good students. It may be that we can us, this first time was an experiment. developments, and what they would ask them to come and do a Bachelor’s How can we do it better? You notice, have liked to have seen in the film. You or Master’s programme here. The for example, that many people drop get so much input back, you could write academic world has become global out after the first tasks. Maybe we can a book on it. For example, someone and the competition for attracting influence that, but maybe the dropout sent me a copy of an article from 1916 the best talent is now very much on. rate is a statistical fact of life. The work that mentioned solar thermal plants. So Three-quarters of our students and PhD is not easy, though – they really do have the forum too is massive, it’s impossible students come from abroad, and half to spend eight hours a week on it. to read everything on there. In the first will stay on to work here, because there week we had 5,000 responses a day, as is still a shortage of science students And what is it that motivates well as many messages of thanks and here. And of course it’s a pedagogic you? positive feedback. experiment. For me personally, it is the idealistic character behind the course. I Why is TU Delft taking part in Please explain … was fortunate enough to have had this? When you give a lesson, you have your outstanding teachers and inspirational There are various reasons. It is good suspicions about study behaviour, but professors. There are many people in PR, of course. We can show that you cannot be entirely sure. But now the world who are not as lucky, but who we provide top-level education and we can prove it by using the data from have the same or better or more talents belong among those top universities the larger group. We see how students than I do. As long as they have access on the EdX platform. With success, as learn: they are as efficient as possible. to the internet, they can at least get a many students agree TU Delft is a top They work to deadlines and get down to free taste of top-level education. Take university, after they have followed a work as a test approaches. Much more for example students in some remote MOOC. work goes into the assignments that village somewhere, but with access to The possibility of scouting also plays count towards the certificate than into the internet. If I can inspire ten people in such circumstances to move forward... even if it is just one, then I regard that as a success in itself. Sun-to-hydrogen conversion for CO2 neutral fuels Being able to store energy from renewable sources is a major step on the road to the sustainable provision of energy. A team of scientists from the faculties of Applied Sciences and EEMCS, including Arno Smets, recently submitted a proposal for further research into their concept for sun-to- hydrogen conversion. With their device – a solar cell combined with a photoanode – they hope to be able to achieve a yield of up to fifteen per cent. Their project is currently being funded by Shell, FOM (the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter), and the NOW (Netherlands

Organisation for Scientific Research) as part of the Energy topsector ‘CO2 neutral fuels’ programme.

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 23 - - 24 - Paulien Herder 700 energy scientists

Professor Paulien Herder is a professor of Engineering Systems Design in Energy & Industry at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM). In April 2013, she was appointed chairman of the Delft Energy Initiative (DEI), the platform for all energy-related research and education at TU Delft. And that is quite a large group, says Paulien Herder: “With over 700 energy scientists, we are a major player in the Netherlands”.

ow did you end up at technical scientists, we also have improve the estimate of how much Engineering Systems social scientists who know all about will be generated in the next few hours Design? public administration and legislation, by combining data with an accurate HI wanted to study economists, and philosophers who local weather forecast. Storage within something technical and as far as I concentrate on the societal and ethical the energy network can also provide a was concerned, in those days that aspects. These groups are increasingly buffer when generation and demand was synonymous with studying in conducting research on a joint basis. are out of sync. Delft. I did chemical engineering The way in which an engineer designs At the same time, you have to think and found myself moving more and something has consequences for how about a feed-in and feed-out pricing more towards systems. I gained my it is managed from an administrative structure. The technical design PhD on designing chemical factories, point of view and whether you can influences how you can determine the and gradually what I was doing was establish a market for it. And vice versa price, on the basis of the data that the becoming more and more broad-based – you can see that the administrative system can supply. You could say we in terms of application possibilities. If framework affects what aspect of are going to determine what the rate you look at subjects like management a system you can engineer. That per hour will be, based on a chosen and maintenance and the inclusion of interaction is very strong. Nowadays market model, but that also has to be the lifetime in the design of a factory, you cannot, for example develop a supported technically by the underlying then it appears that that is also a factor technical system independently and system. Conversely, a particular in other sectors - on the railways, in subsequently draw up legislation pricing structure will affect consumer road-building, the water industry, and around it or develop a market for it. behaviour and consequently demand telecoms. I do not pretend to know all on the system, as you can see with the about their infrastructures – for me the Why is that no longer possible? current day and night rates. emphasis lies on the energy-related Before the energy market was sector – but I am in a position to speak deregulated, the production of How can your research help about methodology. electricity was mostly centrally here? regulated and depended on demand. We make models that give insight According to rector Karel But the generation of electricity into the effects of policies. The Luyben you are uniquely is now in private hands while the government can incorporate all placed to bring the technical infrastructure is still publicly owned. kinds of incentives in its policies for and institutional aspects of the However, the process of generating influencing consumer behaviour, for energy issue together … solar and wind energy is variable, and example. You can also encourage That is something I very much enjoy, cannot easily follow the demand for the energy companies in the form of yes. Engineers mostly think in terms of electricity. There is a partial technical grants to generate more solar energy, quantitative models and focus on the solution to that, in the shape of smart or to base themselves at a particular physical design and the construction meters that can steer the demand location. We model all these factors of systems. At TPM, in addition to for electricity somewhat. Or you can and show what the effects are and

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 25 - ‘We ask ourselves what policies we are going to implement in order to make possible the transition to sustainable energy’

whether the energy system is able to Because of all kinds of strange effects in its consistency with regard to cope with them. Each of these factors that complicated world system, we now its policies. That seems a tricky affects the others, so these are complex face extra CO2 emissions. business … systems and simulation models that we That’s right, it leads to tension in the are talking about. That sounds rather complex… market. If, for example, after two years This also plays a major role in energy Indeed. It is as if you are in the middle you suddenly cut off a grant because transition, as we ask ourselves what of a movement and that you hope to be there is no more money available, policies we are going to implement in able to at least have a little influence in then that creates risks for companies order to make possible the transition to steering it the right direction, that with that are too great to bear. Years ago, sustainable energy, without excluding your motives or technical knowledge Germany committed itself to the anything or sending out the wrong you can move the right way. How, establishment of a large-scale solar messages. Here we also have to deal in the light of all these uncertainties energy industry, including a long-term with unforeseen developments beyond and not knowing how exactly such a fixed feed-in tariff. You know then our control, that nevertheless influence complex system reacts and works, can that you can invest and that it will be policy outcomes. An example is the you nonetheless stimulate innovation worthwhile. Things are moving in the shale gas revolution in the US. Because and make policies? Our field is all about right direction in the Netherlands now, of the supply of shale gas there, coal dealing with these uncertainties. with the Social and Economic Council of in Europe is being sold at rock-bottom the Netherlands Energy Agreement on prices. This means that all coal-fired You have said in the past that the sustainable energy policies. Meanwhile, power stations are running at full steam. Netherlands is not known for the innovation contracts in the Energy topsector mean that the relevant parties can invest in sustainable energy as well. That brings about stability for TU Delft is actively aiming for diversity, including gender businesses and creates opportunities diversity. Are you active in that area? for applied research. There is also a lot I am the ambassador of the TU Delft Technology Fellowship for outstanding happening in the way of market creation female researchers. I also sometimes take part in DEWIS activities - DElft and pricing structures for the supply and Women In Science. There have always been relatively a lot of women in transport of gas and electricity. the group that I am currently in charge of; it is about 50-50. If you look at For example, who pays for laying the the management teams and advisory bodies, then I can’t help noticing that branch between the network and a farm things are often different there. I do make the odd comment on that, from that supplies biogas to the net? And time to time, yes. how much and when should the farmer Looking at diversity beyond just the number of female scientists, then pay for distribution? And who decides I think it is a good and nice thing that we have a lot of foreign PhD whether he is allowed to supply gas students. At the same time, we also try to retain a small Dutch contingent, when demand is low? because it is also good for the non-Dutch to be able to operate in a Dutch environment. In any case, cooperation is more effective in groups with As the chairman of the DEI, you a broad-based composition, and it is more enjoyable, too. Every year we saw your first task to be that organise a dinner in the group, when colleagues from one particular country of ensuring that scientists and do the cooking in their own style. We have already had Iranian and Indian students just happen to meet dinners, for example. Or we all bring in a homemade dish, creating a lovely each other more often … and colourful array of dishes. That social cohesion is very important to me The idea behind that is that different to keep enjoying my work. That is also why I work at TU Delft, because it is scientists often have more in common simply a very social and friendly place. with each other than they initially realise. But you also notice that people do not always meet up by chance.

