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Education Courses 2024/2025 Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Engineers | CEGM2003 Machine Learning for Graph Data | CS4350 Modeling Uncertainty and Data for Engineers | CEGM1000 Mutimedia Analysis | CSE2230 Signal Processing | CSE2220 2023/2024 Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Engineers | CEGM2003 Machine Learning for Graph Data | CS4350 Modeling Uncertainty and Data for Engineers | CEGM1000 Research skills 1 | CIE5431 Mutimedia Analysis | CSE2230 Signal Processing | CSE2220 2022/2023 Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Engineers | CEGM2003 Machine Learning for Graph Data | CS4350 Modeling Uncertainty and Data for Engineers | CEGM1000 Research skills 1 | CIE5431 Mutimedia Analysis | CSE2230 Signal Processing | CSE2220 2021/2022 Applied Machine Learning | CS4305TU Research skills 1 | CIE5431 Mutimedia Analysis | CSE2230 Signal Processing | CSE2220 2020/2021 Applied Machine Learning | CS4305TU Research skills 1 | CIE5431 Mutimedia Analysis | CSE2230 2019/2020 Research skills 1 | CIE5431 Mutimedia Analysis | CSE2230 Signal Processing | CSE2220 Master projects Ongoing Adaptive Learning on graphs, Elvin Isufi, Alex Jeleniewski (2023/2024) Graph Learning for Multi-Sensor Radar, Elvin Isufi, Radu Gaghi (2023/2024) Graph Neural Networks for Renewable Energy, Elvin Isufi, Rodrigo Revilla Llaca (2023/2024) Hybrid Modelling in Hydrology Using a Neural Ordinary Differential Equations Approach, Riccardo Taormina, Jonathan Schieren (2023/2024) Graph Neural Networks for Predicting Dike-breach floods, Riccardo Taormina, Sergio Bulte (2023/2024) Small Deep Learning Models for Sewer Defect Detection, Riccardo Taormina, Brendan Determan (2023/2024) Improving PIV-based streamflow estimation with Deep Learning, Riccardo Taormina, Max Helmich (2023/2024) GAN-based rainfall nowcasting, Riccardo Taormina, Sven van Os (2023/2024) Optimizing the pump schedule of water distribution systems using a deep learning metamodel, Riccardo Taormina, Nikolaos Mertzanis (2022/2023) Finished GGANet: Algorithm Unrolling for Water Distribution Networks Metamodelling , Riccardo Taormina, Albert Roca Solà (2023/2024) Sparse & Interpretable Graph Attention Networks , Elvin Isufi, Titus Naber (2023/2024) An Experimental Assessment of the Stability of Graph Contrastive Learning , Elvin Isufi, Siert Sebus (2023/2024) Bayesian Contrastive Learning on Topological Structures , Elvin Isufi, Alex Mollers (2023/2024) Assessment of Pump Failures in Rotterdam: A Five-Year Study (2016-2020): A Failure Analysis based on statistical modelling , Riccardo Taormina, Qiwen Zhang (2023/2024) Diverse Explorations of Rainfall Nowcasting with TrajGRU: Mitigating Smoothness and Fading Out Challenges for Longer Lead Times , Riccardo Taormina, Yanghuan Zou (2023/2024) Towards a fully distributed multivariable hydrological deep learning model with graph neural networks , Riccardo Taormina, Peter Nelemans (2023/2024) Characterization of plastic transport in the Saigon River: An analysis of the river stretch that crosses Ho Chi Minh City conducted in the rainy season. , Riccardo Taormina, Francesca Lena (2023/2024) Characterization of plastic transport in the Saigon River: An analysis of the river stretch that crosses Ho Chi Minh City conducted in the rainy season. , Riccardo Taormina, Edoarto Forte (2023/2024) Characterization of plastic transport in the Saigon River: An analysis of the river stretch that crosses Ho Chi Minh City conducted in the rainy season. , Riccardo Taormina, Agatha Zamuner (2023/2024) Prediction of Discharges from Polders to ‘Boezem’ Canals with a Random Forest and an LSTM Model: Improving Inputs of the Decision Support System of the Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland , Riccardo Taormina, Josine van Marrewijk (2023/2024) The Hierarchical Subspace Iteration Method for Computing Vibration Modes of