8
Biweekly magazine of the Eindhoven University of Technology
12 December 2013 | year 56
For the latest news: www.cursor.tue.nl/en and follow @TUeCursor_news on
Elections University Council: six seats for Groep-één, three for ESR Thursday 5 December - Groep-één has won six seats at the elections - the Eindhoven Student Council (ESR) has three. This means the distribution of seats in TU/e University Council has not changed. Turnout among students was 41.93%, which is slightly lower than last year (47.6%). Of staff and faculty members, 41.53% cast their vote.
“Left with a dream, returned as world champions” Tuesday 3 December - “It’s really weird to return after such a long time”, says Lex Hoefsloot, team manager of Solar Team Eindhoven (STE). The last Solar Team members were welcomed home by their friends and family on Schiphol Airport last Monday. With these eight students back in the Netherlands, the whole team is home. Initiators Lex Hoefsloot and Roy Cobbenhagen look back on an unforgettable experience. The team will be honored in Eindhoven on Thursday 19 December, and of course solar car Stella will be there as well. From 16.00h in the central hall of the Hoofdgebouw (main building).
The TU/e DNA
TU/e to supervis STW photonics e project
Tuesday 3 December - The Communications Expertise Center (CEC) wants a solid and credible story about the work TU/e researchers and students do at TU/e, and how they value their university. The story is meant to determine ‘the TU/e DNA’. It will be used as the basis for a book, a story web, and other means of communication. A story says more than taglines like ‘young and challenging’ or ‘small and ambitious’: reason for CEC to organize four dialogue sessions with homogenous TU/e groups. Want to discuss the basic values of TU/e? Supporting staff and management can join the dialogue on Thursday, 12 December between 12pm and 2.30pm. Alumni and relations are invited to say what’s on their minds on Tuesday, 14 January between 3.30pm and 6pm, and scientists are welcome on Thursday, 16 January between 12-2.30pm. Registration through dna@tue.nl. You’ll receive an e-mail containing more information.
Wednesday 4 Dece mber - Prof.dr.ir. Meint Smit of the Department of Electrical Enginee ring at TU/e will be in charge of a new leading-secto r program of techno logy foundation STW. The aim of th e MEMPHIS proje ct is to develop build ing blocks for instruments contain ing photonics and microelectron ics. The project will cost over six mi llion euros, four million of which wi ll be sponsored by STW. TU/e will have five doctora l candidates workin g on it.
Shortcuts to heart of campus reopened
More news on www.cursor.tue.nl/en
Clmn
and tuecursor on
Monday 2 December - Since December, MetaForum is once again accessible via the gangways from the Hoofdgebouw, Matrix, and Potentiaal. Over the past six months, they’ve been renovated and modernized - think bright colors, subdued sunlight and no more sub-zero temperatures.
Acting the reality
Ever since my childhood I wanted to be an actress. I acted in numerous plays and acts in school and college. In all such acts I played an imaginary character, or at least a character that wasn’t me. I knew that’s the real challenge for an actress - to enact a role different from herself. But this week, I had a different experience all together. I acted in a role of an International Innovation Science master student, studying at TU/e. There was a shoot for the making of a video on our graduate programme and I took part in there. I felt almost like a movie star to give an interview in front of the camera, pose at certain angles and to enact in a scene of lively study environment. All of these were dedicated to truly represent our university and the master course in front of the future students and encourage them to apply.
Even without facing the lights and the camera, I have been doing the same job as a TU/e ambassador this year. This time as I went back to Jadavpur University, India - I shared with students my satisfaction of being a part of TU/e, and how Innovation Sciences offer a wonderful course package both for future research aspirants and professionals. Now, if you think that was just acting - you are thoroughly mistaken. Unlike most of my past experiences of acting in a role for a play, this time, I meant what I said! Bipashyee Ghosh Innovation , master student Sciences
20 | Research
12 December 2013
4 burning questions 1 ’s on What f your o r e ov ? the c ation t r e s dis
2 Wh a peo t do yo ple u te a whe t par ll ties n abo ut y they a sk our rese arch ?
4
3 What person, technology, or device has been essential for your research?
Jan Neggers | Mechanical Engineering
Stretchable electronics
1 | cover The cover features two important figures from my disserta-
3 | essential In order to be able to provide input for complex models, we’ve been using DIC (Digital Image Correlation). In DIC, we analyze images (photos) of the experiment, allowing us to measure the level of deformation of the test product very accurately.
tion. Apart from adding some color to the cover, they’ve been crucial to my research project. I’ve developed new, experimental techniques to analyze the adhesion between materials in stretchable electronics, and you have to check how reliable those methods are. The top figure (the triangle one) is a depiction of the experimental error as a function of the number of unknown parameters.
