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Design for Human Autonomy - Annual Theme

The push for autonomous technology affects both work and personal life, offering improvements in safety, healthcare, and convenience. However, it raises an important question: What about human autonomy? While technology was once meant to increase our freedom, today it may be reducing our control and independence.

An interview with Aukje Hassoldt: “You can't solve what you don't discuss”.

DEWIS interviews staff members in different positions about gender diversity and inclusion. For this edition, we talked to Professor Aukje Hassoldt, dean at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TBM), about the influx and advancement of women into academic positions, parenthood and social safety. Aukje Hassoldt was appointed the dean of TBM on 1 October 2019 and will step down on 1 December 2024 to become dean of the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Talk about the unwritten rules. You can’t solve what you don’t discuss. We have to start the conversation in a respectful way and learn to understand each other’s points of view. Professor Aukje Hassoldt Left Aukje Hassoldt during the DE&I Week 2023 Even today, parents and teachers sometimes discourage girls and other minority groups from studying physics based on the well-meaning but misguided notion that they should be protected. You studied physics at Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam. Did this narrative not affect you? Aukje: “It definitely did. I believed the narrative that physics would be difficult. That’s why it wasn’t my first choice, even though I had my heart set on studying physics. While studying econometrics, I discovered that I could handle the maths. When I went on to study physics, I learned that it wasn’t a difficult programme for me.” What can we do now to change the narrative? Aukje: “Last year, Birgit van Driel wrote a riveting column about her studies in the Delta, in which she went over everything she found difficult - and it wasn’t the coursework! Degree programmes are either right for you or not, but secondary school teachers should be vigilant not to inadvertently single out particular subjects as ‘difficult’. That’s what we should try to change. Some people find maths difficult, while others struggle with other subjects. We have to get rid of the idea that some subjects are inherently ‘hard’, for example by paying attention to this in our outreach activities.” You later held various positions at Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Did you ever feel excluded? And how did you deal with that? Aukje: “I always felt perfectly at home at Rijkswaterstaat and TNO. I was often the youngest, the only woman and the project leader or supervisor, but that’s exactly what interested me. I never felt uncomfortable. Anything but, organisations welcomed me with open arms. The same is true for RIVM and TU Delft.” You served as dean of the faculty of TBM from 1 October 2019 to 1 December 2024, during which time the percentage of female professors at the faculty has stagnated at about 30%. Is that enough? Aukje: “There has been growth, albeit not at as much as I’d hoped. At the TBM faculty, we’ve appointed five new female professors in recent years, but some have also retired, which means the overall percentage has stayed at around 30%. Our percentage of female associate professors (UHD), however, did go from 15% to 32% and our percentage of female assistant professors (UD) from 36% to 50%. The pipeline is fuller than it was before, but we’re not there yet. In the end, we want there to be 50/50 split in all positions.” What can the university/faculty do to help female researchers build a promising academic career? Aukje: “It’s important to take a critical look at issues such as advancement and differences in perception. Our approach consists of our so-called ‘fleet review’, in which a small committee discusses how our staff is developing and who is ready for a next step. We explicitly look at whether everyone is gaining enough leadership experience and honing their leadership skills. We ask each other critical questions, watch out for possible bias and do everything we can to keep the advancement process fair. At the same time, we will still need training courses to become and remain aware of our unconscious biases. We already have diversity training courses for all staff and a course for members of appointment advisory committees, all of which also have a trained bias observer. On top of that, managers are required to attend management skills training courses and we offer feedback training for everyone.” If you had the chance to implement one measure to improve the advancement of women to senior and decision-making positions at the university/faculty level, what would it be? Aukje: “I would love to organise another talk for young women researchers and senior scientists to share experiences about building your career and making conscious choices. I reckon that would be a good way to support them. In my previous jobs, I also found that a good course on conversation skills can be a big help, and I think TU Delft could do more in this regard.” In 2020, you said that your ideal university is one that is friendly, welcoming, challenging and inspiring. Does TU Delft live up to this ideal, or do we still have a way to go? Aukje: “We could be kinder to each other at times. I’d also add ‘safe’ to my criteria, by which I mean social safety: feeling comfortable to speak your mind, provided you do that in a respectful way. People deserve to feel heard and be taken seriously, and a respectful tone is non-negotiable. Of course, that doesn't mean you always get your way, but it's important that we can provide that safety.” What concrete measures has the faculty taken to promote social safety in the workplace? Aukje: “We organise staff lunches where we engage in small-group discussions that have proven to be very informative and valuable, as they help us stay in touch and listen to each other. Having a well-functioning Personnel Committee (faculty sub-committee of the Works Council) is also very important. I’ve found that staff members with a Dutch background are more likely to dare to bring up issues, but the Personnel Committee has now helped give a voice to international staff. Furthermore, contact with the PhD Council (PhD candidates) is very important, as they’re a vulnerable group. Some may feel uncomfortable speaking up about difficult situations, for instance, and may not even reach out to a confidential adviser. For these people, a peer group can be a valuable source of support. Social safety is about how we treat each other on a daily basis, which makes it a joint responsibility of us all. Managers have a special role because they can do a lot to foster an open atmosphere, but it’s still a duty we all share. We have to be respectful, while ensuring that everyone feels comfortable speaking their mind and is taken seriously. The faculty’s 10-point draft plan for social safety also proposes a code of conduct of sorts.” What can department chairs do to create an environment in which women and people from minority groups can grow and develop personally and professionally? Aukje: “The difference between good and not so good management is often in the details. What makes management so difficult is that it requires great precision and subtlety. When you feel a jokey atmosphere evolve, for instance, you have to be able to intervene in a respectful way. Another example is ensuring that everyone gets the opportunity to weigh in, including more introverted people. These are just examples, but there are many ways managers can contribute to a safe and open atmosphere.” Dr. Isabel Torres, co-founder and CEO of Mothers in Science, gave a talk to the DEWIS community in February, in which she highlighted the barriers and prejudices that mothers in STEM face in their careers. How can managers support parents and people with caring responsibilities? What do we need to do? Aukje: “The maternity wall is a real problem. Fatherhood and motherhood are equally important, and young parents need good support. I should add that informal care-givers (i.e. for older parents) also deserve support: these are phases of life that we all have to deal with.” Is the university responsible for changing the notion that you can’t have a family and a career? Aukje: “Absolutely. Universities should treat men and women as equals when it comes to caring responsibilities, nor should we implicitly expect new fathers to continue working as if nothing has changed, like we did in the old days.” What advice would you give women to help them navigate academia and its culture of unwritten rules? Aukje: “Talk about the unwritten rules. You can’t solve what you don’t discuss. We have to start the conversation in a respectful way and learn to understand each other’s points of view.”