- 26 - ‘We ask ourselves what policies we are going to implement in order to make possible the transition to sustainable energy’

That cooperation between member What other plans do you have for of the EEMCS and TPM Faculties is the DEI? expanding all the time, now also in the I think we could certainly improve our area of smart grids. The same type of visibility to the outside world. With more negotiation and harmonisation issues than 700 energy scientists, we have a are a feature here, too. We have now large research volume, something that developed this cooperation into the is not really evident in the public debate. PowerWeb research programme, in The reputations of individual professors which we combine our knowledge are of course the most important factor of public administration, economics, for visibility in the public debate. But mathematics, algorithms, and if, as a professor, you are also able to mechanical and control engineering in say that your research is embedded in order to research and shape the energy a group of 700 energy scientists, then market of the future. surely that considerably enhances your This all came about as a result of a standing? It would help raise our profile chance meeting during a project on the in the context of Horizon 2020, the margins of my field. It really inspired new European funding programme for me. That type of cooperation, of course, research. They simply shouldn’t be able is the very essence of the Delft Energy to ignore us. Initiative. You are already wearing so many Now and then you have to give a gentle So this is now for students as hats, do you still have time for nudge in that direction, to give them the well? teaching? opportunity to get together. Yes, we recently had a meeting of all I really enjoy working with students, I was recently involved in a road students with a TU Delft Excellence so I do give lectures where possible. infrastructure management and Scholarship. When you connect Last quarter I taught a module in my old maintenance project. Road maintenance them with scientists you see them discipline. You suddenly find yourself contracts often run from twenty to get really inspired. And it’s also great dealing with chemical process design, thirty years. During the tendering for the scientists to be linked up to an reactors and distillation. I love being in phase, Rijkswaterstaat has to describe outstanding student. We now want to the classroom, doing sums together, what exactly is needed and to work see whether the students can do their if you like. I get a huge amount of out how to ensure that the contractors entire honours track in energy. We are inspiration from the things that students work quickly and inexpensively. The currently developing a few interesting ask me during lectures. contractors for their part want to deploy parcels of energy-related subjects. Otherwise, I am the thesis committee their people as efficiently as possible, They will then be able to combine that chairman for around thirty to forty and earn something in the process. with a research project with one of students a year, which mostly involves There is a game-like interaction here, our scientists or with a project inside a a lot of reading, thinking, and talking. It and information technologists are good company. is also great to see how students often at game theory and develop algorithms However, we already have a very make a giant transition from the start for it. They helped us devise a ‘serious active group of students in the Delft of the graduation process to the actual game’ in which Rijkswaterstaat and Energy Initiative - the Energy Club. They graduation moment itself. They start contractors can learn from each other, organise a whole range of activities: out as a student feeling their way and and explore the potential benefits of seminars, speed-dating with companies, end up a fully fledged engineer. That is having several contractors working on a study trips, and so on. It is partly thanks something I really relish. single road system gear their activities to them that the DEI is so dynamic. to one another.

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 27 - Hans Hellendoorn and Hans Welleman Keeping students on course

Professor Hans Hellendoorn is head of the Delft Center for Systems and Control (DCSC) and Director of Education at the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (3mE). Ir. Hans Welleman is a lecturer in Structural Mechanics and Director of Studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEG). Both faculties introduced a revised Bachelor’s curriculum in 2013. Two education experts in conversation.

irst, the introductions. Hans it’s successful mass teaching. “Over why many students fall behind in the Hellendoorn’s subject area the years I’ve developed a well-oiled first semester - in some cases they is control engineering, more system for getting those large groups fall so far behind that they can never Fspecifically systems with through the structural mechanics catch up. It was also the key to making many regulators. “All manner of modules in a structured way.” This is changes. “That’s when we said: we’re distribution networks - water, gas, how the gentlemen know each other: going to make them see that their electricity, containers - are becoming Hellendoorn went to see his colleague studies should have top priority too. increasingly automated. The trick is in the run-up to the review to see what We ask students to hand in homework to have all those systems working the success factors were in his large- assignments twice a week, and we together in a hierarchy. I’ll give you scale teaching. give them interim tests. We give the an example. The pressure in the gas ‘cold shower’ slightly earlier, so that network is slightly too high to ensure Priorities they realise they have to pull their that everyone always has enough Agreements with the Ministry of weight.” And this works, to a certain gas. But all the pipes leak slightly, Education, Culture and Science about extent. “They’re still kids of eighteen so overall a huge amount of gas is pass-rate percentages were the who don’t always like to toe the line; lost. If we have more information reason for the curriculum review, but I’ve seen that at home too,” grins about the users, provided by smart was that the only reason? According Hellendoorn. meters, we can reduce the pressure to Hellendoorn, even before this, At CEG it was mainly a matter of the and limit the amount of gas lost,” 3mE had been wanted to make changing preconditions, according to explains Hellendoorn. Having taught changes. “For us, student motivation Welleman. “Strictly speaking, if you with pleasure for many years, he still was the main consideration,” says look at the pass rates, we weren’t supervises many final-year students. Hellendoorn. “We had a survey carried doing too badly at all. But the old Recently, however, he has been mainly out, and the results showed that a programme was no longer feasible occupied with the Bachelor’s review first-year student has two priorities: due to the Bachelor-before-Master rule and lecturer quality. going to live in rooms, with everything and the binding recommendation on Hans Welleman is not only Director that involves: buying stuff, going continuation of studies,” he explains. of Studies, he has a full teaching through the housemate selection The changing intake also plays a role. schedule. Teaching is something he process. And meeting new people - at “First-year students are all still really has done for many years with great the sports society, the student society; interested in technology, but they don’t passion. “I’ve been teaching structural in short: the social life that can take realise you need analytical and maths mechanics since 2000. These are large up so much time. Students view both skills. Potentially, they have those skills modules, especially in the Bachelor’s these things as priorities. They think and we can tap into them, but if you do programme. I teach two courses with their studies are important, but don’t that in a way that’s too obvious, they more than 400 students in Years 1 and make them a priority. In many cases, leave,” Welleman observes. “You have 2, and another 180 in Year 3. You could the first examination period was to entice them,” agrees Hellendoorn. call it ‘mass teaching’,” he says. If it is, something of a cold shower.” This is

- 28 - Keeping students on course

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 29 - ‘Our students have to be able to tinker with things. Making things; that’s what makes them happy’

Happy to be able to tinker with things. Making had lost interest by the time we got to 3mE has introduced a new programme things; that’s what makes them happy.” the practical side. Now we combine an that focuses strongly on the interests of The new programme gives them every essential maths and physics module students. “Research has shown that our opportunity to do that. “In the past, our with a related project. In strength theory, students are true trial-and-error people. aim in the first year was to establish a for example, they have to build a car that They like to learn by doing. They have solid theoretical foundation, but they has very thin wheels but can still move. There’s still a lot of theory involved, but in this way they do something fun in every quarter.” Lecturer quality There is a similar development at High pass rates require high-quality teaching, and by dint of their standing, CEG. “We want to preserve the things universities are obliged to provide teaching of the highest level. It has we’re strong in, such as scientific therefore been agreed that, in the coming years, everyone who teaches at modelling and the technical side. At TU Delft must obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), except the same time, we want to link that to those who are eligible for exemption. The Faculty of 3mE is already at applications in a light-hearted way. We an advanced stage in that process. And that is essential, thinks Hans do this with ‘Bouwplaats’, a practical Hellendoorn. “Anyone who wants to teach in secondary education has module with exercises, practicals and to follow teacher training, but at a university, lecturers are put in front of a project assignments,” says Welleman. class without training”. That is now a thing of the past. “All new lecturers Both emphasise the importance of work towards the UTQ. They learn all sorts of things that don’t come as mathematics and physics. And things a matter of course: the criteria for producing a good examination, how to were quite tense for a while when interact with the class, dealing with other cultures. Lecturers are often very there was talk that the separate maths enthusiastic about what they’ve learned.” module would be scrapped TU-wide. Lecturers with more than five years’ experience don’t need to follow the “The plan was to stop teaching maths whole UTQ programme, but are evaluated instead. “We’re looking for as a separate subject and incorporate it 360-degree information. What sort of books and lecture notes does the in other courses. That might be possible lecturer use, and what are the examinations like? What is the feedback for a faculty such as Industrial Design from students and colleagues? After that, an education expert and a Engineering, but not for a construction- colleague teaching in the same field as the lecturer attend one of the oriented faculty like ours,” says lecturer’s teaching sessions. Then a discussion is held to determine what Hellendoorn. Welleman adds: “Then the the lecturer needs to do to attain the UTQ level,” he says. This method whole analytical path in maths would was formulated by 3mE in cooperation with the Faculty of Architecture and become lost and no longer recognisable the Built Environment. And it works. “Lecturers see it as an enrichment. for students.” They ask whether the education expert can come back to observe teaching in another subject, and some of them have signed up for the whole UTQ Crème de la crème programme. The fact that people put their heart and soul into their teaching In Welleman’s view, there are also is sometimes overlooked, so it’s also a form of recognition.” improvements to be made with regard to the transition from pre-university education. “The teaching of maths at