2 | parties The human body is flexible, so when developing (elec-
trical) devices that are worn either close to or inside the body, it’s best to make sure they follow the movement of the body, for comfort’s sake. Stretchable electronics are (generally) made of standard electronic components put on, or inside, a thin layer of rubber. Although the rubber is very stretchable, the components are not, so the materials conflict. The adhesion of the various materials has proven especially important; as long as the rubber is attached to the components, the load is distributed more evenly.
does How efit n e b ty socie ur work? yo from
4 | society benefit I wouldn’t be surprised if in ten years’ time people walk around with displays in their eyes and sensors in their fingers. But for now, the greatest impact is in the medical world. With stretchable electronics, for example, it’s much easier for doctors and therapists to register a patient’s activities electronically.
Gielis van der Heijden | IE&IS
Service employees as source of innovation
1 | cover The cover shows several aspects of the job description of Frontline Service Employees (FSEs). They are service staff -think of service technicians, or call center employees- who help customers with product issues or questions. Apart from their everyday job, FSEs turn out to be a useful source for innovation, since they know exactly what customers want and need. They know what should be improved.
3 | essential For my research project, the actual FSEs have been
of vital importance. I’ve interviewed several service employees, and had a large number of FSEs fill out surveys, which I linked with their performance, customer satisfaction, and manager evaluations.
4 | society benefit
2 | parties I’ve looked at major companies (think Philips, Cisco, Canon) and how they can optimize their customer service by using their FSEs for innovation purposes. Service employees can accumulate important customer data, develop new ideas, and so improve customer service.
Today, practically all large companies combine product sales with after-sales service like repairs and maintenance. My research project indicates that these companies could get much more out of that if only they had their service employees talk to their customers more. Doing so will improve service significantly, as well as product performance and customer satisfaction. And all that, in the end, will lead to a better position on the market.
Florian Janoschek | Applied Physics
Analyzing blood with supercomputers
1 | cover
3 | essential Indispensable were the right literature and European, Dutch, and German supercomputing grants, which allowed us to run large simulations on hundreds, sometimes thousands of processors for days. This was necessary to accumulate reliable data, and it’s the only way to see certain phenomena that are only visible when looking at many particles.
On the cover is a snapshot from one of our computer simulations. You see many oblate spheroidal particles (think of Smarties) suspended in a liquid and how they’d orient if the bottom of the picture were sheared to the left while the top moved to the right.
2 | parties Many important substances in nature and technology are suspensions of microscopic particles in a liquid. One example is blood, which consists of blood cells floating in blood plasma. The particles can lend unique properties to the suspension. We’ve developed simple but accurate computer models for systems with thousands of particles, and applied them to find out how the presence and shape of the particles can enhance mass or heat transport under flow, among other things.
4 | society benefit The effects we studied are relevant for problems ranging from process optimization for the chemical industry to drug delivery through a blood vessel. The methods we developed allow for more realistic computer simulations of suspensions. In the future, these simulations might help improve computer models of whole organs of specific patients before surgery.
People | 21
See for more news www.cursor.tue.nl/en
And how are things in Istanbul? More and more TU/e students go abroad for their studies to follow courses, internships or a doctorate path. What is it like to find your way in a new country? Students tell their stories.
‘Oh, Istanbul! You are still the most enchanting among those names which enchant me the most.’ I found these words on an exquisitely painted wall during the first weeks of my exchange semester in Istanbul. The reason of my visit: I wanted to experience more of non-western culture. As a graduate student of Construction Management and Engineering, I’ve been a student at Istanbul Teknik Üniversitesi for three months now. Istanbul has approximately 45 universities, and ITÜ is considered one of the best, which is why it’s very well-respected. Although educational quality varies per class, lecturers are usually very passionate about their expertise, and that’s incredibly contagious. The lecturers as well as my fellow students are welcoming and free-spirited. They enjoy entering into conversation and teaching foreigners about their background, often accompanied by a glass of Turkish tea. Because of the many young people living in Istanbul, the city is constantly buzzing. Unlike in the Netherlands, people here live their lives outside. They trade, drink tea, and have discussions with the din of traffic in the background. At night, students gather at a Stratumseind-like area with tons of shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs. The street attracts nearly three million visitors every weekend. I’m still amazed at the sight every time. Although I still have a month and a half to go and a lot left to see, the city has already made quite an impression on me. Istanbul’s magic lies in the combination of its history, size, traditions, and modern life. To me, it’s the most enchanting city I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit!
studenIlse Megen t Manaog f Constrsu, c Engienmeent andtion ering Would you also like to write an article about your time abroad? Please send an email to cursor@tue.nl.
