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New hat for the President to wear
Increased collaboration in the Arctic
New Head of Department at DTU Civil Engineering
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Tiny DNA building block is identical regardless of species
Page 6-7
“I can’t compete with Andreas’ mum in the media”
Page 8-9
Lockheed Martin to reinforce partnership with DTU
Page 10-11
Algorithm to find your favourite tracks
No more polluted drinking water
MIT Professor: How to succeed with innovation
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Grades up after course reorganization
Back to school for marine engineer
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Twitter for communicating research as well
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Women drop out en route to the top
New network for female researchers
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I want my food to be like fuel
News in brief - names and career
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DTU on the water once more in 2016
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New hat for the President to wear
Partnership As newly elected chairman of the Universities Denmark organization, Anders Bjarklev promises to focus on partnership and dialogue.
By Anders Bjarklev
DTU-rektor@adm.dtu.dk
At a meeting of the Danske Universiteters Rektorkollegium (Universities Denmark Rectors’ Conference) in September, I was honoured to be voted the new chairman. At the same time, Per Michael Johansen, Rector of Aalborg University, was elected the new deputy chairman.
The working relationship within the Universities Denmark organization is extremely important, given that the universities play a key role in Danish society. The eight universities are different in many ways, which means that we all have much to learn from each other. Without a good dialogue based on mutual trust, however, it is impossible to achieve the right results. This applies both to the partnership between the universities themselves, and that between them and the political system. If we cannot talk to one another, we will never be able to achieve the durable solutions we seek.
The most important task of the Universities Denmark organization is to present facts and, to the best of its ability, to provide information about the short- and long-term consequences of the political decisions taken. Another key assignment is to highlight just how much value the Danish universities generate for society in Denmark as a whole.
In recent years, the Danish universities have produced a steadily increasing number of candidates and generated a wealth of impressive research results. In addition, the universities’ rankings are rising, and there is hard evidence to show that the working relationship between the universities and the business community is significantly boosting productivity.
This means that money invested in the university sector is well spent.
At present, the challenge facing universities is the stated political ambition to save two per cent per annum on the study programmes. This issue will naturally weigh heavily on many minds for a good while yet, and it will have tangible consequences if the plans come to fruition. However, if we choose not to panic, but to take a constructive approach, we are sure to come up with a solution that is acceptable to everyone.
If there is a desire to save money and streamline processes at the universities, then I would suggest that the Study Progress Reform is a great place to start. The new reform has placed heavy and completely unnecessary pressure on the universities. For example, we at DTU will have to hold 900 extra exams every year, each one requiring the preparation of exam papers that takes at least a week of work. Added to this is the huge amount of extra administration involved in advising students and so on.As chairman of the Universities Denmark Rectors’ Conference, I have to be acutely aware of which hat I am wearing when I make statements. But let there be no doubt that the extra role neither can nor must diminish my capacity to act in the best interests of DTU.
Thinking about an MSc?
Presentation Find out more about DTU’s MSc study programmes at the MSc day on 8 October.
Once you have completed your BSc, there are 28 different study programmes to choose from if you would like to take your MSc at DTU. That is precisely why DTU holds ‘MSc day’ events where you can find out about all the different MSc programmes.
Each study programme will be presented three times during the day. The presentations last around 15 minutes, and you can then address any questions you may have to lecturers and current MSc students. And you can pick up information about opportunities for studying abroad, including the new study programmes being taught at the Danish-Chinese university in China. You can also meet DTU study and career guidance counsellors.
Sandwiches and soft drinks will be served. Read more about the programme online at dtu.dk/kandidatdag
The registration deadline is 1 November.
About the event
Date: 8 October 2015, 11.00 a.m–1.30 p.m.
Where: DTU Lyngby Campus, Building 101A, Meeting Centre
Admission: Everyone interested
Open innovation for students
Programme Open Innovation X gives students the opportunity to tackle assignments for large companies.
A new accelerator programme—Open Innovation X (Oi-X)—is an opening for students keen to take on challenges presented by some of the biggest companies in Denmark, including IBM, KMD, Widex, and Oticon.
In addition to prizes for the best solutions, the companies will be offering grants to students whose ideas can be developed further and applied in practice through the establishment of a start-up or venture enterprise.
The competition, which will be held in DTU Skylab, will kick off with an intensive development weekend on 30 October–1 November. The final will be held two weeks later, on 13 November, when competitors will pitch their ideas and the winners will be chosen.