- 30 - Study success Until recently, only one-quarter of students completed their three- year Bachelor’s programme in four years; the rest took longer. The average time to graduation for Delft engineering students was no less than 7.2 years. These figures kept Delft at the bottom of the national league tables for many years. On the other hand, Delft graduates are much favoured by employers for their “nice to know” knowledge and practical experience - often gained through a range of extracurricular activities. The times are changing. “Society thinks five years should really be long enough to obtain a degree,” pre-university level is going in surprising The Faculty is already experimenting stated Paul Rullmann, TU Delft directions. Vector analysis and linear with the new approach. “Interim tests Vice President for Education, in algebra are no longer taught. Logic have been introduced in a number an interview in 2011. In 2012, has been introduced, but at the cost of subjects, with a single resit at the higher-education institutions even of technical and analytical maths,” end of the period. I’m curious to see entered into official performance he explains. The pace could also be whether it works.” 3mE also wants to agreements with the Ministry of increased, to avoid a culture shock work towards that in the long term, but Education, Culture and Science. TU when students start the subject at has opted for an interim solution in the Delft is aiming high: the percentage university. “What we teach here in meantime. “We’re now scheduling the of Bachelor’s students graduating seven weeks takes two years at pre- resits in the middle of next semester within four years must increase university level. On the other hand, the so that they don’t disrupt the normal from 27% to 55%. Not only to crème de la crème are still coming to us. examinations,” says Hellendoorn. comply with the agreements, but If we’re not able to train them, then we The effects of the Bachelor’s review also because higher pass rates have a serious problem,” he reasons. are already evident. “We tried out the benefit the university and its Hellendoorn agrees: “We really can’t new measures last year and we’re students too. ‘Studyable’ curricula complain about students from pre- already seeing that new students are should inspire students to study university education. They’re certainly catching up with their seniors, who are at a faster pace. TU Delft wants to clever enough.” starting to sense the importance of achieve this through, for example, One of the principles of the new the exams. We’re very busy with the a modular structure with greater programmes is a different examination second year, because they’ve really coherence within programmes, method. CEG is trying to avoid the picked up the pace all of a sudden. A more frequent interim tests, well-known snowball effect. “In the miraculous effect,” says Welleman. and intelligent timetabling of past, all the examination stages were Hellendoorn is seeing the same examinations and resits. All these scheduled together, which made it developments. “Entire bottlenecks measures are geared to the difficult for students who needed to are disappearing,” he says. “It makes methods of teaching and studying catch up, especially if they had fallen sense. It shows the changes are rather than to the content or behind in more than one subject. Now beginning to pay off.” quality of the degree programmes we’re trying to spread out the first - because no-one wants to meddle examination opportunities, so that with that. students can keep up sufficiently to earn at least 75% of their credits in Binding recommendation on the the first year,” explains Welleman. continuation of studies (BSA) But that’s not all. In Welleman’s view, Students have to earn 75% of there needs to be a culture shift in the their credits in the first year. This long term too. “Students should aim requirement ensures that students to pass their examinations first time, who are not on a suitable degree and resits should be for ‘emergencies’ programme don’t discover this too only. They’re not a right that entitles late. you to move your programme around.”

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 31 - Daan Bruggink ‘Ecological building should also be attractive’

Architect Daan Bruggink graduated from the Faculty of Architecture in 2004. He is the founder and owner of ORGA architect, a firm specialising in bio-based building. The building world has honoured him with the Dutch Bouwprijs 2013, in the category ‘Talent with a Future’. TU Delft added to the compliment by naming him Alumnus of the Year 2013 because of his passion for sustainability and because he doubled his turnover for six years in succession, in spite of the economic crisis. “Our market is actually growing, and we are riding the wave”, says Daan Bruggink.

ight years... my year. It was never actually built – it started to be interested in sustainable is how long I spent studying was a student project – but from a materials and what you could do with in Delft. I was interested in construction point of view, it was also them. After graduating, I worked for Eorganic architecture even too difficult. The sand from the dunes the Vereniging Integrale Biologische then, but the thinking in Delft was very could have blown over it, but just as Architectuur (‘Association of integrated matter-of-fact; one of my teachers easily piled up three metres high, biological architecture’) in Den Bosch. thought that the Zwarte Madonna in which would be too heavy. The network I built up at that time The Hague was the most attractive is still useful to me today. I learned building in the Netherlands. I did not My graduation project... all about materials, but sustainable find it easy being in that atmosphere; was a zoo for the Diemerpark in buildings from that time could use perhaps that is why it took me longer Amsterdam, part of which was the a bit of punch, which is why I prefer to complete my studies. I did a lot ‘Canopy’, a covered tropical rainforest. to describe myself as ‘modernly of work alongside my studies, at At 3.5 hectares, the project was far ecological’ rather than sustainable. I architectural agencies. Learning by too big, so I was working on it for a want what I design to be architecture. doing is the fastest way to learn, long time. But it was great fun, and It is very important for taking ecological after all. Nowadays, that is why you there was so much to think about. building forward that we make first have to spend two years gaining For example, how do you create the attractive objects, although ‘attractive’ practical experience before you can call architectural illusion of the animals in is a broad term. yourself an architect – that was not the the zoo wandering around freely? Then case in those days. I think that is a step you use ‘go-away-green’, a green that Many people... forward. makes the animal pens disappear into have misconceptions when it comes the background. Another factor is how to ecology. The first house I designed I once designed a ski slope... visitors walk around a zoo of that kind? as an architect was for a couple in in the form of a letter C. It ran like This latter aspect is still important in Almere. They wanted a modern, no- a kind of trunk through the dunes my work – the organic walking route nonsense home with a striking roof towards the beach. The advantage of through a building. ridge that pointed up into the air. You the organic form was that you could do not actually need such an angled snowboard on the inside of the C. It It was only towards the end... ridge, and certainly not on the northern won the prize for the best project in of my time as a student that I really side of the house, where there is no

- 32 - Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 33 - sun. The dogmatic world of sustainable government can easily stimulate it too. That is a wonderful material, a grass that building would say in that case that However, if you ask me, the shortage can grow ten metres a month. You can it would be a waste of the material. I of raw materials is a much greater almost see it shooting out of the ground. would say let us make it from material problem. Energy is a problem, but we Conversely, a wooden beam measuring that can be regrown, in which case it already have the answer, in the form ten metres long needs decades to grow. would not make any difference. It is of renewable sources; it is simply a Pandas only eat the young shoots, so always a matter of trial and error. I want question of using them. That is now you would not be competing with them. to build ecologically, but I also want to slowly changing. You notice that the It sounds tempting, but it has to come create beautiful architecture. Idealism environmental performance of building all the way from China. Then to use it is not enough; you have to remain materials is also starting to count. Take you need glue, and what does the glue practical. Sometimes something may be wood fibre as an insulation material, contain? So that is something I have no not quite as good, but still very beautiful. for example: it is more expensive to interest in, for the time being. Which way do you go in that case? It just buy than glass wool, but it is a more depends. effective insulator. In addition, it is Individual customers... breathable and so can be used to deliberately choose us. They come Nine people out of ten... regulate moisture. especially for an ecological design. We who describe themselves as have selection at the gate, so to speak. sustainable are referring to energy. Natural materials... Not that we select are customers, but The emphasis on saving energy lasted like wood and reed can be used as they they come to us because this is how for a long time in the Netherlands, are. You also need so-called technical they want to build. And they never ask which is logical – it is the easiest step materials, for below the ground for us for concrete or aluminium. to take, and easy money too. You can example, as wood and reed will decay However, often the contractors were continue building in the same way, but there. Take polystyrene, which is oil- the problem. You may have spent then with some extra insulation and a based, so therefore is of a long cyclical months working with a client, and then few solar panels on your roof, and the organic origin. Instead of that, you a contractor submits a low bid in order now have bio-based materials, such as to win your tender. Then the haggling biodegradable polystyrene. started: no guarantee on bio-based There are many more interesting materials, innovations being crossed materials in the pipeline, such as Nova out because of conservatism, etc. We Lignum, which literally means ‘new also saw that the contractors were wood’. It is made from the stalks getting smaller and smaller, no longer of aubergines that remain after the were there forty people, only two or harvest. They can be hardened and three people orchestrating freelancers. turned into a ceramic material by There came a point when we asked pressurising them. You can also make it ourselves, why don’t we get rid of that from other materials, such as tomatoes guy at the top? We need someone who or grass from verges, as long as it does coordinates it all himself and who can not compete with the production of take on projects as the main contractor. food. That is why we set up ORGA bouw, a separate company that carries out Not everything... our projects. Now we really can build is as ecological as it seems. I was ecologically, without everything falling recently at a meeting about bamboo. by the wayside in the tendering process.