Read more stories online: www.cursor.tue.nl/en
Life after TU/e
Name: Anthony Ng ‘Oma Place of Birth: Kasama, Zambia Date of Birth: 28 August, 1969 Studied at TU/e: December 1999 - August 2007 (PhD in Optical Fiber Communications and PD.Eng in ICT) Current position: Manager of Research, and Research Associate. Leading and managing teams of scientists and engineers working on short-reach communication networks and applications at the main research center for Corning Incorpo rated, located in Corning, New York. What do you do and how did you reach your current position? I found my job through the Internet - someone found my PhD thesis on the TU/e library website and told me about a job opening that fit my skills. I went through extensive interviews and was offered the job. I joined Corning Incorporated as a Senior Research Scientist in August 2007. I have been promoted twice - I am now a Manage r of Research (leading teams of PhDs, Engineers, and Technicians), and also a Researc h Associate - recognized for outstanding technical contributions. I have also recently been named the BEYA-MiRs Scientist of the Year 2013 -a top national recognition in the US- in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. My research in 60 GHz fiberwireless systems has resulted in multiple world-record wireless data transmission speeds exceeding 70 Gigabits per second (Gb/s), which is >100 times faster than today’s state-of-the-art Wi-Fi technology. By the way, I have since hired two other PhD graduates from TU/e who are working in my group. I did not go back home to Zambia because the job in the USA was more interesting for my technica l career. I think it’s difficult to find a good job for in the Netherlands as a foreigne r - apart from a position at University - especially with a PhD.
What happens to international students after they graduate from TU/e? Do they go job hunting in the Netherlands, pack their bags and explore the world, or return to their home countries? International TU/e graduates talk about their lives after TU/e.
Why did you choose to study at TU/e? I liked the TWAIO/PD.Eng degree ICT program, and the good reputati on of TU/e. I was interested in the PD.Eng. and PhD programs because they challenged me, and gave me many unique opportunities and resources to do top research. TU/e is a great and internationally renowned university. I particularly appreciated the interact ion and collaboration between industry (e.g. Philips) and the university - it raised the value of research tremendously! I also value the excellent support I received from my professors Djan Khoe and Ton Koonen. What advice would you give current students? The key is to follow you heart - be honest with yourself about what you really like and what motivates you. Then, determine what the best place is for you. It doesn’t matter where it is as long it’s somewhere you are free to do something you’re passionate about. If that’s the case, you will get the job, because the hiring manage r will see your passion shining through. And you’ll be successful, too.
22 | Focus
12 December 2013
The heart of
Text | Monique van de Ven Photos | Bart van Overbeeke en Rien Meulman Everything is alright with the sense of safety of students and staff members on campus - this was indicated by two university-wide surveys conducted in 2009 and October last. It is not only nice for the community in general, it is also an implicit compliment to the TU/e Safety & Security service, whose responsibility includes the campus. The nerve center of the service is the central communications room in the Hoofdgebouw, also known as the Security Center.
Safety & Security | Safety & Security has since 2012 been the official name of the former ‘BedrijfsHulpVerlening’. Safety is ‘the condition in which people are safe, free from dangers, risks or injuries’. Security may be described as ‘a condition in which people are protected from danger and loss by means of prevention of negative consequences that are caused by the intentional and unfounded acts of third parties’. That is quite a mouthful, which is why team leader Hay Becks summarizes this by saying that safety is associated more with working conditions and technical safety, whereas security is to do mainly with social safety, safety in the public area and crime. In case of security issues Becks clarifies that in principle there is “always malice involved”.
Fifty years of security | For almost half a century now TU/e has had its own security organization, as part of Internal Affairs. Although the security service of the then Technische Hogeschool Eindhoven was begun in April 1965, Hay Becks says that there are rumors saying that it had been active longer. The doormen who kept an eye on things until then had to be retrained as security officers first, before the official status was granted in 1965.
The security force | The Security Center of the university is staffed 24/7 all year round. Safety & Security numbers 14 security officers, 1 team leader and the Head of Safety & Security. If necessary the team is supplemented by temporary staff from a security company. The responsibility of the service includes the surveillance in and around the total of 50 buildings on the site, including those of other parties such as Fontys and TNO. The rowing shed of Thêta at the Eindhoven Canal and student center De Bunker across the Kennedylaan also come under the supervision of the TU/e Security service. The service has one patrol vehicle, which covers some 40,000 kilometers in its rounds per year. In 2014 the security service will also purchase an electric car that will be fitted with the necessary facilities for emergency response. Except for surveillance the security service also follows up on alarms in case of burglary and fire and it accompanies external emergency response units in case of calamities. In addition, Safety & Security provides first aid in case of accidents, manages the key warehouse of the university and ensures that the national flag protocol is carried out.