For additional information and to register, see www.oi-x.dtu.dk. A total prize sum of DKK 50,000 is up for grabs for the best ideas.Date: 30 October–1 November, and 13 November.
Where: DTU Skylab, 373A
Admission: Free
Increased collaboration in the Arctic
Polar The tough conditions in the Arctic demand knowledge sharing, which is why Polar DTU is organizing a special seminar for the third year in succession.
Thorough planning and collaboration are the keys to achieving the best research results in polar areas. The time window when researchers can carry out field work is often very tight. In order to increase collaboration in these challenging areas, Polar DTU—DTU’s centre for polar activities—is inviting interested parties to attend a workshop devoted to sharing knowledge about field activities and research projects in the polar regions.
“The workshop is to help promote research-based partnerships in the polar areas, both internally at DTU and with external partners. The objective is to create a forum where we can make the best possible use of the resources at the disposal of the commonwealth—particularly in the Arctic regions,” explains Niels Andersen, Head of Polar DTU.
Over and above specific information about field activities and research, the event will feature presentations about renting field equipment and coordinating marine research resources. Finally, there will be a presentation of the Danish Armed Forces’ patterns of operation in the Arctic, which provide an opportunity for logistical support in connection with sample collection, for example.
In addition, a general update about the commonwealth’s Arctic research activities and priorities will be presented by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s Forum for Arctic Research (FAF).
During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to coordinate ongoing collaboration across boundaries between professional disciplines and research institutions.
For the full programme and information about participation, see www.polar.dtu.dk.
About the event
Date: 29 October, 10 a.m–4 p.m.
Where: DTU’s Meeting Centre, Meeting Room 1.
Admission: Free and open to all DTU employees.
New Head of Department at DTU Civil Engineering
Appointment DTU is appointing the head of research from the Danish Building Research Institute (SBi) Head of Department for DTU Civil Engineering.
On 1 November, Niels-Jørgen Aagaard will be taking over from Michael Faber as Head of Department at DTU Civil Engineering. Niels-Jørgen Aagaard has an MSc Eng in house construction from DTU as well as a PhD in structural optimization of buildings.
Niels-Jørgen Aagaard joins DTU from a position as head of research at the Danish Building Research Institute (SBi), Aalborg University, where he initially had responsibility for Construction Technology and Design before taking charge of Construction and Health in 2008. He began his career at COWI consultants, where he spent 20 years working as a project manager, development manager and head of knowledge management.
Niels-Jørgen Aagaard brings with him a deep pool of experience, not just in the area of consultant engineering and research management, but also in the field of teaching. For example, he has been employed as an external associate professor on the ‘Optimization, resources, and environment’ course at DTU Civil Engineering since 2004. He has also played a leading role as an expert on a number of Danish and European councils and committees
“Niels-Jørgen Aagaard has done a great deal of work in the areas of research management, reinforcing shared technological property in construction, and advising public sector authorities. He also has significant teaching experience. I am convinced that he is the right person to lead DTU Civil Engineering forward as a department distinguished by excellent research, highly prized scientific advice, and elevated student applications,” says DTU President Anders Bjarklev.
Niels-Jørgen Aagaard is 59 years old, married, with two children. He devotes much of his free time to sailing his boat on the sea and to working on the family farm at a remote location in Sweden—which often needs the attentions of a skilled handyman ...
6 OCT
Water seminar for DTU students
One and a half days will be devoted to one of the four classical elements: water. This is the central topic of the second in a series organized by Water DTU. On the first day, a young researcher from each of the departments involved will present his or her research. The second day will feature two sessions: one about courses and one about funding. Find out more on Portalen: l.dtu.dk/1zl4.9 OCT
Engineers at Culture Night
Culture Night 2015 will take place on Friday, 9 October, and just like in previous years, it will provide the opportunity to experience the science of engineering ‘up close and personal’. For example, DTU Space will be demonstrating drones at the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, Bredgade 40. At the same address, DTU Roadrunners—the University’s World Champions in fuel economy—will be holding a presentation about their car: DTU Phoenix. Please remember that a Culture Pass (Kulturpas) is required for all events on the Culture Night programme. For additional information, see kulturnatten.dk.19 OCT
Center for Health Technology opens its doors
The new centre for health technology in Copenhagen will officially be opening its doors at a reception on Monday, 19 October. The Copenhagen Center for Health Technology is the result of a partnership involving the Capital Region of Denmark, the City of Copenhagen, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, and DTU. The objective of the centre is to reinforce research partnerships in the Capital Region with regard to the health technology of the future.26 OCT
Green week kicks off
The Green Challenge project team is already working hard to plan the events for Green Week, which kicks off on Monday, 26 October. One of the events is the Green Career arrangement on Wednesday, 28 October, where representatives of a number of companies will be explaining how they work with green projects. They will also be bringing a variety of project opportunities for students. You can register for the Green Career event as from week 41—go to groendyst.dtu.dk The programme for the whole week will also be published on groendyst.dtu.dk.28 OCT
Reception for graduates
From 5–6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 28 October, DTU will be holding a reception for all BEng students who graduated in the period between April 2014 and October 2015. The event will be hosted by Martin Vigild, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs, Senior Vice President. The programme includes speeches of congratulation from Anders Bjarklev, DTU President, and Caroline Tromer Dragsdahl, President of the PF student association. The congratulatory diplomas will be distributed following a speech by a guest lecturer, whose identity remains a secret at time of writing. To register for the event, go to tilmeld.events/dimittenddiplomokt2015.