- 34 - ‘When the crisis began, everyone said we were doomed. However, the market for ecological building is actually growing’

That is not only more efficient, it also makes you feel more cheerful. That has The alumnus prize... means fewer failure costs into the to do with the fact that they first had to comes with a financial award for bargain. use the building on a temporary basis. If research. I have already thought of it had all been conceived in advance, it a purpose to which I can put it. We The economic crisis is a would never have been as nice as it is. recently considered building a nature blessing... This way, it has grown organically, with villa for Natuurmonumenten, in order according to Jan Rotmans, input from students and employees. to show how you can build in a way professor of transitions and transition Old city centres grew in the same way, that helps promote nature. This led to management. That is because people which is why everyone enjoys them so all kinds of ideas, such as making sure are now starting to think outside the much. The outer districts that were all that it is completely dark at night for the box. When the crisis began, everyone planned do not have that atmosphere. bats, and nest boxes for birds. Now I said we were doomed. However, the would like to build a nature villa like that market for ecological building is actually The Bouwprijs... in the Ardennes. It would be an entirely growing, and we are riding on the front was a real honour. The fact that the ecological home, completely off-the- edge of this wave because I started traditional building industry awarded grid, so there’s a lot to think about. We at an early stage. Many of our clients such a prize for bio-based building is would fit a recycle shower that would are private citizens who are concerned a sign that it is starting to catch on reuse the water from the shower even about the world. They have searched there as well. It is still a conservative while it was being used. We could also the internet to find out what is possible, world, though. There is just one monitor the technical performance of and they know what they want – and architect, Thomas Rau, in the top of the the house. After all, it would not just be they all have sustainability at the top sustainable top 100, and no property a calling card for ORGA, I would also like of their list. After all, if you have the developers at all. At the same time, the to derive knowledge from it that you choice you would rather go for good, bio-based economy is growing at an could then use in cities. I would really sustainable insulation than something enormous rate in the Netherlands. And like to involve students from TU Delft less. we are at the front of the wave, because on this project, together with students of our excellent infrastructure, our large from the Walloon provinces in Belgium. For existing buildings... chemical industry, and a flourishing bio-based renovation is ideal. We trade sector. In any case... are working on a project in an old Why is the building sector lagging The prizes have helped us in many farmhouse, which is made mostly of behind, in that case? Perhaps it is ways. My blogs and articles are read brick and wood. All you have to do is because building companies often fall much more frequently now, which has remove the bad materials that have back on their old networks. It is not led to new commissions. And I am been added in the last few decades, really what their clients expect of them; getting lots of requests from TU Delft such as asbestos, glass wool and they throw a dash of sustainability into students for projects or interviews. I plastics, and replace them with the mix, but as soon as cost savings now spend about a third of my time ecological materials. You then have a have to be made, it is all thrown giving presentations and lectures to very healthy building. overboard. Building ecologically in the the industry. That is fine, but there is a The Architecture and the Built way we do, is essential. Sustainability downside: I am an architect, and that Environment faculty building is another is an integral part of our projects, aim of making the ultimate design is good example. The old building did have and without it, there will be no more always being deferred, because I never something about it, but for me it very projects. get the chance to finish it. But whatever, much exuded the heavy architecture of I am still developing personally too. Broek and Bakema. Now, going inside it

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 35 - - 36 - Marcel Fleuren ‘I have always had the urge to invent things’

Ir. Marcel Fleuren graduated cum laude from the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering in 2011. His graduation project was the Exo-L, an external ankle band that is attached to the shoe in order to prevent the wearer from spraining their ankle. The Exo-L reached the finals of no less than six product competitions, ranging from the Philips Innovation Award to the National Sports Innovation Prize. Marcel Fleuren has just started his own firm at YES!Delft, the TU Delft business centre for high-tech start-ups.

he idea for the Exo-L was working on a large number of roofs. biomimicry, or imitating nature, in other actually born of necessity: The original idea was to go travelling, words. “The original name was Exo Marcel Fleuren used to sprain but I wanted to combine that with Ligament, external ankle band, but that This ankle regularly. “It’s a very gaining some work experience. It went was a bit of a mouthful.” unpleasant injury. I often had to spend so well, that I stayed in Pretoria for a weeks with my leg up, and eventually year,” says Fleuren. After the first year Made to measure I stopped playing football altogether,” of his Master’s degree programme, he What makes the patented Exo-L so says Fleuren. Existing braces and tape spent six months working for Philips special? “The Exo-L moves with the designed to prevent sprains hindered in Shanghai, where he developed a body, but only up to a certain point. It his ability to do sports properly, patented soy milk maker. Back in Delft, only tightens up if the ankle is about which is why he set about looking he added a mechanical wood saw to sprain. It protects you against the for alternatives. This was entirely in machine to his patent portfolio. risks associated with moving, while keeping with Fleuren’s nature: from a The Exo-L came into being three still allowing you to do sports,” Fleuren very young age, he saw himself as a bit years ago during his graduation project explains. The Exo-L is also made to of an inventor. “I have always had the at Industrial Design Engineering. measure. “We visit all our customers urge to invent things. Wherever you In partnership with Erasmus MC, personally. If someone is interested, go, you see things that could be done Fleuren started to look for a means we make sure that we call on them better – things that could be useful for supporting the ankle that did within a week in order to measure to people. And I always wrote them not hinder movement. “There are them up.” This is done with the help down.” It resulted in a book full of hundreds of products on the market, of a 3D scan and a 3D printer. “As a ideas, which is updated almost every but they are medical splints rather result, the external ankle band is a day. than sports products. They have hard perfect fit and becomes an extension parts and ties that fix the position of the body, leading to far fewer Patents of your ankle.” Fleuren went back pressure points and irritation than with His urge to invent led him to a degree to basics and carried out extensive normal braces. You attach the Exo-L on in Industrial Design Engineering at research into the anatomy of the foot. the outside of your shoe with a special TU Delft, albeit via a rather circuitous “In the dissecting room in Rotterdam, attachment piece, which avoids friction route. “After completing my I analysed how exactly the tendons, inside the shoe,” says Fleuren. The Bachelor’s degree, I worked for a year muscles, and ligaments work.” It was Exo-L is now ready for the market. in South Africa, where I developed a here that he had the idea of making a A lot of work has so far gone into sun boiler, which can now be found kind of external ankle band – a form of the product. Since graduating cum

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 37 - laude, Fleuren has dedicated himself two years, the Exo-L has been further run into problems if anything ever goes full-time to developing it. An application developed and tested extensively. Take wrong,” says Fleuren. for a Valorisation Grant to Technology the cord, for example, that connects Foundation STW was honoured in the product to the shoe. “We looked at Potential 2011, with which he was assisted by some 40 or 50 cords and tested them After three pilot runs with more and his graduation supervisor. “Dr Johan until the best remained. We tested more participants, Fleuren was ready to Molenbroek was a great help. The how much strain they could take and start finding investors who are looking Valorisation Grant enabled us to carry the point at which they broke. We have for businesses and products that have out research into how keen people were countless folders full of research results. the potential to deliver returns in a few to have the product and how we could The Exo-L is a medical aid, so if you do years’ time.” And the Exo-L certainly produce it commercially.” In the last not document everything neatly, you will has potential, given that many people

- 38 - ‘I have discovered that how rewarding it is to come up with an idea that people actually start using’

have unstable ankles; in the Netherlands one athlete has one, then his friends things, and Fleuren is already on the alone, there are around 750,000 ankle and colleagues will come along too, and hunt for other parties to team up with. injuries a year. the effect will then slowly spread. We “We are currently prototyping ASICS Among customers, too, Fleuren has want more and more people to know shoes to integrate the shoe modification established a large number of contacts, about us. That is why we are visiting a into their shoes, although that is still a such as the KNVB (Dutch football lot of trade fairs and holding question few years down the road according to association). How did he get to them? and answer sessions in sports medical ASICS. We are not yet big enough to “I just phoned them up,” says Fleuren centres and specialised shops,” says cope with several million shoes a year.” matter-of-factly. “The KNVB would like Fleuren. Potential customers there The company is capable of coping with to give it a chance and we are currently will get personal advice, as that is the major growth in the next few years, testing it on junior players. Most of the trademark of Exo-L. “We do not want to however. “There is an excellent work medical staff are very enthusiastic about supply an off-the-shelf product. People space here at YES!Delft, where we the Exo-L. They see the similarity with do not come in sizes S, M, or L.” are about to expand our assembly line. the natural ankle ligaments and realise “We are easy to reach”, he continues. We could also outsource the work to a that it is better than everything that has “Anyone who has had enough of braces sheltered workshop.” been on the market for sixty years.” and tapes and who wants to be able This is a reference to the tapes and to practise sports unencumbered, Motivation braces that many sportsmen and can contact us. We will then make an What drives a young entrepreneur women currently have to make do with. appointment at a physiotherapist’s, at like Fleuren? “At the moment, it is “Braces are all the same,” believes their home, or in a sports shop to make developing our company that drives Fleuren, “while taping irritates and a scan.” After the scan, Exo-L will take me more than anything else. It involves sticks to the skin. It is also expensive, the customer’s trainers in order to so much. I am still learning and it is because you have to keep putting it on prepare them for use. “You only have to something I want to be really good at. time after time.” According to Fleuren, give up your trainers for a day,” explains The dynamics of a business and forming many people are looking for a product Fleuren. “If you want to use the ankle a team really interest me. There are now that simply allows them to carry on band for more than one pair of trainers, five of us, and we are also taking on playing sports, as indeed he used to be. or for a new pair, then we can alter them graduates and interns,” says Fleuren. “Footballers can only use tape, because as well. We will give you a label to stick He is aiming to make Exo-L the new they can’t put anything in their boots. to the box and you can then send them. standard for ankle protection all over Some people do not use anything at If you order your footwear directly from the world. “We’re going to make a all, because they believe the available us, you shoes will be ready to be used huge success of it, and then we’ll see choices are worse than useless. For with the Exo-L.” A lot of hard work has what happens next. With my collection them, this is a real alternative”. gone into arranging all the logistics for of patents, I always thought I would this part of the business. “Compared to make a career as an inventor. But after Name recognition mass-produced braces that are found on two years as an entrepreneur, I have In order to reach all the people in this shop shelves, the Exo-L is more costly. now discovered that it is much more category, the next step is to generate But once we have explained what you rewarding to come up with an idea that greater name recognition. “We have get in return, then people agree it is people actually start using.” to continue to develop our market actually very good value – and that it is a and build up our relationships with the better solution to boot.” medical profession and athletes. Once Exo-L has the potential for great