Elastic Objects , Elvin Isufi, Julian van Dijk (2023/2024) A System for Model Diagnosis centered around Human Computation , Elvin Isufi, Ziad Ahmad Saad Soliman Nawar (2023/2024) Automatic feature discovery: A comparative study between filter and wrapper feature selection techniques , Elvin Isufi, Andrei Mân?stireanu (2023/2024) Encoding methods for categorical data: A comparative analysis for linear models, decision trees, and support vector machines , Elvin Isufi, Andrei Udil? (2023/2024) Filtering Knowledge: A Comparative Analysis of Information-Theoretical-Based Feature Selection Methods , Elvin Isufi, Kiril Vasilev (2023/2024) Data-Driven Empirical Analysis of Correlation-Based Feature Selection Techniques , Elvin Isufi, Florena Bu?e (2023/2024) Perceptual losses in precipitation nowcasting , Riccardo Taormina, Diewertje Dekker (2022/2023) Development of an LSTM-based methodology for burst detection in water distribution systems , Riccardo Taormina, Konstantinos Glynis (2022/2023) The role of water vapor observations in satellite-based rainfall information highlighted by a Deep Learning approach , Riccardo Taormina, Fabo Curzi (2022/2023) Predicting fluvial flood arrival times by making use of a deep learning model , Riccardo Taormina, Ron Bruijns (2022/2023) Using YOLOv5 for the Detection of Icebergs in SAR Imagery , Riccardo Taormina, Daan Hulskemper (2022/2023) Assessing the applicability of Transformer-based architectures as rainfall-runoff models , Riccardo Taormina, Kangmin Mao (2022/2023) Simplicial Unrolling Elastic Net for Edge Flow Signal Reconstruction , Elvin Isufi, Chengen Liu (2022/2023) From Clicks to Conscious Choices: Investigating the Effects of Carbon Footprint Data in E-Commerce Recommender Systems , Elvin Isufi, Sneha Lodha (2022/2023) Graph Reqularized Tensor Decomposition for Recommender Systems , Elvin Isufi, Rohan Chandrashekar (2022/2023) Pure Cold Start Recommendation by Learning on Stochastically Expanded Graphs , Elvin Isufi, Simon Dahrs (2022/2023) Nudging Towards Sustainable Choices via Recommender Systems , Elvin Isufi, Raoul Kalisvaart (2022/2023) Deep Learning for Geotechnical Engineering: The Effectiveness of Generative Adversarial Networks in Subsoil Schematization , Riccardo Taormina, Fabian Campos Montero (2022/2023) Quantum to Transport: Modeling Transport Properties of Aqueous Potassium Hydroxide by Machine Learning Molecular Force Fields from Quantum Mechanics , Riccardo Taormina, Jelle Lagerweij (2022/2023) A LSTM-based Generative Adversarial Network for End-use Water Modelling , Riccardo Taormina, Yukun Xie (2022/2023) Operational Streamflow Drought Forecasting for the Rhine River at Lobith Using the LSTM Deep Learning Approach , Riccardo Taormina, Jing Deng (2022/2023) cGANs for multispectral snow extent analysis in the Alps , Riccardo Taormina, Adriaan Keurhorst (2022/2023) The Effect of Climate Variability on the Root Zone Storage Capacity , Riccardo Taormina, Nienke Tempel (2022/2023) GNNs and Beam Dynamics: Investigation into the application of Graph Neural Networks to predict the dynamic behaviour of lattice beams , Riccardo Taormina, Lex Niessen (2022/2023) The impact of an additional phenology model on the performance of conceptual hydrological models , Riccardo Taormina, Casper Pierik (2022/2023) Leak Localization in Water Distribution Networks , Riccardo Taormina, Zixi Meng (2022/2023) Macrolitter in Groyne Fields: Short term variability & the influence of natural processes , Riccardo Taormina, Jakob Grosfeld (2022/2023) Water balance-based approach to improve understanding of Drought Development: by calculating the root storage deficit , Riccardo Taormina, Piet Storm (2022/2023) APDUDS, Riccardo Taormina, Max Lange (2022/2023) Improving APDUDS, Riccardo Taormina, Jip Steiger (2022/2023) Self-Supervised Few Shot Learning: Prototypical Contrastive Learning with Graphs , Elvin Isufi, Ojas Shirekar (2022/2023) Hardware-based