News in brief

Kroese’s design was based on future vehicles being powered by means of electrical induction magnets. During the final day of this design competition for Dutch high school students, Kroese presented his IMP (Induction Magnet Propelled vehicle), a vehicle that glides in a magnetic lane and, owing to its aerodynamic design, has a low wind-resistance. Kroese’s winning design won him a free air-vacation.
Glazed ceramics

Material research carried out by TU Delft of 3,200 year-old, Middle Eastern glazed ceramics, has shown that people in this region developed an innovative decorative technology that was later lost to history. 1,200 years later, the base material of this technology, chromite, was again used for glazing. The research team included TU Delft materials specialists Niels Groot and Joris Dik. The researchers studied ceramic, dating from 1,200 BC (Late Bronze Age), found in the ruins of a temple in present day Jordan. The researchers analyzed a bowl made of faience (a type of glazed ceramic) and discovered small particles of the mineral chromite in the glazed layer. This mineral accounts for the glazing’s grayish color. The chromite served moreover as a crystal core for the augite crystal, which provided the glazed layer’s glittering optical effect. The combination of gray chromite and glittering augite imitated a metallic surface. This discovery by Groot and Dik sheds new light on the Middle East’s technological history. Chromite had never before been found in Middle Eastern glazing that predates the Roman Empire.
Arab intellectuals

Efforts are being made to strengthen the Arab intellectual and scientific community. The Qatar Foundation in Doha invited 200 Arab scientists to help draft ways to attract back to their homelands those Arabs who left to work abroad. The intent is twofold: to persuade Arab scientists and faculty members to return home and to create environments that will be attractive to researchers. The Qatar Foundation also plans to bring in Nobel laureates to confer with the scientists about future research agendas.
Exceptional engineers

Academics, and engineers in particular, have an obligation to be (more) socially engaged, said Professor Wim Dik, the former State Secretary and ex-KPN CEO, during his farewell address as a TU Delft professor. Under the motto A = E + S, Professor Dik said academics (A) must be more entrepreneurial (E) and socially engaged (S) than they are at present. Dik believes that an engineer’s responsibility lies with what is to be given back to society. Dik: “I once heard a captain of industry say he read one book per year. That is just sad. Such a person has a responsibility to be also interested in politics, art and culture, and to be engaged with them.” According to Dik, all this applies in large measure to a special variation of the academic, the engineer. “Owing to his or her practical and pragmatic manner and knowledge of technology, the engineer is in an exceptional position to help improve the way society is organized.” In 2004, the journal Technisch Weekblad (Technology Weekly) named Dik as one of Netherlands’ most influential engineers.
Botanical conference

After three years of lobbying, success: In 2008, Delft will host the most important scientific botanic conference. Some 500 conference participants in the ‘Second Scientific World Botanic Conference’ will come to Delft to discuss issues such as technological applications of plants and bio-diesel. “This is the first time this major conference will be held in Europe. It’s a great opportunity to stimulate others to focus on developing sustainable solutions,” said Bob Ursem, director of the Delft Botanical Garden.
Cloning fraud

Seoul National University finally fired Woo Suk Hwang, the stem-cell researcher who was accused of having fabricated the results of experiments in cloning human embryos. In addition to the firing, the university also suspended two faculty members involved in the work, and cut the pay of others. There are signs however that the final word has not yet been said about the authenticity of the research: at least one researcher says evidence exists that supports Woo Suk Hwang’s claims.

Magnetic cars

The future belongs to cars that glide on magnetic lanes, according to Maurits Kroese, the student who won the high school design competition: Future Design Delft. Kroese’s design was based on future vehicles being powered by means of electrical induction magnets. During the final day of this design competition for Dutch high school students, Kroese presented his IMP (Induction Magnet Propelled vehicle), a vehicle that glides in a magnetic lane and, owing to its aerodynamic design, has a low wind-resistance. Kroese’s winning design won him a free air-vacation.
Glazed ceramics

Material research carried out by TU Delft of 3,200 year-old, Middle Eastern glazed ceramics, has shown that people in this region developed an innovative decorative technology that was later lost to history. 1,200 years later, the base material of this technology, chromite, was again used for glazing. The research team included TU Delft materials specialists Niels Groot and Joris Dik. The researchers studied ceramic, dating from 1,200 BC (Late Bronze Age), found in the ruins of a temple in present day Jordan. The researchers analyzed a bowl made of faience (a type of glazed ceramic) and discovered small particles of the mineral chromite in the glazed layer. This mineral accounts for the glazing’s grayish color. The chromite served moreover as a crystal core for the augite crystal, which provided the glazed layer’s glittering optical effect. The combination of gray chromite and glittering augite imitated a metallic surface. This discovery by Groot and Dik sheds new light on the Middle East’s technological history. Chromite had never before been found in Middle Eastern glazing that predates the Roman Empire.
Arab intellectuals

Efforts are being made to strengthen the Arab intellectual and scientific community. The Qatar Foundation in Doha invited 200 Arab scientists to help draft ways to attract back to their homelands those Arabs who left to work abroad. The intent is twofold: to persuade Arab scientists and faculty members to return home and to create environments that will be attractive to researchers. The Qatar Foundation also plans to bring in Nobel laureates to confer with the scientists about future research agendas.
Exceptional engineers

Academics, and engineers in particular, have an obligation to be (more) socially engaged, said Professor Wim Dik, the former State Secretary and ex-KPN CEO, during his farewell address as a TU Delft professor. Under the motto A = E + S, Professor Dik said academics (A) must be more entrepreneurial (E) and socially engaged (S) than they are at present. Dik believes that an engineer’s responsibility lies with what is to be given back to society. Dik: “I once heard a captain of industry say he read one book per year. That is just sad. Such a person has a responsibility to be also interested in politics, art and culture, and to be engaged with them.” According to Dik, all this applies in large measure to a special variation of the academic, the engineer. “Owing to his or her practical and pragmatic manner and knowledge of technology, the engineer is in an exceptional position to help improve the way society is organized.” In 2004, the journal Technisch Weekblad (Technology Weekly) named Dik as one of Netherlands’ most influential engineers.
Botanical conference

After three years of lobbying, success: In 2008, Delft will host the most important scientific botanic conference. Some 500 conference participants in the ‘Second Scientific World Botanic Conference’ will come to Delft to discuss issues such as technological applications of plants and bio-diesel. “This is the first time this major conference will be held in Europe. It’s a great opportunity to stimulate others to focus on developing sustainable solutions,” said Bob Ursem, director of the Delft Botanical Garden.
Cloning fraud

Seoul National University finally fired Woo Suk Hwang, the stem-cell researcher who was accused of having fabricated the results of experiments in cloning human embryos. In addition to the firing, the university also suspended two faculty members involved in the work, and cut the pay of others. There are signs however that the final word has not yet been said about the authenticity of the research: at least one researcher says evidence exists that supports Woo Suk Hwang’s claims.