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Joy

How might we encourage play between blind children and their sighted friends? Joy is designed to improve the interaction between visually impaired children and their sighted friends during play. By eliminating vision and focusing more on other stimulating aspects of play such as shape, sound and touch, Joy eliminates the disadvantage of the blind child, making interaction more equal and fun. The design process started with lots of observations regarding play. Key findings were: For unsighted children, play is often a frustrating moment Unsighted children have more difficulties understanding self-expression & emotions, and oftentimes need more time to explore tactilely If other senses are equally interesting, visual stimuli aren't necessarily needed for play Student project Student Lianne Siemensma Coaches Margreet Beets Kees Nauta After observations the key qualities of Enjoyment, Equality, Connecting, Imaginative and Explorative were used to describe the desired interaction. By iterative prototyping and acting out, these qualities were captured in tangible ideas and after multiple iterations, the chosen product concept was produced in maple wood. The final building blocks were tested with sighted and unsighted children in context. As the shapes were interpreted by the children in many ways, the building blocks immediately triggered their imagination and literally bridged the gap between visually impaired and sighted children, resulting in a much more joyful and pleasant playing experience. Previous project Overview of projects Next project

JOY2

JOY eases the lives of young parents and enhances the interaction with their newborns while sparing space at home. It is a mobile structure suitable to position the baby while parents eat, cook and share the living room. The system is modular allowing three different applications in one, which are attached with the use of hooks: Chair, baby gym and hammock. Using hooks makes it very easy to change the applications when needed, by just detaching and attaching them to the structure. Graduation project Student María Echavarría Coaches Jeroen van Erp Marc Tassoul The system therefore supports a natural flow within home areas as parents don't have to reposition their babies in different devices when moving to another area within home or changing activities, babies can simply be pushed around, and applications can be changed when needed. Such as Hammock in the kitchen while parents prepare food or chair when eating at the dining table. The mobility and versatility of JOY spare the need of multiple positioning devices in common areas, reducing the space they normally occupy. The design of JOY is meant to fit the lifestyle of young parents by matching adult design preferences, smoothing the transition from couple life to a parent-lifestyle. Previous project Overview of projects Next project

Lotte Asveld Group

Together with her research group Lotte Asveld studies the societal aspects of biotechnological innovations. Her main research interests concern responsible innovation in the field of biotechnology and synthetic biology: How can the moral, technical and institutional uncertainties around promising new technologies be addressed by society? How can societal concerns and values be integrated into biotechnological innovation trajectories? What are the responsibilities of various actors involved in these trajectories? For her research projects she has received various grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). Journals in which her publications have appeared include ‘Sustainability’, ‘Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining’, ‘Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning’, ‘Journal of Rural Studies’, ‘Science and Engineering Ethics’, ‘Journal of Agricultural and Enviornmental Ethics’, ‘Energy, Sustainability and Society’ and ‘Life Sciences, Society and Policy’. In her teaching , Lotte discusses above mentioned questions with Life Science & Technology students. Previously Lotte worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Philosophy Section (Department of Values, Technology & Innovation) at TU Delft, as a researcher at the Rathenau Institute for technology assessment (focusing on the bioeconomy), and as a freelance researcher in China. Lotte Asveld Associate Professor +31 15 2786691 l.asveld@tudelft.nl Room number: B58-C0.360 Workshop “Building Inclusive Agricultural Value Chains” Workshop “Building Inclusive Agricultural Value Chains” October 2020 more information

Climate technology you hope you’ll never need

Could clouds be modified to slow global warming? Cloud expert Herman Russchenberg is investigating climate intervention but hopes his theories will never be put to the test.