implementations in Side-Channel Analysis: A comparison study of DL SCA attacks against HW and SW AES and a novel methodology , Elvin Isufi, Wolf Bubberman (2022/2023) Assessing Global Applicability of a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Neural Network for Rainfall-Runoff Modelling , Riccardo Taormina, Katharina Wilbrand (2021/2022) Short-term Water Demand Forecasting at a District Level Using Deep Learning Techniques , Riccardo Taormina, Diego Mauricio Corredor Mora (2021/2022) Applying deep learning vs machine learning models to reproduce dry spells at point scale from satellite information in a data-scarce region: the case of northern Ghana , Riccardo Taormina, Panagiotis Mavritsakis (2021/2022) Exploration of Deep Learning-based Computer Vision for the detection of floating plastic debris in waterways , Riccardo Taormina, Andé J. Vallendar (2021/2022) Nowcasting heavy precipitation in the Netherlands: a deep learning approach , Riccardo Taormina, Eva van der Kooij (2021/2022) Deep Statistical Solver for Distribution System State Estimation , Elvin Isufi, Benjamin Habib (2021/2022) Do multi-year droughts increase floods? , Riccardo Taormina, Yang Zhao (2021/2022) Automatic Generation of Water Distribution Systems, Riccardo Taormina, Dimitri Tijdeman (2021/2022) Short-term Earthquake Prediction with Deep Neural Networks: Finding the optimal time prior to earthquake strikes to use in predictions , Elvin Isufi, Glenn van den Belt (2021/2022) Improving cell type matching across species in scRNA-seq data using protein embeddings and transfer learning , Elvin Isufi, Kirti Biharie (2021/2022) Tikhonov and Sobolev regularisers compared to user-based KNN collaborative filtering , Elvin Isufi, Sérénic Monté (2021/2022) Total Variation Regularisation for Item KNN Collaborative Filtering: Performance Analysis , Elvin Isufi, Lars van Blokland (2021/2022) The Performance of Total Variation Regularizer for User Collaborative Filtering , Elvin Isufi, Karolis Mari?nas (2021/2022) Item-Item Collaborative Filtering via Graph Regularization , Elvin Isufi, Melle Jansen (2021/2022) Impact of seismic wave length to detect high-magnitude earthquakes via deep learning , Elvin Isufi, Gancho Georgiev (2021/2022) How long before strike can we predict earthquakes with an LSTM neural network? , Elvin Isufi, Amaury Charlot (2021/2022) Impact of Focal Depth on Short-Term Earthquake Prediction using Deep Learning , Elvin Isufi, Pijus Krisiuk?nas (2021/2022) Predicting Micro-Earthquakes with Deep Neural Networks , Elvin Isufi, Kevin Zhu (2021/2022) Short-term Earthquake Prediction via Recurrent Neural Network Models: Comparison among vanilla RNN, LSTM and Bi-LSTM , Elvin Isufi, Xiangyu Du (2021/2022) Earthquake Prediction: A MLP & SVM Comparison , Elvin Isufi, Daniel van den Akker (2021/2022) Comparing multichannel mixed CNN-RNN to individual models for earthquake prediction , Elvin Isufi, Maikel Houbaer (2021/2022) How does a CNN mixed with LSTM methods compare with the individual one in predicting earthquakes? , Elvin Isufi, Irtaza Hashmi (2021/2022) Parametric design of a grid shell roof over existing buildings?, with a focus on connection design , Elvin Isufi, Fiori Isufi (2021/2022) Investigation of focal epilepsy using graph signal processing , Elvin Isufi, Gaia Zin (2021/2022) Assessing the Capability of Multimodal Variational Auto-Encoders in Combining Information From Biological Layers in Cancer Cells , Elvin Isufi, Bram Pronk (2021/2022) Benchmarking VAE latent features in downstream tasks for cancer related predictions , Elvin Isufi, Boris van Groeningen (2021/2022) The Effect of Different Initialization Methods on VAEs for Modeling Cancer using RNA Genome Expressions , Elvin Isufi, Ivo Kroskinski (2021/2022) Benchmarking the hyper-parameter sensitivity of VAE models for cancer treatment , Elvin Isufi, Armin Korki? (2021/2022) Finding disentangled representations using VAE , Elvin Isufi, Raymond