Bring your own cutlery set

Starting January 1, 2025 As of January 1, 2025 , disposable cutlery will no longer be offered for free at TU Delft’s catering locations. It will only be available for a fee (0.25 euros per fork/spoon/knife). In the academic year 2023/2024, over 130,000 pieces of disposable cutlery were used. By bringing your own reusable cutlery set we reduce waste. This aligns with TU Delft’s sustainability ambition to be CO2-neutral, circular, and climate-adaptive by 2030. Don’t have a cutlery set yet? Purchase one for 2 euros at any catering location on campus or at the Aula shop .

How Are U Week 2024

A Dynamic Week of Workshops and Events to Check-In, Relax, and Connect How Are U - Week 2024 takes place from 11-15 November. This week is all about creating space for you in a hectic student life. It’s an invitation to check in with yourself and each other. We’ve teamed up with Student Development and Exhale to bring you a unique mix of inspiring workshops, creative activities, care & support and analogue get-togethers designed to help you relax, connect, and recharge. Join the HAU Week Come join us for an Outdoor Hot Tub Night or the ADHD LIVE - Community Night. Or maybe the Offline Escape Night with Candlelit Concert, Movie Night or the creative Kintsugi workshop? Whatever your pick HAU Week offers you the opportunity to escape, relax and connect. During HAU Week we invite you to leave the pressure of productivity, performance, and perfection at the door, Exhale style. What can you expect? Daily events at Exhale, with pop-up events at Aula and the Library. The HAU program includes creative workshops, (acro) yoga, and interactive sessions that focus on community building and stress relief. Connect will also be at Exhale each weekday in November between 12 - 14 so if you have any type of question about your studies, development and well-being, it’s welcome at Exhale. Whether you're looking to soothe your mind, move your body, ask a question or simply hang out: we've got you. Signing up You can easily sign up for them via the How Are U - week event page . Signup for Exhale events will go via the website of Exhale. Let’s check in, relax and connect this November—see you at How Are U-week! Are you looking for help or support during your study? TU Delft offers various options for guidance and support during your studies, assisting you with your personal development and well-being. For more information about available resources and initiatives, you can visit ‘My Study and Me’ on the TU Delft Student Portal .

DigiPedia – Gateway to computational methods and tools

DigiPedia is a new digital platform designed to offer comprehensive tutorials on software and computational methods to students and life-long learners around the globe. All conveniently housed in one location for easy access.

Vidi grant for Darinka Czischke with project ‘inCommon’

How do we want to live in the 21st century? Society is changing rapidly, but housing is still organised according to traditional family models. Alternative forms of living based on sharing and collectivity challenge this paradigm. Darinka Czischke has received a VIDI grant for her project 'InCommon: Reconceptualising individual and collective housing preferences' in which she explores what motivates different types of people to live collectively.