Tiny DNA building block is identical regardless of species
Nucleosomes Professor Jakob Bohr is working on a theory to explain why a specific building block in chromosomes is identical in people, animals and plants.
The diameter of a single, cylindrical DNA component is always the same, regardless of whether it forms part of a fruit fly, a beech tree, or a human being. This tiny building block in the DNA architecture is part of what is known as the nucleosome. The diameter of the nucleosome has long been a source of fascination for Professor Jakob Bohr of DTU Nanotech. Because if it is the same in all species, what universal principle or law of nature is in effect?
“As a physicist, I attempt to find the answers to these questions in the worlds of mathematics and physics. And in these contexts, our calculations demonstrate that the size of the nucleosomes makes perfect sense. They create what we have chosen to call ‘twist neutrality’,” relates Jakob Bohr, who has been studying the diameter of the nucleosomes in partnership with his colleague, Kasper Olsen.
“Twist neutrality ensures that the number of turns in the DNA material always remains constant, such that the smallest structure in DNA architecture—the DNA helix—can be stretched without affecting the number of twists. This property is essential in nature every time DNA material needs to be copied; in the case of cell division, for example. Briefly put, twist neutrality helps prevent the twists becoming entangled and damaging our DNA,” he adds.
The nucleosome is only a tiny part of the complex DNA architecture. In total, every single sell contains more than a metre of DNA, and to make room for so much material, the DNA is twisted and folded together over and over again. This leads to the creation of what can be perceived as different levels of structuring, and depending on how a level can actually be defined, eight such levels are created.
“Each level alters the scale of our hereditary material by a factor of around three, in the same way as when you fold a piece of paper repeatedly, the thickness is increased by a factor of two every time. This compression of the DNA ensures that it is small enough to fit inside the nucleus of the cell,” explains Jakob Bohr.
The highest level of DNA comprises the chromosome structures, where the gender chromosomes—X and Y—are the best known. The bottom level, i.e. the tiniest structure in the DNA architecture, is the famous double helix, the eye-catching spiral of two strands of DNA winding around one another.
The natural law of the twists
At the level before this, the double helix is wound twice around a collection of proteins. This is the structure that is called a nucleosome. It takes a lot of nucleosomes to wind up the entire double helix, and this makes the structure resemble a string of pearls—where the nucleosomes are the pearls, and the double helix is the chain.
The calculations performed by Jakob Bohr and his colleagues demonstrate that if the diameter of the nucleosomes were different, twist neutrality would simply not exist.
“This would not be good, because it would mean that new, inappropriate structures could appear in the DNA. So we think that the reason why the size of the nucleosomes remains constant across species is that there is no benefit to nature in developing or changing this size. Otherwise, we would probably have encountered it as a stage in the evolutionary process,” explains Jakob Bohr.
New technology should help
The long-term aim of the research into the diameter of the nucleosomes is to contribute to a complete description of the geometry of DNA. This could help reveal general principles for the construction of the chromosomes, which would enable us to understand them in even greater detail.
“Because even though we can already mine down to gene level in the double helix—the lowest level in the chromosome—a number of the other eight levels are still largely uncharted territory. Simply put, we have no idea what structures exist on some of the other levels,” adds Jakob Bohr.