d'Anjou (2021/2022) Creation of new Extra-Tropical Cyclone fields in the North Atlantic with Generative Adversarial Networks , Riccardo Taormina, Filippo Dainelli (2020/2021) Side-channel analysis with graph neural networks , Elvin Isufi, Vasco de Bruijn (2020/2021) Matching streamflow river gauges with hydrologic models , Riccardo Taormina, Mizzi van der Ven (2020/2021) Integrated Neural Network and Finite Element Analysis for constitutive modelling of soil , Riccardo Taormina, Keshav Kashichenula (2020/2021) 3D Road Boundary Mapping of MLS Point Clouds , Riccardo Taormina, Qian Bai (2020/2021) Shallow Cumulus Clouds as Complex Networks , Riccardo Taormina, Pouriya Alinaghi (2020/2021) The variability of the rootzone storage capacity in Austria: An exploration of its controls , Riccardo Taormina, Bart Veenings (2020/2021) Relating groundwater heads to stream discharge by using machine learning techniques: A case study in subcatchment Chaamse Beken , Riccardo Taormina, Valerie Demetriades (2020/2021) Mathematical framework to understand better the behavior of the graphs convolutional neural network to random perturbations, Alejandro Ribeiro, Gao Zhan (2020/2021) Combining frequency information and the unsupervisedW-Net model for wheat head detection , Elvin Isufi, Ivo Chen (2020/2021) Improving the Performance of Object Counting Using Training Images in the Frequency Domain , Elvin Isufi, Dani Rogmans (2020/2021) Using frequency information to improve accuracy of object detectors , Elvin Isufi, Petar Ulev (2020/2021) Injecting prior frequency information in DETR for wheat head detection , Elvin Isufi, Alin Prundeanu (2020/2021) Accelerating Axial-Symmetrical Nebulae Visualization and Reconstruction , Elvin Isufi, Nouri Khalass (2020/2021) Accuracy-Diversity Trade-off in Recommender Systems Via Graph Convolutions , Elvin Isufi, Matteo Pocchiari (2019/2020) Identifying Author Fingerprints in Texts via Graph Neural Networks , Elvin Isufi, Tomas Sipko (2019/2020) Graph-Adaptive Activation Functions for Graph Neural Networks , Elvin Isufi, Bianca Iancu (2019/2020) Accuracy-Diversity Trade-off in Recommender Systems Via Graph Convolutions , Elvin Isufi, M. Pocchaiari (2019/2020) Automatic Depth Matching for Petrophysical Borehole Logs , Elvin Isufi, A. Garcia Manso (2019/2020) Visually grounded fine-grained speech representations learning , Elvin Isufi, Tian Tian (2019/2020) Advances in Graph Signal Processing: Fast graph construction & Node-adaptive graph signal reconstruction , Elvin Isufi, Maosheng Yang (2019/2020) Graph-Time Convolutional Neural Network: Learning from Time-Varying Signals defined on Graphs , Elvin Isufi, Gabriele Mazzola (2019/2020) Applying Machine Learning to Learn System Dynamics Models for Urban Systems , Elvin Isufi, Rukai Yin (2019/2020) Designing an escape room sensory system: S.C.I.L.E.R.: sensory communication inside live escape rooms , Elvin Isufi, Issa Hanou (2019/2020) Designing an escape room sensory system: S.C.I.L.E.R.: sensory communication inside live escape rooms , Elvin Isufi, Gwennan Smitskamp (2019/2020) Designing an escape room sensory system: S.C.I.L.E.R.: sensory communication inside live escape rooms , Elvin Isufi, Marijn de Schipper (2019/2020) Active Semi-Supervised Learning For Diffusions on Graphs , Elvin Isufi, Biswadeep Das (2019/2020) Interpreting Information of Deep Neural Networks for Profiled Side Channel Analysis , Elvin Isufi, Marius Pop (2019/2020) Blind Graph Topology Change Detection: A Graph Signal Processing approach , Elvin Isufi, Ashvant Mahabir (2019/2020) Can fourier neural operators replicate the intrinsic predictability of spatiotemporal chaos?: for the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky system , Riccardo Taormina, Kevin Schuurman () Estimating new reservoir locations with the use of a hydrological model for small holder cotton farmers in Maharashtra, India , Riccardo Taormina, Jente Janssen ()