Early attempt at colour photography discovered

Delft University of Technology has unearthed six glass slides (1890 – 1910), which represent one of the earliest attempts at colour photography. The slides were found during an inventory conducted by the Programme Tailor-Made Approach to Faculty Collections at the Imaging Physics department of the Faculty of Applied Sciences. To view the images, technician Thim Zuidwijk reconstructed a diffraction chromoscope, revealing vivid depictions of a vase with a floral motif and a still life of a fruit basket alongside a banana and a wrapped citrus fruit.

How storm surge barriers can keep the Netherlands safe and liveable

A safe and liveable delta, who doesn't go for that? Storm surge barriers play a crucial role in this. Yet there are many choices to be made in the short term to keep the storm surge barriers in a good condition, to eventually cope with rising sea levels in the longer term. A new project receives funding from NWO for five years to explore the best routes to a liveable delta. Storm surge barriers, like the Maeslantkering and the Oosterscheldekering are essential for protecting the Netherlands from high water coming in from the sea. How long will these imposing structures remain effective bearing in mind sea level rise, decay of the structures and an altering surrounding area. In the short term, decisions will have to be taken on maintenance, while in the longer term, adaptation or replacement should be considered. Linking storm surge barriers with the delta Within the SSB-Δ (storm surge barrier delta) project, a diverse consortium will investigate under what circumstances storm surge barriers can keep the Netherlands safe and liveable. The consortium consists of the universities of Delft, Utrecht, and Rotterdam; the universities of applied sciences of Rotterdam and Zeeland; knowledge institutes Deltares and TNO, as well as Rijkswaterstaat, water boards and companies. Bram van Prooijen, associate professor at TU Delft, will lead the research: “Decisions on flood defences are important for the entire delta. The link between the hinterland and the flood defences needs to be made properly. During this project, we will have the opportunity to bring different areas of expertise together and strengthen each other.” Long term perspective Therefore, the research is not only about the technical lifespan of the barriers. It will also clarify how the delta is going to change and how society thinks about it, resulting in a guideline to on how and when decisions need to be taken in the short term, with a long term perspective. Van Prooijen cites an example of car maintenance: “Think of replacing the engine block. This is very expensive maintenance, but sometimes necessary to keep the car running safely. But is it worth the investment if you plan to buy a new car next year? Or if you prefer to travel by train? Important choices will have to be made for storm surge barriers. We want to provide a strong basis for that.” Informed decisions The project will reveal the possible pathways to a liveable delta, and how storm surge barriers fit into that. Van Prooijen: “That offers clarity, to make quick and better-informed decisions. Many trials run for a long time, with the outcome of this research we can decide which trials specifically are the best option to proceed with.” Future experts One of the storm surge barriers involved in the research is the Maeslantkering. This barrier is expected to last another fifty years or so. That may seem far away, Van Prooijen reasons, “but we need to train the experts who will decide on this now. Those are probably the PhD students on this project.”

Sultan Çetin, the New Faculty Sustainability Coordinator

TU Delft aims to become carbon-neutral, climate-adaptive, and fully circular by 2030, with a strong focus on biodiversity and quality of life. Each faculty plays a role in this mission, with a dedicated Local Sustainability Coordinator. As of mid-October, Sultan Çetin has stepped into this role for our faculty, bringing her expertise in circular and sustainable construction to the forefront of TU Delft's sustainability goals.

What subject do you want to master?

Master’s Event (28 November 2024) Are you almost done with your bachelor's and orientating on a master's programme? During the online Master’s Event on the 28th of November, you will get all the information you need to make a conscious choice. There will be an in-depth session via Microsoft Teams about every TU Delft master’s programme. If you would rather visit an on campus event, you can join the next event on the 20th of February. Register now: https://www.tudelft.nl/masters-event

Apply to become a student fellow at Impact Studio’s Ideation lab!

Do you want to experience entrepreneurship? Are you curious about how exploring business opportunities work? Join the Ideation Lab ..

Merging like a human: TU Delft develops new model to help self-driving cars drive socially

Scientists at TU Delft have developed a new model that better describes human behaviour when merging into motorway traffic. Current models often assume that drivers are constantly trying to optimise their behaviour to reach their destination as quickly and safely as possible, but this is not always the case, says postdoctoral researcher Olger Siebinga.

Energy Hubs: Stories of Team Science

In this longread we talk with Peter Palensky, head of the department Electrical Sustainable Energy, and with Laura Ramirez Elizondo, Associate Professor Micro-grids, about the important role for energy hubs in the energy transition

The TU Delft Library – a driving force of open access publishing

With open publishing deeply ingrained in the DNA of TU Delft it is easy to overlook what happens behind the scenes. Joke Dales and Kees Moerman, both longtime employees of the TU Delft Library, have been involved from the start and they still provide abundant support.