According to Jakob Bohr, researchers do not currently have access to technology with the capacity to clarify the structures completely at all levels of the chromosomes. However, he is sure that the technology required should appear over the coming 10–15 years, possibly as a result of other research into bioinformatics and via the new facilities including ESS and MAX IV in Lund.Part of the chromosome architecture
The chromosome consists of a number of components, of which the smallest is the famous spiral containing the two strands of DNA: the double helix. The components are organized in stages in a manner which ensures that a strand of DNA more than a metre in length can be compressed sufficiently to fit into the core of a cell. One of these components is the nucleosome. The figure here shows how the double helix is wound twice around a cylindrical core of proteins. This structure is called a nucleosome.
Time to end tick-borne diseases
It is imperative to cut the number of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE). A new project is to use means such as satellite data and artificial intelligence to prepare a map of Southern Scandinavia to show sector professionals and the general public where the risk of infection is greatest. Read more at kortlink.dk/hd64.
Toilet waste reveals routes of infection
Analysis and gene sequencing of pathogenic microorganisms and resistant bacteria in toilet waste from international aeroplanes may mark the start of a new method for monitoring infectious diseases globally, and for revealing how they are spread from one country to another. The analysis has been performed by researchers from DTU Food and DTU Systems Biology, and their findings were published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports. Read more at kortlink.dk/hd6e.
Green laser generates new business
An image of the retina produced using a special laser microscope is able to detect not only eye diseases, but also early stage diabetes. And the better the image, the more precise and reliable the diagnosis. The quality of the image is heavily dependent on the laser in the microscope. The newly founded DTU spin-out Norlase has now developed a type of laser which not only produces better, sharper images, but also provides an affordable alternative to competing lasers. Read more at kortlink.dk/hd6n.
Copepods remove carbon
In a scientific article recently published in Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), researchers from DTU Aqua, University of Copenhagen and the University of Strathclyde, Scotland have shown that the ocean’s tiny copepods actively transport carbon down to deep water level in the North Atlantic in connection with their winter hibernation. The discovery means that we need to revise our understanding of the Earth’s carbon cycle and the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon—which may contribute to climate change. Read more at kortlink.dk/hd7y.
Endocrine disruption can affect breast development
Findings from studies involving rats indicate that endocrine disrupters may affect the development of breast tissue in people. The effects of these substances on the early development of the breast tissue can, however, often be overlooked using current methods for evaluating the risk linked to the endocrine disruption effect of chemicals. These are some of the conclusions reached in a PhD project from DTU Food. Read more at kortlink.dk/hd6r.
“I can’t compete with Andreas’ mum in the media”
Space travel Torsten Neubert, Senior Executive Officer at DTU Space, landed with a splash in the media spotlight on 2 September, when Andreas Mogensen—the first Danish astronaut—travelled into space to carry out missions including photographing giant lightning bolts and thunderclouds for DTU Space. Here is what he has to say about the hectic days before, during and after the mission.
As told to Christina Tækker, journalist
Monday, 24 August
I’m booked to take part in a press meeting at DTU Library together with colleagues from DTU Space and researchers from the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI). We’ll be talking about what we can learn from giant lightning bolts, and how we can help Andreas to establish where powerful thunderstorms occur.
I’ve been told not to wear a small check shirt because it can cause a flickering effect on the TV screen. So I choose my white, collarless shirt. It’s a bit different, after all. I’ve also found time to have my hair cut by Nina, my hair dresser on Elmegade. She gives me an extra neat cut because I’m going to be on TV.
I bring a surprise with me to the press meeting. Without anyone knowing, I’ve emailed Andreas to ask if he’d like to send a video message. I know he’s in isolation in Kazakhstan, but I took the chance anyway. The day before the press meeting, I receive a video from him. It’s great. Andreas is highly motivated. He understands the relationship between ASIM and THOR (see box). I’m delighted.
The video is watched with great enthusiasm. A lot of journalists have made it to the meeting in the library. I find it quite surprising, as what we’re talking about is ‘dry’ science. And how many people are actually interested in hearing about Andreas taking photos of lightning? Quite a few, apparently ...
Tuesday, 25 August
The comprehensive media coverage comes as a shock to me. I was previously the scientific manager on the Ørsted Mission, which involved Denmark’s first satellite. That mission attracted a lot of attention. But nowhere near as much as Andreas’ mission. I think it’s because everyone has some idea of what lightning is. It’s really great for me, personally, because my friends and acquaintances finally understand what my project is all about. It’s a satisfying feeling. If you work with something that is highly specialized, people have a tendency to ‘put you in a box’ and no-one dares talk to you. For the first time in my life, I experience the sense that the boundaries between me as a person and as a scientist are dissolving.