Education

Courses 2024/2025 Inverse Problems | AM3540 Modeling, Uncertainty and data for Engineers | CEGM1000 Data Science and AI for Engineers | CEGM2003 Fundamentals of Artificial Inteligence Program | IFEEMCS520100 Statistical Learning | WI4630 Statistical Learning for Engineers | IFEEMCS4250 2023/2024 Inverse Problems | AM3540 Modeling, Uncertainty and data for Engineers | CEGM1000 Data Science and AI for Engineers | CEGM2003 Fundamentals of Artificial Inteligence Program | IFEEMCS520100 Statistical Learning | WI4630 Statistical Learning for Engineers | IFEEMCS4250 2022/2023 Modeling, Uncertainty and data for Engineers | CEGM1000 Data Science and AI for Engineers | CEGM2003 Fundamentals of Artificial Inteligence Program | IFEEMCS520100 Statistical Learning | WI4630 Statistical Learning for Engineers | IFEEMCS4250 2021/2022 Statistical Learning | WI4630 Statistical Learning for Engineers | IFEEMCS4250 Resources See: https://github.com/SLIMM-Lab Master projects Ongoing Uncertainty quantification with GP-PCE hybrids (provisionary title), Iuri Rocha, Daan Smolders (2023/2024) Physically Recurrent Neural Networks for dynamics of lattice metamaterials (provisionary title), Iuri Rocha, Paul van IJzendoorn (2023/2024) Stitching multi-fidelity Gaussian processes, Iuri Rocha, Rik Hendriks (2022/2023) Bayesian system identification of engineering structures, Iuri Rocha, Andres Martinez Colan (2022/2023) Finished Physically Recurrent Neural Networks for Cohesive Homogenization of Composite Materials , Iuri Rocha, Nora Kovacs (2023/2024) GNNs and Beam Dynamics: Investigation into the application of Graph Neural Networks to predict the dynamic behaviour of lattice beams , Iuri Rocha, Lex Niessen (2022/2023) Analyzing the Influence of Prior Covariances on a Bayesian Finite Element Method , Iuri Rocha, Uri Peker (2022/2023) High-dimensional numerical optimization of fiber reinforced polymers with variational autoencoders and Bayesian optimization , Iuri Rocha, Joep Storm (2020/2021) Investigating the performance of Deep Material Networks in accelerating multiscale modelling of laminated composites , Iuri Rocha, Jesse Metz (2020/2021) Surrogate constitutive models with multi-fidelity Gaussian Processes for composite micromodels , Iuri Rocha, Taylan Turan (2020/2021) Optimizing the Reduced Basis Construction for Reduced-Order Mechanical Models , Iuri Rocha, Knut Tjensvoll (2019/2020)

Liakos Papapoulos

In an era defined by rapid technological change, pension asset managers face the imperative to innovate and add value in cost-effective ways. This talk explores the potential transformative power of “Ecosystem Thinking” as a catalyst for accelerated innovation for the pension fund community, its partners and organizations facing similar challenges.