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 39 - Hayley Hung ‘Modelling human behaviour in a social context’

Dr. Hayley Hung focuses in her work on the question of how automated systems can be made aware of humans as social beings. In 2013 she was awarded a Delft Technology Fellowship to research this largely unexplored field of study. She is now an assistant professor at the Pattern Recognition & Bioinformatics Section at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS).

ayley Hung’s main then it has to identify the appropriate But then what are the markers for research goal is to design spokesperson within that group. You dominance? How can the system automated systems that don’t want the robot to address the recognize it?” Hare perceptive to social children, but even if the group consist This is what first intrigued Hung. phenomena. The idea is that machines only of adults, who is leading?” The “Intuitively, we think of dominance as that can interpret social behaviour main issue here is how to determine a very complex social phenomenon will be better able to serve us. dominance within the group, and that that cannot be identified by a single Perhaps that is best illustrated by an is a subject Hung has researched behaviour as such; there is a gap example. Hung is currently part of the before. between the behaviours we observe Spencer project, a European research and what we think is going on”, she initiative aimed at developing a fully Smart meeting rooms explains. To solve this she looked at autonomous mobile robot for smart Working as a postdoc at the Idiap social psychology and in the literature airport passenger flow management. Research Institute in Lausanne, Hung she found inspiration to help her Hung explains: “At airports there are was involved in a project that was automate the process. For example, a lot of stressed people. It is often looking at social phenomena, such dominant people in a group tend to said that people leave their brain as dominance, submission and social talk more, receive more attention from behind when entering an airport. Yet, cohesion, during meetings. “The others when they do, and also listen key objectives at an airport are to get project was aimed at smart meeting less to others. “There wasn’t a direct people both to shop and not to miss rooms of the future. The idea was that line from what social psychology says their flight.” So how could a robot help all meetings would be recorded and to what machines understand, so out here? “For example, people have people could then look back on them. the real question was how to make socially normative restrictions about The problem is: how are you going machines observe these things”. As jumping a queue, even if they are late to search all that data?” To this end this fascinated her, she set up her checking in. However, if there was the system could look at the date or own project concerning the detection some authority that said it was all right time of a meeting , but Hung found of deception during role-playing for them to do so, they would”, says there are other, more meaningful games. She discovered more ways Hung. It is simply not possible to have ways of looking at human interaction. in which you can extrapolate social enough staff on hand to deal with a “We expected that people looking phenomena from behaviour, such as sudden need for this type of service. through the data would be more easily analysing physical movement. “We Enter the passenger flow robot. “The triggered by social phenomena. For performed a range of experiments robot can approach a group and tell example, it would be helpful if the and I realized there are many aspects them what to do. First though, it has to system could look up a particular of our behaviour – independently be able to detect what a group is, and meeting where ‘X was very dominant’. and in relation to other people – that

- 40 - Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 41 - we do not think about consciously, related studies from social scientists Delft Technology but that might be very measurable by that indicated similar behaviour. Next, Fellowship machines”. she wanted to predict whether couples Hayley Hung is one of ten would exchange contact information, recipients of a Delft Technology Speed dates which proved to be more difficult. Fellowship for top female Meanwhile, Hung’s time in Lausanne “Typically, when women were scientists. Does she agree there was coming to an end and she decided attracted to a man, they might still is a need for more women in to apply for a Marie Curie grant. not exchange contact information. technology? “I think there is. In “It’s an intra-European fellowship Apparently, the way they think about Delft I see more women in higher that requires you to move from one the mating process is more complex. faculty positions in my discipline country to another, but not to your In contrast, men tended to exchange than in Amsterdam. That already home country. I wanted to come to contact information whenever they provides an encouragement, in the Netherlands for personal reasons, were attracted”. Hung points out that the sense that there are several so I applied for and was awarded a the difficulty with these kinds of studies female role models at TU Delft. fellowship to carry out research at is obtaining real data. In the speed Though generally speaking, I the University of Amsterdam”, says dating experiment, only sixteen people appreciate role models who Hung. Her research interest had also participated, which is rather a small have an open attitude, whether moved, into the direction of social signal sample size. Hence she uses research they are male or female. What processing in crowds. “So far, I had is important to me is that I am been looking at controlled scenarios able to do the things I want and where the assumption was that there that if I have a vision I get the was always one group of people having support to carry it out. I really a conversation together, but what have that here and so far I have happens if there are tens or hundreds of had a very positive experience. I people in a coffee break and you don’t also get the chance to establish know who is going to speak to whom? my own research programme. In Amsterdam I researched how you can The research I am interested in automatically detect when people are doing is not strongly tied to any talking together in social settings, and traditional discipline. Existing how you can analyse what is going on positions tend not to cater for within those groups of people talking”, that, so this was just right for explains Hung. me”. An interesting way in which she looked at this, was by analysing speed dates. “We measured the extent to which people were moving and used this to predict attraction to the other person”, says Hung. “We found that a female moved more when she was attracted to a man. And when she moved more, the male was also more attracted to the female. I guess when you are on a speed date and you are attracted to someone, you become sort of larger than life”. She also looked at

- 42 - ‘It is always a bit of a trade-off between what people are willing to share and being able to get the data that will enable us to answer our questions’

data from social psychology. “That gives business setting, for example. “It of when automating the process”, us a larger pool of similar data to go would be interesting to see if you can comments Hung. on and thus backup what we observe. predict whether people will actually But our ultimate goal is to automate have a very good working relationship, Acceleration sensors the process and show that it can be based on how they interact on their Back to reality then, and Hung has generalised to large groups of people”. first meeting”. In fact, her work has an already conducted an actual study even more general scope, she stresses. involving these wearable acceleration Unbiased “When people interact there can be a lot sensors. “During my professor’s It raises a lot of questions Hung would of emotion surrounding that interaction inaugural lecture in Amsterdam, we like to expand upon. “Another study and it might be useful to have an gave these sensors to seventeen has found that if you are attracted to automated means of measuring either professors and seventeen non- someone, you perceive their behaviour the emotion or the behaviour to give professor and tried to detect in which as flirting, even if it isn’t. So in this an unbiased indication of how you are group they belonged”, explains Hung. particular context it is probably useful doing”. The results were promising. “Their if an unbiased measure can tell you Hung also would like to be able to reactions during his speech was enough whether this is true”. Of course, observe communities as a whole, at to separate the majority of these two attraction doesn’t necessarily have conferences for example. She is now groups, based on how they moved while to be of the romantic kind. Take a working with wearable sensors that they were seated”. Hung points out detect the amount of acceleration in that these are still early results. “A lot a person’s movement. “The way you more questions need to be answered. move is closely related to the way you The question for me is now, given that speak. And the way people speak in you only have one acceleration sensor groups is very coordinated. With that per person, how much information can knowledge I would like to predict what you get? You may think that is not very is happening in a crowded environment. much, but since motion is so closely In the future, we would like to be related to speech, there may be a lot able to look at crowds of hundreds or more we can extract than we think”. thousands of people and detect who’s Using these sensors, which can be talking with whom. From that we’ll then worn invisibly in a conference badge, be able to get information on the mood has another advantage. “If you are not of an event. Do people mingle a lot, or recording audio or video, people won’t stay with the same group, that kind of feel uncomfortable about the way they thing”. Could that have applications behave. It is always a bit of a trade-off in the field of security, such as crowd between what people are willing to control? “Possibly, but I shrink away share and being able to get the data that from safety and security. It is difficult will enable us to answer our questions.” to measure real-life violent behaviour. And Hung still has questions galore. They often use actors in projects to “The social world is still relatively act that behaviour, but when you then untapped in the way people interact and try to develop models to automatically behave in face-to-face scenarios; this to detect this, it is not clear what you are me is really interesting and challenging.” really detecting. When acting, we make assumptions about what the behaviour is. On the other hand, real behaviour has subtleties that you might take advantage

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 43 - - 44 - Nynke Tromp ‘Design can change society’