Thursday, 27 August
A significant change is made to Andreas’ space flight, as it will now last two days rather than six hours. The European Space Agency (ESA) starts work on adjusting Andreas’ work schedule. I’m worried that there won’t be room in his timetable for our experiments. As it stands, we only have two ten-minute periods of Andreas’ time. I don’t hear anything from ESA, so I simply hope for the best.
I’ve previously been associated with other experiments in space, and I know from experience that things seldom run according to plan. THOR is a high-risk mission. It’s like playing trumpet in an orchestra —if you hit a wrong note, everyone in the hall sits up and pays attention. There is a risk that we won’t get any pictures from space. However, we may also get pictures that tell us something completely new about lightning. I try to set the bar of expectations at a reasonable level. It will be a huge success if we can test work methods and procedures on ISS.
Wednesday, 2 September
I get up at 4.30 a.m. The rocket carrying Andreas will be launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 6.37 a.m. and I’ve been asked to provide commentary on the launch for TV2, together with John Leif Jørgensen from DTU Space, and Anja Andersen from the Niels Bohr Institute.
I’ve asked my wife to buy me some new Hawaiian shirts. I choose the red one. All the women think it’s wonderful. They say it breaks with the nerdy stereotype. But my good friend Carl—with whom I’ve played bridge once a month ever since high school—isn’t keen on it.
Everyone in the TV studio is highly excited. The hosts are very professional. We receive surprisingly little instruction, and suddenly we’re transmitting live. I’m a bit nervous on Andreas’ behalf. A rocket launch isn’t exactly risk-free ... I’ve previously witnessed two space shuttle missions that ended in disaster.
Challenger exploded during take-off back when I was working at Stanford, and Columbia burned up on re-entry. Professor Yoav Yair from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, who is assisting us in predicting thunderstorms, often mentions that there was an Israeli astronaut on board. This has taught me that you should never take anything for granted. After the first eight minutes, the Soyuz rocket has passed through the atmosphere, and I start to relax a bit.
Friday, 4 September
The capsule carrying Andreas’ is docking with the space station, and we have organized an event in DTU Library. The TV stations DR, TV 2 and Ekstra Bladet TV are transmitting live. I feel some pressure when I’m interviewed live on TV; I must take care to express myself concisely and accurately, and to speak a little faster than usual. This makes me a bit nervous.
I also learn that interviews can be severely edited. To do a piece for TV2, I drive all the way from my home in Espergærde to DTU Lyngby Campus. When I switch on the TV, I’m only on screen for five seconds. The journalists had got hold of Andreas’ mother, and they wanted to go with the human interest angle. And there's no competing with her in the media. The journalist apologized to me afterwards.
Tuesday, 8 September
Andreas sends photos from ISS of thunderclouds over Mexico and the Caribbean. The pictures are beautifully clear, with excellent resolution. They show the clouds reaching high up into the atmosphere, drawing water vapour to the edge of the stratosphere. I’m delighted.
Thursday, 10 September
I’ve been informed that Andreas has taken some more photos. I’m spending the evening with my wife Ane at her daughter’s home, and I’ve left my mobile on. Around 8 p.m. an email arrives from my colleague, Olivier Chanrion. I’m over the moon. Andreas has used his ‘leisure time’ on ISS to film a thunderstorm over India from the Cupola, a large glass dome beneath the space station.
He managed to capture a Blue Jet, which is a lighting bolt that runs from the clouds up to an altitude of around 50 km. But that was not all. For the first time ever, we can see the Blue Jet pulsating— i.e. firing upwards several times in quick succession. They are the most wonderful pictures ever taken from space and they provide us with all kinds of new scientific information about giant lightning bolts. I daydream about the photos gracing the covers of magazines such as Nature and Science. But I know that reality will kick in at some point ...
Saturday, 12 September
Just like Andreas’ mother, I’m asleep when Andreas returns to Earth, landing in Kazakhstan at 2.51 a.m. I wake up at 7 a.m. and before I even get out of bed, I switch on my mobile phone and visit a website. The landing went smoothly, which is a huge relief.
I’m surprised at how much it means to me that Andreas is Danish. I haven’t spared a thought for the two other astronauts. It feels like Andreas is a part of my family.