By fostering a culture of knowledge sharing with the strategic backing of senior management, this approach also leverages a bottom-up strategy, empowering forward thinking talent within organizations to co-drive technological and data driven innovation.

We will also delve into the important role of goal alignment and trust in cultivating collaborative ecosystems, providing insight on how embracing this mindset can not only meet the evolving needs of pension funds but also create a framework for continuous sustainable growth and value creation within the broader financial and (semi)public sectors.

Bio:
Liakos provides advisory services to the financial and non-profit sectors on innovation, data, tech and trading strategies. In addition, he is working on several initiatives within the fintech space.

A former senior trader and portfolio manager in Foreign Exchange and Money Markets at MN, he focused on tech and data, working closely with MN’s Innovation Lab. Simultaneously, he developed the Academic Excellence Program together with PGGM, that aimed on strengthening the ties between the pension fund community and academia.

A frequently invited speaker at international Foreign Exchange conferences, he has also served on the Advisory Boards of TradeTech FX Europe and USA.

He holds a MSc. in International Economics from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam and is a CFA Charter holder.

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Three Students Nominated for the ECHO award

Three TU Delft students have been nominated for the ECHO Award 2024. The ECHO award is awarded to students with a non-western background who are actively engaged in society. Sibel, TJ and Pravesha talk about their background their nomination. The finalists will be selected on September 27th. Sibel Gökbekir How has your background influenced your academic journey? As a woman with Turkish roots, my academic journey has been about more than just pursuing degrees in engineering and law; it’s been about consistently advocating for the diverse needs of women and multicultural groups, ensuring their voices are heard in important decisions. This is why I actively contributed to different board positions at TU Delft, working to promote inclusivity and equality. My background inspired me to explore how engineering, law, and social justice intersect, particularly in empowering marginalised communities. I chose to study energy transitions and human rights to contribute to a fairer, more inclusive World. How have you turned this into contributions to society? I’ve dedicated my academic and personal life to promoting diversity and inclusion. As a youth ambassador for Stop Street Harassment, I aimed to create safer spaces for women and minorities because I believe everyone has the right to feel free and safe in society. Through the Turkish Golden Tulip Foundation, I advocated for vulnerable communities in earthquake relief. Additionally, I founded an initiative for migrant students in Rotterdam-South and I have been committed to improving educational opportunities for secondary school students with a migration background. Next, I gave guest lectures across the Netherlands to educate the younger generation about climate change and equitable energy transitions, emphasising the importance of a fair transition for all communities. What does it mean for you to nominated to the ECHO award? I feel very honoured to have been nominated on behalf of TU Delft. My commitment to community engagement is part of who I am, and therefore the ECHO Award is more than just a recognition; It offers me an opportunity to further expand my contributions to a more inclusive society. As an ECHO Ambassador, I plan to expand my efforts in promoting equality and sustainability, while inspiring others to take action for a more equitable World. TJ Rivera How has your background influenced your academic journey? My background as a Filipino in a Dutch-speaking bachelor’s programme made my academic journey both challenging and enriching. Being gay in a male-dominated field like Architecture, where most role models were heteronormative men, added another layer of difficulty. It was intimidating to not see people like me represented. However, this experience fuelled my belief that systems can and should be challenged, changed, and updated. I aimed to bring a fresh perspective, advocating for greater diversity and inclusivity in the field. How have you turned this into contributions to society? I translated my personal challenges into tangible contributions by advocating for inclusivity within architecture. Together with like-minded individuals, I began exploring the intersection of identity, sexuality, and architecture, and collaborated with my faculty’s diversity team to raise awareness. As I became known for my work with the queer community, I saw an opportunity to create lasting change. I co-revived ARGUS, the once-inactive study association for the Master of Architecture, which now serves as a platform to discuss and address issues of diversity within the field. This initiative continues to foster a more inclusive academic environment. What does it mean for you to be nominated to the Echo award? Being nominated for the ECHO Award is a significant milestone in my journey to expand my mission beyond the confines of my faculty. This national platform provides the opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for social justice on a larger scale. I