Dr Nynke Tromp is a researcher at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at TU Delft and works as a social designer at Reframing Studio in Amsterdam. In 2013 she graduated with distinction in ‘Social Design’. Her research looks at how design can be used to deal with social problems.

he way in which something with her approach to integration. I of the world and our family structures. is designed influences our started to look into how designers can These are the kinds of developments behaviour. If the stairs in contribute to integration.” She thought that are now being analysed by Ta building are not clearly up Cadeauslinger, a ‘gift chain’ scheme philosophers and sociologists. They signposted, we take the lift. If a packet designed to encourage residents in a are ‘zooming out’ further and further, of savoury snacks isn’t re-sealable, neighbourhood in The Hague to get to and observing how society is changing. we’re more likely to eat them all in know each other by exchanging gifts. I’m turning that around. If you want one go. We take it for granted that Professor Paul Hekkert subsequently to achieve something at societal our lives are influenced by marketing offered her a PhD place, and a new level, how do you scale that back to methods and subconscious influences. field was born. the product level? I’m developing Nynke Tromp wants to turn this knowledge on that too. Making around. “It’s almost impossible to Worldwide phenomenon conscious use of the ‘side effects’ – I design a product that doesn’t have But how new is Social Design think I’m the only one involved in that”. some form of impact. Why then don’t actually? “When I graduated, in 2009, The concept of behaviour change we use design to seduce people into it was just at the time that you started through design has existed for some displaying certain social behaviours?” to hear a lot about it. In traditional time. It’s known as “persuasive In her view, the current approach puts design, you know in advance what design”. Examples include the use the cart before the horse. “If you look you’re going to design or which user of photos on cigarette packets to around you, you’ll see, for example, problem you’re going to tackle. Dealing discourage smoking, and apps to help an environment geared to efficiency with a societal problem through people stop smoking. But this isn’t and convenience. We hardly need to design is a relatively new approach”, quite what Tromp means. “These walk anywhere any more. And then explains Tromp. Social Design has now types of product are deliberately campaigns are set up to tell people evolved into a worldwide phenomenon marketed as behaviour-changers. they need to do more exercise. That including a wide range of different These have their value too, but seems almost immoral.” movements. “There are all sorts of designers of these products are Tromp knows precisely what triggered initiatives. A good example is Katja sidestepping the ethical discussion”. her interest in social design. “I Schuurman’s concept ‘Return to In Tromp’s view, this is precisely where was following the Master’s degree Sender’: making products with local designers have a role to play. “If you programme in Design for Interaction, resources and selling them elsewhere, can make it easier and more fun for which focuses on how people can but ploughing back the profit into the people to do the right thing – to put it be influenced by design. For my local economy”. in rather banal terms – then it’s almost graduation project I wanted to apply Tromp’s own interests focus on how reprehensible not to do that. I want that knowledge to help solve problems products influence society without us designers to adopt that ideological in society. At the time Minister being aware of it. “Think of television approach and be transparent about Verdonk was courting controversy and the effect it has had on our view it. I want them to be able to argue

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 45 - why that’s a good position to take.” the behaviour itself. You can come up Available to download now: But doesn’t this mean that designers with calorie scales, but you first have Temstem will then be deciding what is good to look at what’s most effective. Not all Nynke Tromp works two days for society? Tromp expounds on this. behaviours are equally ‘designable’’’. a week at Reframing Studio in ‘We all know what sort of society we It is also important to understand the Amsterdam. Her work there want to live in, and what’s good for us user context. Every social problem has involved designing products in the long term. But that knowledge conceals a conflict between an for municipal psychiatric care doesn’t prompt us to alter our individual interest and a societal interest. providers Parnassia to help behaviour. Designers can make a unique “From the point of view of economics people recover from a psychosis. contribution by designing from a social and health, we’re aware as a society One of those products is the perspective”. that we shouldn’t become overweight, Temstem app. Psychosis but as an individual I like chocolate and can sometimes involve the Method I want to treat myself”, explains Tromp. patient “hearing voices”. This That’s not as easy as it seems. Tromp She has identified three strategies for is due to the stimulation of the has developed a design methodology resolving that conflict. “You can solve language-production area of the for it. First of all, she deconstructs the it, for example, by designing something brain. Vibrations also occur in social problem. “Take the problem of that can take place of chocolate as a the vocal cords. The “voices” obesity. The standard approach would treat. You can sidestep the conflict by they hear are therefore voices be to encourage people to eat less associating the behaviour with another – they product themselves but and do more exercise. But then you’re positive – situation, for example making attribute to others. Temstem jumping ahead to the solution without healthy eating part of fun time with activates the language-producing analysing the problem. You first need to the children. Or you can transform the area in another way, namely understand why people eat too much, conflict, for example by encouraging through language games. The and which factors could persuade people to balance their diet on a week- game then takes on the form of them not to do that”, Tromp explains. to-week basis”. therapy designed to dispel the Those could be any manner of things. emotional response to hearing As children we were taught to leave an Police cars voices. This means people can empty plate, because throwing food Given the nature of her work, many continue to take part in social away is a bad thing. And stress can of Tromp’s research partners are situations. After all, reaching for lead to “comfort eating”. According to social organisations such as public- your smartphone has become Tromp, these are starting points that sector bodies, political parties and very normal these days. The designers can work with. “You can charitable foundations. One of the app, which can be downloaded think of ways for people who don’t topics Tromp has carried out research from iStore, has been nominated have a freezer to store leftovers, but into is police vehicles. “It was mainly for the Rotterdam Design Prize you can also do something to change about developing a vision”, she says. 2013. the way parents bring up their children. “Police vehicles are fitted out with The ‘place’ towards which you direct more and more technology: automatic the intervention doesn’t need to be number-plate recognition, infra-red

- 46 - ‘Designers can make a unique contribution by designing from a social perspective’

cameras – you name it. Many aspects most of them agreed with her. “It’s The time factor of police work can be done by expert good that technology makes all these What stops us from doing the right systems, which means that police things possible, but design it in such a thing, even when we know better? officers no longer need to head back way that the police officer remains the According to Tromp, the time factor to the station”. Meaning more officers linchpin. That’s important for the public plays an important role. “If there’s on the beat – but how do we organise and, ultimately, police officers are also uncertainty about the consequences that? In this case too, Tromp looks at the happier with that”. of your behaviour in the long term, it interests of society rather than those doesn’t really motivate you to change. of the individual. It’s not about which Ivory trade You don’t know for certain whether button to press for fast information but, The IFAW (International Fund for smoking will affect your health in the for example, what the risks are if all Animal Welfare) is currently considering future, and if you light a cigarette now, these systems are instantly accessible. a funding application. The IFAW wants you enjoy it. You need to weigh up the “The main pitfall would then be that to reduce the trade in ivory but, due to short-term gain from doing something police officers ‘hide’ behind the system. the burgeoning middle class in China, now against a potential long-term gain For example: ‘My system tells me you the demand is only increasing. “Ivory is from not doing it. Take another example: were driving too fast’. Police officers a status symbol in China”, says Tromp. If we want improve the way in which should always know why they are “I want to apply the same approach in people work together in the department, doing something. And the public have this case: resolve the conflict, sidestep we organise an informal teambuilding to be able to trust their expertise in it or transform it. What are the interests day. The effect is immediate. But we order to feel safe”, says Tromp. Her of the people who buy it, and can we could also change the walk route at suggestion is therefore to provide all address that need in another way? Can work so that we pass each other’s desks possible information in emergencies we change that behaviour through other more often and have more contact. In only. During surveillance, they should priorities they have? the long term you’ll notice that people be more involved in gathering their own Or can we encourage them to consider tend to go and talk to each other more information, and in doing that they will our own concern – biodiversity – in often. The effect is much more subtle, also get to know the area. Systems their decisions to buy ivory? And which and therefore not always as popular, should serve first and foremost as method for influencing their behaviour but it’s probably more long-lasting”. learning systems, with officers being will be the most effective? Hopefully But perseverance is rewarded, with the given access to other data systems as this will lead to tangible products.” help of products designed by Tromp or they build their knowledge. “If you’re Tromp doesn’t believe that public otherwise. “The things that make us a junior policeman who’s interested in information campaigns are helpful. happier as a society are often the things fighting drug crime, then that’s what “By itself, awareness of the need for that make us happier in the long term as you specialise in. If all police officers sustainability won’t lead to behavioural individuals.” are included in the database with their change in this case either. We all think areas of expertise, they can share their it’s important, but that’s about as far knowledge with each other”. Although as it goes. We need to provide the Tromp noticed that police officers infrastructure that will support behaviour have a certain predilection for gadgets, change”, says Tromp.