Enrolment for new courses open on 13 November

The new courses will start from Monday 18 November. Enrolment for these starts from Wednesday 13 November at 08.00! In the second quarter, a new series of courses awaits you. You can find out more on the website. Maybe you already know that you want to attend your favourite course again or maybe you want to discover and try something new; it's all possible. Enrolments go fast Enrolment for our courses always runs fast, so don't wait too long or be surprised by a course where spots are still available! Enrolment closes Enrolment closes on Friday 22 November at 16.00.

Boost you Resillience

Develop yourself with the e-tool Gezondeboel Setbacks and challenges are a normal part of life, including student life. What you find challenging and how you deal with it is personal. It is important that you learn to deal with these challenges and grow from them. The Gezondeboel e-tool offers a wide range of online programmes that meet your development needs as a student. Think about topics such as stress, balance, decision making, planning, procrastination, fear of failure, perfectionism, feelings of loneliness and more. Use Gezondeboel as a self-help tool to strengthen your mental resilience. The programmes are suitable for everyone and offer practical tips for quick results. Choose a programme that suits you and follow it at your own pace, wherever and whenever you want - even via your mobile phone or tablet. You can follow as many programmes as you like, completely free and anonymously. Log in via the Student Portal using the link below. www.tudelft.nl/gezondeboel

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Month 2024: Aftermovie

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) Month took place at TU Delft throughout October 2024, with the theme "United for Change, Together We Grow." This month featured over 20 events and activities organized by more than 35 contributors, providing a valuable opportunity for hands-on workshops, training sessions, and open discussions on various topics: Inclusive communication Unconscious bias Ally skills Neurodiversity Intercultural teamwork Good practices in EDI Girls in Tech Queer emancipation Emotional intelligence at work Deep Democracy and Inclusion Inclusive education Aftermovie Thanks to all faculties, student associations, networks, Diversity & Inclusion office for making this month possible! In this short aftermovie , you can get a glimpse of some (of the many) highlights of this month!

Don’t forget to terminate your enrolment after the final part of your study

Your termination of registration does not happen automatically! Have you completed the final part of your study? Please be aware that you need to send a request to terminate your enrolment through Studielink as it will not be done automatically. When you terminate your enrolment at TU Delft, you are entitled to a refund of one twelfth of the annual tuition fee for each month of the academic year in which you are no longer enrolled, with the exception of termination as from July and August. Enrolment termination with retroactive effect is not possible. Be aware! If you are not enrolled and you still use educational or examination facilities (including taking exams) there will be financial consequences. It can also affect your student grants and/or student travel product. For more information, please check the Student Administration website: Termination of Enrolment (tudelft.nl)

Celebrating One Year of Work Package ‘Future Skills for Engineers and Scientists’

Work Package ‘Future Skills for Engineers and Scientists’, marked one year of work with the completion of our Future Competencies Report. The report consists of our analysis of student surveys, alumni surveys, and self-conducted interviews. Notably, it includes a taxonomy of future competencies and future challenges, with further explanation about specific terms and trends. Over the coming months, these competencies and challenges will form the foundation for a SWOT analysis that aims to determine areas that we, as an alliance, need to address to advance European and technological development. During this process, we will seek to further align with our other ENHANCE work packages, such as those on Future Learning pedagogies and Sustainable Entrepreneurship, and continue to engage key stakeholders in European education, government and industry. If you would like to receive a digital copy of the Future Competencies Report, please contact g.r.penny@tudelft.nl Upcoming Work Package 4 events: 6 November 2025, TU Delft – Work Package 4 ‘Future Skills for Engineers and Scientists’ and Work Package ‘Diversity, Impact and Dissemination’ workshop: A DEI Perspective on Future Engineering Competencies and Challenges. 13 and 14 February 2025, TU Delft – Annual Work Package 4 meeting.

Work Package ‘IT Infrastructure and Services’ meetings

On the 5th and the 6th of September, the TU Delft was hosing the meeting with the work package ‘IT Infrastructure and Services’ leads from RWTH Aachen to discuss IT requirements and solutions aimed at enhancing the learner’s journey and reducing administrative burdens. In addition to this visit from RWTH Aachen, ETH Zurich hosted the inaugural IT Knowledge Hub. The event was a resounding success, bringing together IT and Education officers to collaborate and gain a deeper understanding of the innovative IT improvements needed to better serve our universities and the ENHANCE Alliance. This gathering provided a fantastic opportunity for closer collaboration and innovation.