believe students are key to driving change, and my focus is on amplifying the voices of the queer community, which is often overlooked. The ECHO Award will enable me to form partnerships with organizations and universities, further promoting diversity, inclusivity, and equality. It’s a chance to create broader, tangible change, addressing the needs of those who often go unheard. Pravesha Ramsundersingh How has your background influenced your academic journey? As a woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), my background has been a powerful motivator to challenge gender disparities within Computer Science. Experiencing firsthand the underrepresentation of women in this field, I have been driven to not only excel academically but also become an advocate for diversity. Through leadership roles in the Faculty and Central Student Councils, I’ve focused on creating an inclusive environment that supports women and minority students, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. How have you turned this into contributions to society? I’ve translated my experiences into actionable contributions by actively advocating for DEI at TU Delft. I ensured sexual education and consent training for 3,000 freshmen students, and I led initiatives like the Social Safety Initiatives Conference alongside the Dutch National Coordinator against Racism and Discrimination. In my student governance roles, I pushed for policies that address gender discrimination and social safety concerns, creating a more supportive environment for students of all backgrounds to thrive in both academic and social spaces. What does it mean for you to nominated to the ECHO award? Being nominated for the ECHO Award is an incredible honour that highlights the importance of the work I have done to promote DEI. It inspires me to continue advocating for systemic change in the tech industry and academia. This nomination reaffirms my commitment to driving equity in STEM, ensuring that future generations have more inclusive opportunities. It also motivates me to keep pushing boundaries and empower others to take action for a more just and equal society. The ECHO Award Every year ECHO, Center for Diversity Policy, invites colleges and universities to nominate socially active students who make a difference in the field of Diversity & Inclusion for the ECHO Award 2024. The ECHO Award calls attention to the specific experiences that students with a non-Western background* carry with them and the way they manage to turn these experiences into a constructive contribution to society. Winners are selected by an independent jury and may attend a full-service Summercourse at UCLA in the United States in 2025. Read more: ECHO Award - ECHO (echo-net.nl)

NWO grants funding for innovative research on physical experimental environments

How to move from experiment to mainstream? A consortium led by professor Tamara Metze, has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). In search for pathways toward more sustainable futures, Metze and her team will explore how various innovations in field labs such as The Green Village, in urban living labs such as Engy Lab South-East in Amsterdam, and in all sorts of citizens’ initiatives, can be mainstreamed and make more impact on sustainability transitions. Pilot paradox The project ‘From EXperiment to sustainable change: TRAnsformative methodologies for Innovation and learning’ (EXTRA) seeks to overcome a persistent “pilot paradox”. In this paradox, much experimentation takes place but long-term systemic impact remains difficult. Researchers together with all sorts of change makers will synthesise existing knowledge on how to mainstream, upscale, spread, broaden and deepen developed innovations. Tamara Metze: ‘I am excited to unravel what are effective ways of cocreation that lead to mainstreaming the positive changes made in experimental environments. We will figure out how learning and innovation can lead to lasting changes in regulations, policies, and financial systems and the biophysical environment.’ Tamara Metze Read the NWO press release Actionable tools The project is crucial for accelerating sustainability transitions. By refining methodologies for mission-driven experimentation and develop hands on tools for all sorts of change-makers, it will be easier to mainstream the sustainable lessons and innovations. ‘These tools will not only aid grassroots innovators but also influence institutional and organisational structures, ensuring that lessons learned from experiments are better anchored in policies, regulations, and organisations’, explains Metze. The project will employ a transdisciplinary action research approach, bringing together knowledge from various disciplines and policy domains. By co-creating solutions with public and private partners, the research will have an immediate impact. In the long term, the project aims to build a more efficient innovation ecosystem, contributing to more impactful and sustainable outcomes for both society and the environment. Projectpartners TU Delft, VU Amsterdam, Wageningen University & Research, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Hogeschool Rotterdam, The Green Village, AMS Institute; PBL Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving, WoonFriesland, Dijkstra Draisma, Provincie Noord-Holland, Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken, PRICE / Almere, BouwLab, Alliantie Samen Nieuw-West, Innovation Quarter.