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 47 - Edward Valstar ‘On my own I would achieve nothing’

Professor Edward Valstar carries out research into mechanical loosening of artificial hips and knees, his aim being to create prostheses that last a lifetime. In late 2012, he was appointed Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Professor in Delft. Originally a mechanical engineer, he divides his time between Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and TU Delft, where he works in the Biomechanics department. He also heads the Biomechanics and Imaging Group (BIG) in the Orthopaedics department of the LUMC.

tanding on the shoulders significant development in those pain; having an artificial joint often of giants. It is an oft-used twenty years is that of Roentgen frees them from that pain and they metaphor to describe Stereophotogrammetric Analyse can function better. It is one of the Show scientific successes (RSA), a technique for showing in most successful forms of medical would not be possible without 3D to the last micrometre whether intervention”, says Valstar. The work previously carried out by other artificial joints are moving in relation exception, of course, is with that ten scientists. Edward Valstar, too, praises to the bone. That is crucial because per cent. “If the prosthesis starts the contributions of his predecessors early migration of artificial joints is a to move, a layer of fibrous tissue is and colleagues towards his work, but clear sign of future failure. “Three- created, a kind of quicksand. This leads in his case the shoulder has actually quarters of artificial joints that have to to problems and the thicker the layer played a physical part in his career. be replaced work themselves loose”, becomes, the worse things get. At His graduation project was on Frans explains Valstar. Around ten per cent present, we can only resolve this by van der Helm, Gijs Pronk, and Henk of hip implants fail within a year. That removing the artificial joint, so the best Stassen’s well-known muscle and might not seem very many, but given thing is to keep the first artificial joint in skeletal model of the shoulder. For this, that 2.5 million joint implants are made place for as long as possible.” he worked on an x-ray/video project in each year worldwide, the number of Some of that misery is caused by Leiden. “I was carrying out tests with failures in absolute terms is very high. poor implants; Valstar believes this a few other students, when a Leiden Moreover, the number of operations is is the result of too little regulation professor of orthopaedics asked who expected to rise to around 7.5 million in of new products. “Getting implants would like to stay for three months the years to come, given that we are all onto the market is currently rather in order to help develop software. living longer and getting heavier. disorganised. The pharmaceutical The labour market for mechanical industry, by contrast, is very heavily engineers was very bad in 1993, so Quicksand regulated. With artificial joints, there I thought it would at least be a good So there are many failures, and is sometimes some preclinical chance to get some experience. That therefore a great deal of human misery research, but not always. Once was twenty years ago.” as well, even though hip replacements they have been introduced there is As the years passed, his interest are intended to eradicate pain. no consistent monitoring of what moved from the shoulder to the “Artificial joints are often implanted happens afterwards, which is why hip and the knee, the places where to improve the quality of people’s you sometimes get disasters on the artificial joints can be implanted. A lives. The elderly experience a lot of market”. One such disaster was the

- 48 - Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 49 - ‘Let us make the procedures for new implants as strict as they are for new medications’

so-called resurfacing hip, a metal-on- RSA, we can see after two years, and of a wimp, though – I could not stand metal prosthesis intended for young using ten patients, whether a particular the sight of blood”, he admits. “Then people. The best artificial hip joints option is the right one or not.” In fact, I discovered that research was being actually consist of a metal head and a he would prefer to tackle the issue carried out in Henk Stassen’s man- plastic socket. “Prostheses can also completely differently. “We know machine interaction group that was work themselves loose as a result of exactly what the five best performing closely related to orthopaedics and the wear and tear of the materials. artificial joints are; if we keep them on rehabilitation medicine.” That interest The idea was that the metal-on-metal the market and stop innovating, we’ll has always helped him bridge the gap would lead to less wear and tear. be fine. But I am a realist. This is a between technology and medicine. However, although the metal ions that worldwide industry worth billions.” He Doctors and engineers each have their were released were less in terms of would also like to see an international own language, is a frequently-heard volume than in the case of other types database for registering every implant. problem. What does that involve in of artificial joints, they did cause serious The benefit of this has already been practice? Valstar gives a few examples. tissue destruction outside the bone. proved, believes Valstar. “They have “Two colleagues in Leiden recently had That was already known from earlier been registering implants in Sweden an appointment with an orthopaedist. metal-on-metal prostheses, but we since 1978 and they now have the They were a bit early, and they just don’t learn from the past”, says Valstar. lowest failure rate in the world.” caught sight of him walking away. This The RSA technique can help prevent was because he was on duty and had this. Valstar refers to the data from a ISO standard been called to the operating theatre. 1998 study into artificial knee joints, in Valstar and his colleagues at the LUMC When he returned three-quarters of an which three different ways of securing recently took a step in the right direction. hour later, they had already left as they the prosthesis in the bone were They launched the initiative for an ISO thought he was not interested. On the examined. “You can attach a joint in standard for RSA research, and after other hand, an orthopaedist may not different ways. If you use a kind of bone three years of meetings with colleagues understand that an engineer cannot cement, then it is attached immediately. from all over the world, the standard is develop a new instrument in three You can also make the surface a bit now a reality. “In the future, we will be weeks, but that it has to be first worked rough, so that the bone grows into it. able to compare the results from RSA on by a graduating student for a year, Or you can cover the joint with a layer studies much more effectively.” That and perhaps by another student after of material containing calcium in order should form the basis for a database. that. If you can discuss that kind of thing to accelerate the growth process. We Valstar is also hoping for European together, you learn to understand each monitored three groups of ten patients regulation. “Artificial hips have not been other better.” for two years, after which it appeared the only prostheses to give problems. That is necessary, because that the cement and the material Just think of the recent scandal with the cooperation between different fields is containing calcium worked fine, but that PIP breast implants. Let us make the becoming increasingly commonplace. the joints with the rough surface were procedures for new implants as strict as Fortunately, this is becoming more loose.” they are for new medications.” and more evident in education as well. Valstar therefore advocates a phased As a young mechanical engineer, In 2004, the Biomedical Engineering market introduction of new prostheses, Valstar never imagined his work would Master’s programme was launched, a first via preclinical research followed by be so closely linked to money and broad-based programme that combines RSA research, and then a larger-scale regulations. But he had always been medical knowledge with specialised study involving more patients. “With interested in medicine. “I was a bit technical knowledge. Valstar was the

- 50 - coordinator of the programme during interventions and will be the link – which Research and Education Fund to honour its first few years. “How often does it currently does not exist – between outstanding orthopaedic research happen that a new Master’s programme patients, doctors, and technology. “That involving the musculoskeletal system. It starts up that really interests you? Over way, you teach people to speak the is an important award, but not a lifetime the space of three years, I got to know various languages while they’re still achievement award, as far as Valstar is very many of my colleagues in Delft, studying, something that took me many concerned. He still has plenty of ideas Leiden, and Rotterdam.” That was also years.” for the future. “Instead of replacing the time when the foundations were Even though he feels at home among the entire prosthesis, we would prefer laid for what is now known as Medical engineers and doctors, he would not like to remove that fibrous tissue, and we Delta, the working partnership between to give up either of his places of work. want to develop steerable instruments TU Delft and the university hospitals in “The demand for technology must for doing that.” At present, joints that Leiden and Rotterdam. In September come from the clinics. In Leiden, I might have worked themselves loose can be 2014, Medical Delta will be launching a end up doing things too superficially refitted with the help of bone cement, new Bachelors’ programme in Clinical due to pressure of time, whereas here an intervention that spares primarily Technology. Graduates will be qualified in Delft I am not in a position to think older patients from undergoing a major to perform a number of medical of what is needed, but the people here operation. know much more about things like Another idea is that of biological steerable instruments and software repair. “What if we find cells in that development. That is why I do not fibrous tissue around the artificial joint work in Delft only, or Leiden only”. that we can stimulate to create bone The demand for people like himself, again? What substances do we need who know both worlds, is growing. to reactivate that process in the cells? Valstar sees other developments on the They have a better idea of that in Leiden labour market too. “I think it is slowly and Rotterdam then we do in Delft. On becoming clear that we really do have to the other hand, we know more about do something, and that you cannot allow biomaterials and coatings. It may be that an economy to run by shifting shares we can incorporate biological factors around and letting things increase in that are released,” suggests Valstar. “In value in a virtual world. Personally, I projects of this kind, all our knowledge try to make a real contribution through comes together. This is why mutual good-quality research. I notice that more cooperation is so important.” And and more young people feel the need to credit where credit is due – the idea for do something similar”. fitting prostheses came from Professor Rob Nelissen of the LUMC. “We The Anna Prijs are like Siamese twins in research”, He has certainly made that real emphasises Valstar - joined at the hip, contribution. For his research into you could say. “Too many researchers the mechanical loosening of artificial are working in terms of competition. joints, he received the Anna Prijs in If I was working on my own, without a 2011. This prize is awarded every two team, I would achieve nothing”. years by the Netherlands Orthopaedic

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 51 - - 52 - Tim de Morée and Wouter Lion ‘It’s all about the team’

In August 2013, the DUT Racing Team won the unofficial world championship on the track at Hockenheim, with their electric race car, the DUT 13. In September, the DUT Racing Team broke the world acceleration record for electric cars, with a 0-100 km/h time of just 2.134 seconds. A week before, the Human Power Team cycled its way to a world record in Nevada, with a speed of 133.78 kilometres per hour on their high- tech recumbent bike. Two students from the faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Tim de Morée and Wouter Lion, were the team managers when the world records were broken. Both students are keen to emphasise that they are speaking on behalf of their teams, however.