EngD Programme

Working on strategic innovation The two year Engineering Doctorate programme in Civil and Environmental Engineering at TU Delft is the starting point of an innovation project and a successful career in the industry or business as a designer or engineering expert. The degree Engineering Doctorate (EngD) will be awarded upon the successful completion of the programme. This programme will help you to develop strategic innovations. During the programme, you learn how to initiate, develop and finish a design project which is of interest to the company or your employer. The design project is the core of the programme and is carried out individually. It is supported with different courses as well as an integral project. The individual design project takes the innovation past the phase of prototyping to implementation and market introduction. In the project you demonstrate your ability to apply the knowledge you gathered in the different courses of the programme, in solving a real- life, complex design problem or developing a new system. Tracks The EngD programme has three tracks: Sanitary & Environmental Engineering focuses on water management issues related to health technology, such as water collection, water and sanitation, environment and water transportation. Structural & Railway Engineering is aimed at innovation in civil engineering, for example smart buildings, new materials and sustainable railways. Subsurface Constructions & Engineering concerns the application of scientific knowledge for innovations of critical underground infrastructure and development of solutions for geo-environmental problems.” The civil and environmental engineering sector is in urgent need of young professional designers who can provide the sector with a knowledge boost and advanced technical innovations. Our society is facing various social and environmental challenges, such as climate change, water pollution, aging infrastructure, a rapid development of technology and increasing demands for mobility. These are all challenges that need solutions from innovative engineers and designers. As a response to this market need, the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at TU Delft provides a EngD in Civil and Environmental Engineering that will deliver highly skilled design engineers who can fill the gaps in the rapidly ageing population of specialists at academic level in the civil industry. Cooperation with industry The civil sector has a huge demand for scientifically educated design engineers with an integral knowledge of technology and different disciplines. Through the engineering Doctorate in Civil and Environmental Engineering, young professionals and talented alumni of technical universities can develop into experienced design engineers and experts. Various companies from the civil industry are closely involved in the setup of our education, so we can make sure our courses, projects and cases reflect the reality of tomorrow. Challenges for the industry The water sector needs answers to specific problems such as the increased complexity of drinking water production due to residual concentrations of pharmaceuticals in surface water, salinisation of underground water and new micropollutants in wastewater. For the building and construction industry, there is a demand for sustainable materials as well as better and faster production of building materials. The railway sector has to work on a system leap that will allow building and maintenance of track without major disturbances of train services. In addition, the rising complexity of building and civil construction requires specialists with comprehensive knowledge of civil engineering and the ability to integrate new technology and disciplines such as risk management, new materials, concrete structures and sensors. Curriculum

Testimonials

Rolf Dollevoet Professor of Railway Engineering Professor of Railway Engineering Creating new technology and methods for the building and construction industry or developing a rail system that can deliver a sustainable and robust train service, requires design engineers with integral knowledge and multiple skills. Innovations are not only the result of good ideas; they must be worked out in a researchbased environment and they need to be sustained with a sound and solid business case. Besides this, an analysis of asset management, risks and the design steps must be carried out before technological innovations can be proved and implemented. As an EngD trainee, you will work on innovation in the civil engineering sector. Our Structural Engineering group will guide you to find a scientifically based answer to make your innovation project work. Our leading researchers, civil engineering laboratory and the TU Delft ‘measurement train’ will help bring out your best innovations and creative techniques. Develop an idea and challenge yourself. Create, test and validate; your ticket to an Engineering Doctorate in Civil and Environmental Engineering.” Luuk Rietveld Professor of Drinking Water & Urban Water Cycle Technology “Innovation in the civil & environmental engineering industry is complicated. Proper modern water supply and treatment not only depends on innovative process design, but also on factors such as intelligent monitoring and control, social and economic aspects, safety, and environmental impacts of the installations. Therefore, a designer should be able to integrate all these aspect and perform a proper assessment of water infrastructures. It takes time to develop, prove and implement new technologies and ideas, where bringing innovative solutions to the market is the crucial step. The aim for designing better water treatment and construction systems, sustainable building materials or a high performance water supply or drainage system, starts with an excellent understanding of generic design, risk and asset management principles, and knowledge of the latest technological developments. The academic staff of the Water Management department and laboratories can help you to develop your design into a feasible plan or a working prototype.” Testimonials of our current trainees

SURF Open and Online Education Stimulus Package

Internal process of application, one-pager proposal deadline extended to 9 October!

AE successful in Open Technology Programme and Take-off NWO

Six technical-scientific research projects can get started with funding from the Open Technology Programme. In addition, 37 entrepreneurial scientists can research or make a step to the market with Take-off grants. Three projects, submitted by Roelof Vos, Julien van Campen and Erwin Mooij, are from Aerospace Engineering.

