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Coronacrisis
July 2020 Our usually so lively campus has quickly changed almost beyond recognition, it's unimaginably quiet and peaceful. We had no choice. On 13 March we put all of our teaching and much of our research online due to the coronavirus crisis. This wasn't easy for anyone, but I’m proud of how all of our staff and students have got on with it. Most of the teaching has continued ‘as usual’, as have the exams. Meanwhile, we have started preparing for a phased return to campus sometime in the future, but for the time being within the restrictions of the 1.5-metre social distancing requirements. Among other things this means we only have room for about twenty percent of our students at any one time. We will also have to take into account factors such as pressure on the public space. Many people use the same roads, for example, and not everyone has access to an online alternative like we do. How do you divide scarce campus time between the students fairly? After all, it’s during your years as a student that you build up a network for your future. So this sets us with quite a challenge, and we also need to pay attention to everyone's wellbeing. Because being able to work and to study is one thing but you also have to feel safe and be able to enjoy what you do. One thing that has become very clear in recent times, though, is that TU Delft is a resilient organisation and that we will beat this crisis too. I hope the same applies to you and yours, and that this publication finds you in good health. I am also working from home, and I miss all the people and the encounters – including those with our alumni. So I am glad that you’ll be receiving this Delft Outlook as usual. We may not be allowed to shake hands for the time being, but this at least gives us some tangible contact. Professor Tim van der Hagen, President Executive Board
