News in brief

Patent

Researchers who apply for a patent must receive part of any future profit. This will increase the number of patents held by Dutch universities and the economy will grow faster, according to the Central Planning Bureau (CPB), which published a report on the exchange of knowledge between universities and companies. Critics say that encouraging researchers to become entrepreneurs results in delays in publishing research findings and weakens fundamental research, but the CPB says there is “no strong empirical proof” of this.
Joint research

The three universities of technology in the Netherlands . TU Delft, TU Eindhoven and TU Twente . will jointly set up five ‘centers of excellence’, in order to raise research standards to the highest levels. The Dutch government earmarked € 50 million for the joint research centers; however, the funds will only be released if the plans are finalized by 1 January 2006. Representatives from the three universities will finalize the plans, which will include how to spend the money, how to ensure the centers become leading research centers within 5 years, how this partnership will bring added value to the universities, how the partnership with work together with industry, and how the universities Master’s degree programs should be interrelated. Intensive partnership between the universities will occur in the following five research fields: high-tech systems & materials; sustainable energy technologies; fluid and solid mechanics; services and applications; and nano-technology.
Security cameras

Security cameras will be installed in the TU Delft Sport’s Centre as of January 2006. It is hoped that the cameras with help reduce theft, which has increased due to the growing numbers of students and staff using the Sports Centre facilities. In accordance with TU regulations, signs must be posted informing Sports Centre members that they are under security camera surveillance. For how long security camera videos will be saved for use as possible evidence in cases of theft has not yet been determined.
Best Exotic

Students from TU Delft’s Aerospace Engineering Faculty were victorious at the American-European MAV (micro aerial vehicle) competition in Germany, winning the ‘Best Exotic’ prize for their micro-aircraft ‘Delfly’, a MAV that weighs 37 grams and flies like a bird with flapping wings, enabling the Delfly to fly very slowly. The plane’s on-board camera also allows it to fly on automatic pilot and perform special operations, such as inspecting buildings or bridges. The US Defense Department and Germany’s Aerospace Laboratory sponsored the competition.
Ig Noble

The 2005 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded last week at Harvard University. The humor magazine ‘Annals of Improbable Research’ organized the event. Prizes were awarded to research that the magazine’s editor, Marc Abraham, says “first makes people laugh, then makes people think”. The award ceremony is a lighthearted affair, featuring paper airplanes constantly being thrown onstage by the audience and an eight-year-old girl named Sweetie-poo who comes on stage when speeches run too long and whines into the microphone: “Please stop. I’m bored.” This years Ig Nobel Prize in Physics went to John Mainstone of the University of Queensland, Australia, for patiently conducting an experiment that began in 1927, in which a glob of congealed black tar has been slowly, slowly dripping through a funnel, at a rate of approximately one drop every nine years. The Ig Noble Prize for Chemistry was won by Edward Cussler of the University of Minnesota for an experiment to settle the scientific question: can people swim faster in syrup or in water?
Corrections

In Delta 30 the caption of ‘Foreign Eye’ incorrectly stated that the new fine for traveling by NS train without a ticket is 30 euro. The fine is in fact 35 euro. Also in Delta 30, in ‘Life After Delft’ it was incorrectly stated that Jawahar Nerkar is a 1994 graduate of TU Delft. Nerkar is in fact a 2004 graduate of TU Delft. We regret these errors.

Critics say that encouraging researchers to become entrepreneurs results in delays in publishing research findings and weakens fundamental research, but the CPB says there is “no strong empirical proof” of this.

Joint research



The three universities of technology in the Netherlands . TU Delft, TU Eindhoven and TU Twente . will jointly set up five ‘centers of excellence’, in order to raise research standards to the highest levels. The Dutch government earmarked € 50 million for the joint research centers; however, the funds will only be released if the plans are finalized by 1 January 2006. Representatives from the three universities will finalize the plans, which will include how to spend the money, how to ensure the centers become leading research centers within 5 years, how this partnership will bring added value to the universities, how the partnership with work together with industry, and how the universities Master’s degree programs should be interrelated. Intensive partnership between the universities will occur in the following five research fields: high-tech systems & materials; sustainable energy technologies; fluid and solid mechanics; services and applications; and nano-technology.

Security cameras



Security cameras will be installed in the TU Delft Sport’s Centre as of January 2006. It is hoped that the cameras with help reduce theft, which has increased due to the growing numbers of students and staff using the Sports Centre facilities. In accordance with TU regulations, signs must be posted informing Sports Centre members that they are under security camera surveillance. For how long security camera videos will be saved for use as possible evidence in cases of theft has not yet been determined.

Best Exotic



Students from TU Delft’s Aerospace Engineering Faculty were victorious at the American-European MAV (micro aerial vehicle) competition in Germany, winning the ‘Best Exotic’ prize for their micro-aircraft ‘Delfly’, a MAV that weighs 37 grams and flies like a bird with flapping wings, enabling the Delfly to fly very slowly. The plane’s on-board camera also allows it to fly on automatic pilot and perform special operations, such as inspecting buildings or bridges. The US Defense Department and Germany’s Aerospace Laboratory sponsored the competition.

Ig Noble



The 2005 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded last week at Harvard University. The humor magazine ‘Annals of Improbable Research’ organized the event. Prizes were awarded to research that the magazine’s editor, Marc Abraham, says “first makes people laugh, then makes people think”. The award ceremony is a lighthearted affair, featuring paper airplanes constantly being thrown onstage by the audience and an eight-year-old girl named Sweetie-poo who comes on stage when speeches run too long and whines into the microphone: “Please stop. I’m bored.” This years Ig Nobel Prize in Physics went to John Mainstone of the University of Queensland, Australia, for patiently conducting an experiment that began in 1927, in which a glob of congealed black tar has been slowly, slowly dripping through a funnel, at a rate of approximately one drop every nine years. The Ig Noble Prize for Chemistry was won by Edward Cussler of the University of Minnesota for an experiment to settle the scientific question: can people swim faster in syrup or in water?

Corrections



In Delta 30 the caption of ‘Foreign Eye’ incorrectly stated that the new fine for traveling by NS train without a ticket is 30 euro. The fine is in fact 35 euro. Also in Delta 30, in ‘Life After Delft’ it was incorrectly stated that Jawahar Nerkar is a 1994 graduate of TU Delft. Nerkar is in fact a 2004 graduate of TU Delft. We regret these errors.