Minor

Delta Expert, Water for the Future CT-MI-166 As a “Delta Expert”, you’ll know about what is going on in the field of water studies across the globe. You’ll not only learn about the Dutch Delta Programme, but also about other deltas in the world. You’ll undertake a field trip to neighbouring countries and gain a broad knowledge base. Together with water experts, you’ll study hydraulic structures, water treatment and water resources management from an interdisciplinary perspective. You’ll get to design and build your own measuring sensor that focuses on a typical feature of water, and you’ll finish the minor with a research project of your choice. For more information click on the button Delta Expert, Water for the Future

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The Educator Newsletter | September

Discover inspiring stories, developments, (training) activities, and other reads about Education.

TU Delft helps Maastricht air traffic controllers make safe choices

In March 2024, the EUROCONTROL air traffic control centre MUAC in Maastricht launched a new software tool that allows their air traffic controllers to make faster and more intuitive decisions about air traffic in their area. The tool was developed by MUAC , but is based on research into ecological interfaces by colleagues Clark Borst, René van Paassen and Max Mulder at Control & Simulation.

New ‘captains’ in the cockpit of Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport

On 1 September, Jos van den Boom, Lennard Verhoeff, and Victor Rijkaart joined the new executive team of Rotterdam The Hague Innovation Airport (RHIA).This trio is preparing to usher in the next phase of RHIA. A period in which, community-driven, privately led and publicly supported, they want to make visible and where possible accelerate the transition to a cleaner, quieter and smarter future of aviation.

Systems Workforce Summit 2024 at TU Delft

As the need for systems engineers is rising, TU Delft and NXTGEN Hightech are organising a unique global event on systems engineering on October 8 and 9, 2024. Thoughtleaders from organisations such as Airbus, ASML, MIT and NASA will discuss the future needs of the Systems Engineering workforce tackling the major transformations in society.

The Systems Workforce summit

TU Delft and NXTGEN Hightech will organize the unique worldwide Systems Workforce Summit at the TU Delft on October 8 and 9, 2024. Reserve your spot now to attend this unique summit! This global summit will address the future of systems engineering in industries like energy, health, aerospace, semicon and transportation. Skilled systems engineers are scarce and in high demand by enterprises worldwide. Cooperation between the diverse organizations participating in this Summit could significantly advance the needed 'Workforce of the Future'. This Summit is open to: Professionals from various industries: junior, senior or potential systems engineers/systems architects, less or more experienced; Scientists of knowledge institutes working in the discipline of systems engineering, management, technology or policy; Talents/students from engineering disciplines interested in systems engineering/system thinking. From universities and universities of applied sciences. Date: 8 & 9 October 2024 Location: TU Delft Aula Conference Centre Click here to register

First-ever imaging of pathogens on lettuce leaves in real-time

Met een groeiende wereldbevolking van meer dan 8 miljard mensen is voldoende voedsel produceren een uitdaging. Nederland is ‘s werelds tweede exporteur van voedsel en verbouwt enorm efficiënt allerlei gewassen. Plantenziektes zoals valse meeldauw zijn echter een veelvoorkomend probleem dat de oogst van de boer flink kan bederven. Delftse wetenschappers hebben voor het eerst een manier ontwikkeld om de infectie in planten real-time te volgen, zonder de plant te hoeven doden. De hiermee opgedane kennis helpt om nieuwe resistente gewassen te kweken met een hogere opbrengst en minder gebruik van pesticiden. Het onderzoek staat nu in Nature Communications.

New LDE trainee in D&I office

Keehan Akbari has started since the beginning of September as a new LDE trainee in the Diversity and Inclusion office. What motivated him to work for the D&I office, what does he expect to achieve during this traineeship? Read the short interview below! What motivated you to pursue your LDE traineeship in Diversity and Inclusion office of the TU Delft? I completed both bachelor's and master's degrees in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology at Leiden University. Within these studies, my main area of interest was in themes of inclusion and diversity. After being hired as a trainee for the LDE traineeship, and discovering that one of the possible assignments belonged to the Diversity and Inclusion office, my choice was quickly made. I saw this as an excellent opportunity to put the theories I learned during my studies into practice. What specific skills or experiences do you bring to the D&I office that will help promote inclusivity on campus? I am someone who likes to connect rather than polarize, taking into account the importance of different perspectives and stakeholders. I believe that this is how one can achieve the most in fostering diversity and inclusion. You need to get multiple parties on board to get the best results. What are your main goals as you begin your role here, and how do you hope to make an impact? An important goal for me this year is to get students more involved in diversity and inclusion at the university. One way I will try to accomplish this is by contributing to the creation of D&I student teams. By establishing a D&I student team for faculties, it will be possible to deal with diversity- and inclusion-related issues that apply and relate to the specific department. How do you plan to engage with different (student) communities within the university? Since I am new to TU Delft, the first thing I need to do is expand my network here. Therefore, I am currently busy exploring the university and getting to know various stakeholders. Moreover, I intend to be in close contact with various student and study organizations to explore together how to strengthen cooperation on diversity and inclusion. Welcome to the team Keehan and we wish you lots of success with your traineeship!

