Nibs

Until now the models shown on television were of simulated data. Researchers were able to capture the wave using radar satellites measuring sea level, and the movement of the earth’s crust, detected with GPS. This has never been achieved with other tsunamis. The Delft images not only show the 1.40 meter high 200 km long tsunami wave, they also show that the island of Phuket has shifted 10 cm. The results will be presented in April at a scientific conference in Vienna. “Measuring the sea level using satellites has been done in Delft since 1980,” says Ernst Schrama, professor at TU Delft. “These measurements allow us to judge ocean level changes with an instant accuracy of three centimeters.” Radar measurement satellites make such accuracy possible. Schrama says it was purely co-incidental that a few of these measurement satellites were in the ‘right’ place at the ‘right’ time to capture the tsunami.
Bacterium infection

Three Boston University researchers became ill last year after being exposed in a laboratory to a potentially lethal bacterium called tularemia, university authorities said. It was the first known instance of researchers in a Boston lab becoming infected with a biological agent they were studying. And it came at an awkward time for Boston University, which is currently seeking US government approval for a high-security lab to study the world’s most feared infectious diseases. How the researchers became infected remains unclear, although university officials said the researchers had violated procedures intended to protect them from exposure. The president of the Conservation Law Foundation, which has opposed building the high-security lab in the densely populated urban neighborhood where Boston University is located, said the accident highlights the risk of studying dangerous biological and chemical agents. “The assurances that Boston University has given that it can maintain perfect control of these facilities are called into question,” said Philip Warburg, leader of the environmental group.
Surf grant

Stichting Surf has invited polytechnic schools and universities to propose projects that focus on educational innovation and IT and communication technology. Surf, an ICT organization for higher education, has created a fund of 2.5 million euro for this project. The projects Surf will finance should offer new ways to learn and teach. Surf offers a maximum of 300,000 euro per project. Project proposals must be submitted before May 17, 2005.
Cooking

Students of the society commission Vera and 13 student societies will cook dinner for the residents of the nursing home, ‘Die Buytenweve. The so-called Prestige Project is an annual event. The nursing home’s café will be decorated to look like a classy restaurant, with waiters serving the elderly diners. Salads, soups, various warm and cold dishes, and fish, will be served, all prepared by the students. TU music group Krashna Musika will provide the background music.
Business

Dutch companies must become more involved in the development of Holland’s ‘knowledge economy’, says the Undersecretary for Education, Mark Rutte. Rutte acknowledged that it is a very bad sign that Dutch companies are now offering fewer apprenticeship places to students. Rutte says the country will only be able to develop a successful knowledge economy if excellent cooperation and partnerships exist between Dutch universities and companies.

Measuring destruction

TU Delft’s Faculty of Aerospace Engineering possesses actual and therefore unique measurements of the recent quake and the resulting tsunami in Asia. Until now the models shown on television were of simulated data. Researchers were able to capture the wave using radar satellites measuring sea level, and the movement of the earth’s crust, detected with GPS. This has never been achieved with other tsunamis. The Delft images not only show the 1.40 meter high 200 km long tsunami wave, they also show that the island of Phuket has shifted 10 cm. The results will be presented in April at a scientific conference in Vienna. “Measuring the sea level using satellites has been done in Delft since 1980,” says Ernst Schrama, professor at TU Delft. “These measurements allow us to judge ocean level changes with an instant accuracy of three centimeters.” Radar measurement satellites make such accuracy possible. Schrama says it was purely co-incidental that a few of these measurement satellites were in the ‘right’ place at the ‘right’ time to capture the tsunami.
Bacterium infection

Three Boston University researchers became ill last year after being exposed in a laboratory to a potentially lethal bacterium called tularemia, university authorities said. It was the first known instance of researchers in a Boston lab becoming infected with a biological agent they were studying. And it came at an awkward time for Boston University, which is currently seeking US government approval for a high-security lab to study the world’s most feared infectious diseases. How the researchers became infected remains unclear, although university officials said the researchers had violated procedures intended to protect them from exposure. The president of the Conservation Law Foundation, which has opposed building the high-security lab in the densely populated urban neighborhood where Boston University is located, said the accident highlights the risk of studying dangerous biological and chemical agents. “The assurances that Boston University has given that it can maintain perfect control of these facilities are called into question,” said Philip Warburg, leader of the environmental group.
Surf grant

Stichting Surf has invited polytechnic schools and universities to propose projects that focus on educational innovation and IT and communication technology. Surf, an ICT organization for higher education, has created a fund of 2.5 million euro for this project. The projects Surf will finance should offer new ways to learn and teach. Surf offers a maximum of 300,000 euro per project. Project proposals must be submitted before May 17, 2005.
Cooking

Students of the society commission Vera and 13 student societies will cook dinner for the residents of the nursing home, ‘Die Buytenweve. The so-called Prestige Project is an annual event. The nursing home’s café will be decorated to look like a classy restaurant, with waiters serving the elderly diners. Salads, soups, various warm and cold dishes, and fish, will be served, all prepared by the students. TU music group Krashna Musika will provide the background music.
Business

Dutch companies must become more involved in the development of Holland’s ‘knowledge economy’, says the Undersecretary for Education, Mark Rutte. Rutte acknowledged that it is a very bad sign that Dutch companies are now offering fewer apprenticeship places to students. Rutte says the country will only be able to develop a successful knowledge economy if excellent cooperation and partnerships exist between Dutch universities and companies.