Jan van Schijndel
Four times two | 2222
Henry Sars
is the emergency number for accidents or other calamities on the TU/e site. Every month an average of 35 calls is received via the alarm system.
The communications room |
Since 2000 the beating heart of Safety & Security has been in the basement of the Hoofdgebouw: the communications room (large picture). Here we have 9 extensive computer systems supporting the security in respect of calamities, parking and alarm follow-up, for example. It is the communications room that maintains the walkie-talkie network; security has 12 walkie-talkies (and 2 radio telephone installations in the Security Center and the patrol car), the TU/e fire brigade has some 10 and an extra 4 are present in nearly every TU/e building. “Good communication is half the job”, says Becks.
See for more news www.cursor.tue.nl/en
the Security Emergency response | Emergency response involves
the assistance provided by emergency response team members (BHV’ers) when the safety or health of employees and/or other persons on site is threatened. BHV’ers are employees who, apart from their regular work, have followed specific training. It is their duty in case of calamities to take measures to control damage as much as possible, awaiting professional assistance provided by Security, police or fire brigade, for instance. The Security Center initiates the BHV alarms, and all Security staff have also been trained as BHV’er.
Focus | 23
Security in 2013 (figures thru November)
Fire reports: 38 Thefts: 49 Helix: 12 Hoofdgebouw: 9 Student Sports Center: 4 Burglaries: 19 without theft: 10 with theft: 9 Nuisance: undesired person: 19 vandalism/destruction: 11 aggression: 3 noise nuisance: 3 glass breakage: 1 flooding: 1 Deployment of BHV’ers: 156 for first aid: 69 in case of (fire) report: 38 in case of traffic accidents: 22 in case of persons getting trapped in elevators: 20 in case of chemical accidents: 6 in case of gas alarm: 1 Failures: 169 reports (such as fire or gas alarm, elevator failures, and so on)
Parking | The campus is accessible
to everybody. The main entrances and exits have barriers, which are passed by several thousands of vehicles every day. For example, on Monday November 25 there were 3,151 “movements through barrier”, as Becks calls them. The same day at peak moments there were 1,750 parking spaces occupied on the site. The Security service watches parking offenders closely and if necessary issues warning cards or, in case of repeat offenders, uses wheel clamps.
Campus CCTV | The Security Center has an extensive professional camera system, which has been registered with the Personal Data Protection Act Board. The system is comprised of around 180 cameras, distributed across the almost 80 hectares of the TU/e site. Many of the images recorded by these cameras come in on 8 big monitors inside the communications room. All the images are recorded and kept for a maximum of 48 hours, so that they can be checked in case of calamities. Only security staff are entitled to do so.
Events | Safety & Security is closely involved in major events at TU/e, such as the party during the Hajraa Outdoor Tournament (4,500 partygoers), the Queen’s Birthday Festival (3,500 visitors), the Intro (2,000 students) and the opening of the academic year (1,500 guests). Together with the TU/e fire brigade, Real Estate Management and the Logistics department the Security service takes care of preparations and is responsible for enforcement during the event.
Admission control | All buildings of the university have been equipped with
admission control, the registration of which takes place at the Parking and Security desk. All students, staff members and other regular visitors have campus cards (a total of some 13,000 cards is being used), and the cards may hold diverging authorization levels, granted in consultation with the Building Manager. The admission control also includes the key warehouse of TU/e, a.k.a. the Key Service Desk. Here around 15,000 physical keys are guarded and managed, among others by means of the electronic key registration system Keywatcher.
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Social Media & you
The world of social media is big and rapid and interesting at the same time. You cannly evolving. It’s scary portal, let alone participate in it. Yet, som ot know of every media portals can be very interesting ande of those social In this seminar, you will learn about the useful for you. which ones are interesting to use? How ‘biggest’ social media; can you use them to your advantage, what’s in it for you? Marc an introduction to this. Marc Dubach is Dubach will give you owner of DOK040. He’s a very well knowonline marketeer and from Eindhoven. Become a FuTUre-membn ‘social-media-player’ 36yrs) / join this event via future@tue.nl. er (employees up to http://www.tue.nl/future Event language: English