Researchers from TU Delft and Cambridge University collaborate on innovative methods to combat Climate Change

For over a year and a half, researchers from TU Delft and the Cambridge University Centre for Climate Repair have worked together on groundbreaking techniques to increase the reflectivity of clouds in the fight against global warming. During a two-day meeting, the teams are discussing their progress. Researchers at Cambridge are focusing on the technical development of a system that can spray seawater, releasing tiny salt crystals into the atmosphere to brighten the clouds. The team from TU Delft, led by Prof. Dr. Ir. Herman Russchenberg, scientific director of the TU Delft Climate Action Program and professor of Atmospheric Remote Sensing, is studying the physical effects of this technique. Prof. Russchenberg emphasizes the importance of this research: "We have now taken the first steps towards developing emergency measures against climate change. If it proves necessary, we must be prepared to implement these techniques. Ideally, we wouldn't need to use them, but it's important to investigate how they work now." Prof. Dr. Ir. Stefan Aarninkhof, dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, expresses pride in the team as the first results of this unique collaboration are becoming visible. If the researchers in Delft and Cambridge can demonstrate the potential of the concept, the first small-scale experiments will responsibly begin within a year. This research has been made possible thanks to the long-term support from the Refreeze the Arctic Foundation, founded by family of TU Delft alumnus Marc Salzer Levi . Such generous contributions enable innovative and high-impact research that addresses urgent global challenges like climate change. Large donations like these enable the pursuit of innovative, high-impact research that may not otherwise be feasible, demonstrating how our collective effort and investment in science can lead to real, transformative solutions for global challenges like climate change. Climate-Action Programme

IDE Publication Highlights (Week 39 2024)

Click here to view recent publication highlights from our staff and students.

National and International Phishing Attackers revealed

Phishing attacks, which trick users into sharing private data, have been a major online security threat for years. According to a 2023 FBI report, it is the top digital crime type. Researchers from the Intelligent Systems department have collaborated with three European country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) to characterize phishing attacks, focusing on the Netherlands’ .nl, Belgium’s .be, and Ireland’s .ie. By understanding these patterns, the research aims to enhance security measures and protect internet users from phishing threats.

11,000 young researchers have obtained a PhD from TU Delft

It was a very memorable day for PhD Amey Vasulkar last Thursday, the 19th of September. Not only did he successfully defend his promotion on Arctic Sea Ice in Tide Models, but he was also the 11,000th student to obtain a PhD from TU Delft. We are incredibly proud of and thankful for every single one of these 11,000 PhDs who started their scientific journey with us and continuously strive to change the world through their scientific innovations.