eam effort is very must be enrolled at TU Delft. They are cyclist should assume that everything important to both of you. also members of the team and work on is working, and be able to trust the What does a team like the construction of the car. Although bicycle completely. Tthat look like? it’s obviously an honour to be allowed Tim de Morée: The DUT Racing to drive, we look for those who are You both depend heavily on Team now consists of 86 people. Five best suited. We do this on the go-kart sponsorship. How do you chiefs head as many departments, track, and the ones who perform the arrange that? each of which is responsible for a best there are chosen to compete in a Lion: It makes a nice opening line specific vehicle component: the DUT car test drive. when you can say to a potential powertrain, the electronics, the sponsor, “We make a bike that can chassis, the vehicle dynamics and the How does it work in the Human go 130 kph”. We can also show aerodynamics. We also have a team Power Team? that we’ve had considerable media manager, a financial manager, a chief Wouter Lion: It’s quite different for exposure, and this increases the engineer and an operational manager. us. We build the bicycle here with a success rate. I was usually the one So in total our management team team of fifteen people: ten from TU who contacted for example innovation consists of nine people. Delft and five from the VU University managers by telephone. Then if we in Amsterdam. The construction were invited for an interview, I would That is a huge organisation, process is actually separate from take our chief engineer along for the and only one of them gets to sit the person driving the bicycle. The technical details. We’re not talking behind the wheel? chance of us finding the ideal cyclist about small change here, because we De Morée: No, we have six drivers, at the university is virtually zero. The have to send 15 people to Nevada, plus because each race includes several previous world record holder was the materials. We aimed to have the different components. You need a former professional cyclist from sponsorships arranged by February, so to use your lightest drivers for the Canada. But we also split these two we could meet the larger expenses. acceleration test. Then you have the parts deliberately. We are still checking Once that was done, I focused on PR, skid pad – the figure eights – along the bicycle up until the last minute. which in our case was mostly keeping with the autocross and the endurance During the race, the cyclist shouldn’t our sponsors happy. test. Because Formula Student is a have to worry about whether that De Morée: All of the managers student competition, all of the drivers one bolt might not stay in place. The participate in sponsorship acquisition.

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 53 - Introducing: Tim de Morée en Wouter Lion

Wouter Lion: I attended the information days at several universities, but when I saw all the high-tech facilities at the faculty of Aerospace Engineering, I was sold. I am currently working on my Master’s degree, after spending a year with the Human Power Team. Originally, I was going to be helping to build the monococque – the shell. Then I discovered that I enjoyed sponsorship acquisition Three quarters of our budget consists Lion: We participated in the World as well and the team felt that I of sponsorship for materials. The chiefs Human Power Speed Challenge in had the proper negotiating skills. are best suited to do this, because they Nevada. Setting a world record requires So I ended up doing that. Soon, know exactly what they are talking a road that is long enough: eight I was doing most of the non- about. For example, for the past two kilometres, plus two kilometres to brake technical jobs and, later, I even years, we’ve been able to borrow and, preferably, this should be a straight became the team leader. Right an optical sensor that is also used in stretch. The road at Battle Mountain is now, I am still not sure what Formula 1. It is an extremely expensive also at an elevation of 1.5 kilometres. It’s direction I want to take after I sensor, which can actually read the an ideal place, because the air pressure graduate. Perhaps an internship road and determine the speeds in all is lower, but not so low that it affects will help me along the way. directions. We use four-wheel drive, the driver’s oxygen supply. This road which means we can’t use the wheels is blocked off once a year, especially Tim de Morée: I’ve always as a reference. We also used it for the for this event. Various categories of wanted to do something world record, because acceleration is bicycles compete, but what we do is the engineering-related, and also pretty tricky to measure. most exciting one. Other universities Aerospace Engineering is a participate as well, so you are around fine application. I still need to How does a race like that work? several other groups, and you can goad complete one Bachelor’s course, De Morée: We’ve already started each other on a little bit. One strange but after that, I might like to with the preparations for next year’s aspect is that we put our bike and all pursue a Master’s degree in races. We ask quite a few questions of of our tools into a container and ship it Automotive Technology at TU the organisation, because some of the to the USA two weeks in advance. So Eindhoven. Through DUT, I have things we do are right on the edge of during those weeks you can’t work on it. come into contact with all the what the rulebook permits. Participants major automotive companies, are always required to submit a report And you succeeded. How does and it’s an industry that appeals about their car and, a month in advance, that feel? to me. I started with DUT two they must submit a video to show that Lion: Strange. The time-registration years ago, as part of a minor. I the car is actually operational. The actual takes place at eight kilometres, and the designed the DUT 12 steering event at Hockenheim lasts a week. finisher determines what your speed system. Last year, I organised Teams have to present their business was. Of course you look at your own a large number of events such plans and account for their cost analyses meter, but you don’t know whether that as our roll-out, but I also kept and designs to a jury. There are also agrees with the official speed. We had up my studies as normal. Now, dynamic events, such as the skid test already bought champagne, however. I am dedicating another year to and the autocross. Each of these events It was the last evening, and there was DUT as the team manager. I’m is held on a different day. There are a dinner party. The results were to be doing this because we won the always around 50 people who come announced then. We knew that we had championship last year, even along, and races like Hockenheim also to drive 83 miles, so when we heard ‘3’, though all kinds of things went attract some former team members. everybody went crazy. We stayed up the wrong. An urge to improve has We can use all the help we can get, for whole night, gave interviews and let off convinced my teammates and the technical work as well as support. fireworks in the desert. myself to design, build and race In all, 140 teams and 4.000 students the perfect car this year. participate. At the end there is a huge And the acceleration record? Award Ceremony, and an even larger De Morée: That was also a Guinness closing party. record. That requires measuring with

- 54 - ‘We’ve already started with the preparations for next year’s races’

several different measuring instru- many media we made the news on as well, but largely in order to test our ments, and there must be eyewit- Monday. We had focused our press bike and fine-tune everything. The trial nesses. We drove it with the DUT 12, releases on the Netherlands, but we is held on a nice long road on which you which we had optimised just for this gradually became world news in the can drive quite fast. The team is making purpose. It was a cold, wet day, and so course of the week. We also received a concerted effort to win it this year, we started by using a gas torch to dry invitations from Dutch talk shows, but although I’m no longer involved. the lane and warm up the tyres. We we stayed in the USA for another week. De Morée: We want to keep what knew that we were going to break the After that week the novelty factor had we’re going to do under wraps as much record, because our cars can easily go worn off a bit, but we did make it onto as possible, because we are going to from 0 to 100 kilometres in 2.5 seconds, RTL Late Night, which was a great be doing some unexpected things. ETH and the world record was 2.68. We had experience. Zurich is our biggest competitor, and trained Marly Kuipers to drive, because they have a much bigger budget. If we she was the lightest member of the 2013 was a record year. What were to publish our choices now, I’m team. It was a nice record to get. It was can you do to follow that? sure they would manage to find funding posted on technology websites all over Lion: The problem is that, after a to do the same. Through the years, we the world; we received pingbacks from highlight, you tend to fade away again have followed roughly the same line all the way to China. We even made the in the media. We want to keep our of development. We both now use Discovery Channel in Canada. sponsors happy, and so we have set a four-wheel drive, assisted by wings to second goal for this year. There is also create downwards force in the curves. Did the cycling record receive a world time record in Germany, which The general perception was that the this much attention? takes place a few months before the major innovations are behind us. Now Lion: It was Sunday morning, so in sprinting records. We participated in this we think that we have hit on a new one, though. At any rate, we will certainly be continuing with the four-wheel drive. It allows you to recover much more DreamTeams energy when braking, and it provides They’re called DreamTeams – the student teams from TU Delft that continually much more power. We’ve developed deliver outstanding performance. The Solarboat, the Wasub submarine, the our own control system that allows Ecorunner, the Nuna solar car: all of these extraordinary projects have been us to adapt the speed of each wheel designed for, and especially by, students, and TU Delft is happy to lend a individually at every turn. When it’s helping hand. That is why the DreamTeams have access to their own D:Dream raining, we’re virtually unbeatable. Hall on the campus. The D:Dream Hall is an enormous area with workshops, machinery and a proper kitchen for all-nighters. Being part of a DreamTeam More on the teams: takes time. Some students contribute their free time, while others put their dutracing.tudelft.nl studies on hold for a year. It is also possible to take a D:Dream minor – if you hptdelft.nl are accepted, that is, because these performance-oriented teams set the bar pretty high. TU Delft is very proud of its DreamTeams, because they achieve something that is even more important than racing victories and world records. In these teams, students learn the difference between theory, which can be pretty tough at times, and practice in all its obduracy. They offer a unique opportunity for emerging engineers to get their hands dirty.

Highlights TU Delft 2013 - 55 - Colophon

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