Latest News
07 January 2021
Andy van den Dobbelsteen appointed Sustainability Coordinator
![Andy van den Dobbelsteen appointed Sustainability Coordinator](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/e/8/csm_HR_MKS5073%20%20Andy%20vd%20Dobbelsteen_a9a2cc2d73.jpg)
The Executive Board has appointed Professor Andy van den Dobbelsteen as TU Delft Sustainability Coordinator with effect from 1 January 2021.
21 December 2020
TU Delft physics student makes world’s smallest Christmas tree
![TU Delft physics student makes world’s smallest Christmas tree](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/9/3/csm_KleinsteKerstboom_a11a47542b.jpg)
Every year, people all over the world try to make the biggest artificial Christmas tree. Like the Gubbio Christmas Tree, formed by thousands of lights on the slopes of Mount Ingino. Or the illumination of the 372-metre high transmission mast at Lopik in The Netherlands. Maura Willems, a student of Applied Physics at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), decided to do the opposite. She created what is probably the world’s smallest Christmas tree.
17 December 2020
The Dutch are in favour of the introduction of a vaccination certificate as a reward
![The Dutch are in favour of the introduction of a vaccination certificate as a reward](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/a/2/csm_GettyImages-1288718893_f90154e55b.jpg)
For us to be able to get Covid-19 under control, approximately 70% of the Dutch population would need to be vaccinated. There is considerable support among the Dutch population for the introduction of a vaccination certificate to encourage people to have themselves vaccinated. A vaccination certificate would offer people who have been vaccinated more freedom, for example to keep up their usual activities during an outbreak or to attend events at which maintaining a distance of 1.5m between people is not possible. This has become apparent from representative research among 1,640 Dutch people that was conducted by researchers from TU Delft, Erasmus University Rotterdam, RIVM, Maastricht University and Roskilde University.
17 December 2020
Delft researchers chart the potential risks of 'free-floating DNA'
![Delft researchers chart the potential risks of 'free-floating DNA'](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/1/1/csm_GettyImages-1166404058_04ebbd7baf.jpg)
We don’t realize it, but loose strands of DNA end up in nature via our wastewater. As of yet, it is unclear how much this 'free-floating DNA' impacts environmental and public health. Researchers at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) have now found a way to determine just how much potentially harmful DNA ends up in our wastewater. They have developed a method that can isolate such ‘free floating DNA’ from wastewater, which gives them the means to determine the extent of the problem. The results of their work will officially be printed in Water Research in February 2021, but have already been pre-published online.
09 December 2020
Existing neighbourhoods energy-neutral thanks to innovative solar heat network
![Existing neighbourhoods energy-neutral thanks to innovative solar heat network](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/9/d/csm_haarlem%20luchtfoto_a47a419226.jpg)
A solar heat network has proven to be technically and financially feasible for making existing neighbourhoods more sustainable and natural gas-free, as demonstrated by a consortium led by TU Delft
09 December 2020
ERC Consolidator grants for TU Delft researchers
The ERC has awarded a Consolidator Grant to Stan Brouns, Kristof Cools and Simon Gröblacher from TU Delft. With this support, they will be able to consolidate their teams and have farreaching impact. It was the first ERC Consolidator Grant application process that was conducted completely online.
08 December 2020
2020 edX Prize for TU Delft online course on energy-neutral buildings
![2020 edX Prize for TU Delft online course on energy-neutral buildings](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/3/a/csm_arch_A-01-compressed_a9b270f77e.jpg)
Andy van den Dobbelsteen, Eric van den Ham and Tess Blom (Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment) are the winners of the 2020 edX Prize for Exceptional Contributions in Online Teaching and Learning, with their online course “Zero-Energy Design: an approach to make your building sustainable”. Their MOOC is designed to help participants figure out which energy measures can be applied to make their buildings (more) sustainable and zero-energy consuming.
07 December 2020
SURF Education Award for Willem van Valkenburg
![SURF Education Award for Willem van Valkenburg](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/e/b/csm_Willem%20van%20Valkenburg_400x200_7a5f46a296.jpg)
Willem van Valkenburg, Executive Director of the TU Delft Extension School received the SURF Education Award 2020 for his outstanding contribution to educational innovation nationally and internationally.
04 December 2020
Professor Ronald Hanson appointed Distinguished Professor in Quantum Computing and Quantum Internet
Professor Ronald Hanson of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (AS) and the QuTech Institute has been appointed Distinguished Professor in Quantum Computing and Quantum Internet.
03 December 2020
TU Delft appoints ‘Pro Vice-Rector’ of AI, Data and Digitalisation
![TU Delft appoints ‘Pro Vice-Rector’ of AI, Data and Digitalisation](https://filelist.tudelft.nl/_processed_/5/7/csm_Geert-Jan%20Houben_ff6937c00b.jpg)
The Executive Board of TU Delft has appointed Professor Geert-Jan Houben as Pro Vice-Rector Magnificus of Artificial Intelligence, Data and Digitalisation (PVR AI) with effect from 1 December 2020. In this role Houben will be leading the TU Delft AI Initiative and promoting regional, national and international co-operation on this theme.