How system safety can make Machine Learning systems safer in the public sector

Machine Learning (ML), a form of AI where patterns are discovered in large amounts of data, can be very useful. It is increasingly used, for example, in chatbot Chat GPT, facial recognition, or speech software. However, there are also concerns about the use of ML systems in the public sector. How do you prevent the system from, for example, discriminating or making large-scale mistakes with negative effects on citizens? Scientists at TU Delft, including Jeroen Delfos, investigated how lessons from system safety can contribute to making ML systems safer in the public sector. “Policymakers are busy devising measures to counter the negative effects of ML. Our research shows that they can rely much more on existing concepts and theories that have already proven their value in other sectors,” says Jeroen Delfos. Jeroen Delfos Learning from other sectors In their research, the scientists used concepts from system safety and systems theory to describe the challenges of using ML systems in the public sector. Delfos: “Concepts and tools from the system safety literature are already widely used to support safety in sectors such as aviation, for example by analysing accidents with system safety methods. However, this is not yet common practice in the field of AI and ML. By applying a system-theoretical perspective, we view safety not only as a result of how the technology works, but as the result of a complex set of technical, social, and organisational factors.” The researchers interviewed professionals from the public sector to see which factors are recognized and which are still underexposed. Bias There is room for improvement to make ML systems in the public sector safer. For example, bias in data is still often seen as a technical problem, while the origin of that bias may lie far outside the technical system. Delfos: “Consider, for instance, the registration of crime. In neighbourhoods where the police patrol more frequently, logically, more crime is recorded, which leads to these areas being overrepresented in crime statistics. An ML system trained to discover patterns in these statistics will replicate or even reinforce this bias. However, the problem lies in the method of recording, not in the ML system itself.” Reducing risks According to the researchers, policymakers and civil servants involved in the development of ML systems would do well to incorporate system safety concepts. For example, it is advisable to identify in advance what kinds of accidents one wants to prevent when designing an ML system. Another lesson from system safety, for instance in aviation, is that systems tend to become more risky over time in practice, because safety becomes subordinate to efficiency as long as no accidents occur. “It is therefore important that safety remains a recurring topic in evaluations and that safety requirements are enforced,” says Delfos. Read the research paper .

Kaitai Liang receives Distinguished Reviewer Award by ESORICS 2024

I am pleased to share that Kaitai Liang, a tenured faculty member of the Cybersecurity group, has been honored with the Distinguished Reviewer Award by ESORICS 2024.

Compliant DNA nanopores capable of size-selective molecule transport across cell membrane

Scientists at TU Delft and the Max Planck Institute have made a new class of structurally adaptable ‘mechanical’ pores made from DNA that can transport molecules through cell membranes. These innovative nanopores can open and close on demand and, for the first time, adjust their diameter.

New Delft Lectures in Design

This autumn marks the introduction of IDE’s three renewed Masters programmes. One of the unifying features is a stronger link with the world-leading research carried out in IDE. “Delft Lectures in Design - Where IDE moves the Horizons of Design Research” is a case in point. This new cross-programme course serves as a rigorous and inspiring introduction to the broad variety of IDE’s research.

Safety and Security Week 2024

Join us on 7, 8 and 10 October! From October 7 to 12, 2024, the national Safety & Security Week will take place. The free program organised by TU Delft takes place on October 7, 8 and 10. It will be an educational and interactive week— make sure you're there! The full program can be found on the website , including: Two interesting masterclasses ‘ Aggression and violence on campus: Navigating between reality and myths’ and ‘ Predict and Prevent: Masterclass in Safety, Crowd and Crisis Management’ Security & Privacy symposium Safety Square: increase your knowledge about safety and prepare yourself for emergencies For more information: Safety & Security Week (tudelft.nl) . Please note: some activities require registration through the website.

Flight Case 2024: A Journey to Japan

From 22 July – 3 August, 20 IDE master students, 8 committee members from the ID Study Association, assistant professor Rebecca Price, and professor Gerd Kortuem travelled to Japan for a unique learning experience. The group worked on cases for three global companies, Sony, NHK Spring, and Sekisui, each of which provided its own distinct challenges and insights.

Boosting sustainable building education

On 17 September, TU Delft launched a new initiative to implement sustainable building practices across the Dutch educational landscape by bringing together educators from Dutch vocational institutions (MBO) and TU Delft lecturers.

Do something that matters

We komen in Nederland in het basis- en voorgezet onderwijs samen 13.500 leraren tekort. Het leraarschap heeft niet altijd de reputatie die het verdient. En dat terwijl het alles in zich heeft. Daarom startte Universiteiten van Nederland (UNL) vorig week de campagne ‘Doe iets wat ertoe doet’. Het doel is om mensen met een nieuwe blik naar het leraarschap te laten kijken.

Marina Bos-de Vos wins EURAM best paper award

At the end of June, IDE Assistant Professor of Strategic Design for Ecosystem Innovation, Marina Bos-de Vos, won two awards as a first author at the European Academy of Management (EURAM) Conference for her research paper "Projecting for accelerating sustainability transitions: practices of joint value creation in circular economy programs".