Unusual waves grow way beyond known limits

Waves that come from multiple directions are extremer than extreme. These remarkable deep-sea waves can be four times steeper than what was previously imagined, as is shown in research by TU Delft and other universities that was published in Nature today. A long time ago, stories were told of mysterious rogue waves that materialised out of nowhere and could topple even the largest ships. These waves lost their mythical character when the first rogue wave was recorded at the Draupner platform in the North Sea. In 2018, Ton van den Bremer and his colleagues at the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford managed to recreate the Draupner wave in the lab for the first time ever, and this opportunity to study freak waves closely produced unexpected insights. Multiple waves push up water New research by the research consortium now shows that these remarkable waves do not break when traditional theories hold they should, the secret behind which lies in how they arise. Ton van den Bremer, expert on fluid mechanics at TU Delft and led the study, explains: “When most people think of waves, they think of the rolling waves you’d find on a beach. The type of wave we studied occurs in open water and arises when waves coming from multiple directions come together. When these waves with a high directional spread converge, the water is pushed upwards, forming a partially standing wave. An example of this is known as a crossing wave. How crossing waves arise Under certain conditions at sea, waves from multiple directions occur. This can happen in a place where two seas meet, or where winds suddenly change direction, as in a hurricane. When waves from two directions meet, a cross wave occurs, provided their directions are far enough apart. The study also shows that the further apart the directions are, the higher the resulting cross-wave. Travelling waves break when they reach a certain limit, this is when they reach their maximum steepness. The study shows that waves with a multidirectional spreading can get as much as 80% steeper than this limit before they start breaking, which means they can get almost twice as high as ‘normal waves’ before they start to break. Travelling wave (l) and a wave with high directional spreading (r) Breaking waves that grow Next, the researchers found another highly unusual phenomenon that defies existing theories, a phenomenon that is unprecedented according to Van den Bremer: “Once a conventional wave breaks, it forms a white cap, and there is no way back. But when a wave with a high directional spreading breaks, it can keep growing.” The study shows that these enormous waves can grow to twice their original steepness while breaking, which is already twice bigger than the conventional limit. Together, the waves can grow four times steeper than previously thought possible. Damage to offshore structures The knowledge that multidirectional waves can become as much as four times larger than was deemed possible can help design safer marine structures. "The three-dimensionality of waves is often overlooked in the design of offshore wind turbines and other structures in general; our findings suggest this leads to designs that are less reliable", says Mark McAllister of the University of Oxford, who led the experiments and is now a senior scientist at Wood Thilsted. Innovative vertical sensors made it possible to take accurate 3D measurements of waves. Innovative 3D measurement method A 3D measurement method developed in the FloWave lab paved the way for these new insights. “Conventional 2D wave measurement methods weren’t up to the task”, Van den Bremer explains, which is why the research group designed a new way to create 3D wave measurements. Ross Calvert of the University of Edinburgh: “This is the first time we've been able to measure wave heights at such high spatial resolution over such a big area, giving us a much more detailed understanding of complex wave breaking behaviour." FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility in Edinburgh. The circular basin has a diameter of 25 metres and can be used to generate waves from multiple directions. Header image by: Fabien Duboc