Tuesday, 15 September
I read in the paper that Andreas was hugely excited when he was filming the storm from ISS. And Queen Margrethe has said that she is fascinated by giant lightning bolts. I’m amazed that we have done something that has captured the attention of everyone from Extra Bladet’s online TV channel to the Queen of Denmark. It just doesn’t get any bigger than this.
THOR and ASIM
The pictures Andreas Mogensen has taken of giant lightning bolts and thunderclouds form part of the THOR project that DTU Space is leading and carrying out in partnership with the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).
THOR is a part of the ESA-led project Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM), where DTU Space is responsible for scientific management and some instrument development. ASIM is the single-largest Danish space project to date, and the instruments will be mounted on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2017.
ASIM consists of two cameras, a giant X-ray detector and three photometers designed to take measurements in different wavelengths of visible light. While ASIM is directed downwards towards Earth (i.e. aimed at the nadir) so as to observe thunderstorms with its instruments, the THOR astronauts will point their cameras towards the horizon. The objective is to develop THOR with the assistance of those astronauts who follow in Andreas’ footsteps, and to perform THOR measurements simultaneously with ASIM so as to observe thunderstorms in two geometries. THOR is named for the Norse god of thunder.
Lockheed Martin to reinforce partnership with DTU
Partners The technology giant Lockheed Martin and DTU are teaming up to explore opportunities to work more closely together in the field of technology development.
On 28 August, the American technology giant Lockheed Martin and DTU signed a statement of intent to develop and execute research projects together. The partnership will initially focus on projects in the fields of testing materials, autonomous systems, sensors, space technology, and geophysical data.
“For DTU, there is appreciable scientific potential in working closely with a company recognized as being a global leader in its chosen field. Lockheed Martin builds aircraft, radars, satellites and spacecraft, and also develops management information systems and such. All these pursuits involve areas of technology where DTU is in a position to contribute relevant knowledge and skills,” relates Marianne Thellersen, Senior Vice President and Director for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at DTU.
DTU has previously worked with Lockheed Martin on projects including the development of DTU Space’s star cameras. As Dr. John D. Evans, Vice President of International Science and Technology, explains, that particular working relationship was highly appreciated by Lockheed Martin.
“DTU has been a valuable partner for Lockheed Martin, collaborating on projects such as NASA’s New Frontiers programme, where DTU researchers delivered the Advanced Stellar Compass to the Juno spacecraft. Today’s agreement provides both parties with a framework for identifying additional areas for future collaboration,” he adds.
Learn more
Marianne Thellersen
Senior Vice President, Director for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
mthel@dtu.dk
Facts about Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs a total of 122,000 people worldwide.
Net turnover in 2014: USD 45.6 billion.
Head office: Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Current PhDs
A selection of the most recent PhD theses at DTU
Cheaper 3D ultrasound images
Images from ultrasound scanners are frequently used in medical diagnostics, and in recent years real-time 3D ultrasound imaging has become available. However, the complexity of the transducer (the hand-held sound head) and increased data volumes have made the systems much more expensive than conventional 2D systems. In his thesis (based on 14 scientific articles and two patents), Thomas Lehrmann Christiansen from DTU Nanotech presents a new 3D transducer. It is designed to be used together with a commercial scanner from BK Medical which has been developed for 2D scanning. This combination makes it possible to create 3D ultrasound images in real time, but at a cost and of a complexity that is comparable to 2D ultrasound systems.
Salty groundwater in Zambia stems from prehistoric lake
One of the biggest environmental problems in the world’s deserts and steppes is the increased concentrations of dissolved ions (salt water) in the groundwater. Kawawa Eddy Banda from DTU Environment has focused on the factors which have shaped the groundwater system in the Machile Basin of south-western Zambia—a steppe area which lies in continuation of the prehistoric Lake Makgadikgadi, which dried up several thousand years ago. The findings indicate that the source of the salty groundwater is primarily minerals deposited in lake sediments more than 300,000 years ago. They are not yet dissolved, because the lake evaporated, and because water renewal underground is limited. To obtain fresh water in the area, it is therefore necessary to drill deeper than at present, or use technologies such as groundwater desalination or rainwater collection.
Better calculations for wind farms
Wind turbines in wind farms are exposed to completely different forces than stand-alone wind turbines. A wind turbine that is sheltered from the wind by another, for example, is exposed to a wake effect—or wind shadow—where the wind speed is lower and the wind more turbulent. In addition, changes in wind direction mean, among other things, that the wind shadow moves backwards and forwards. This subjects the wind turbines to significant and changing loads, which may ultimately result in material fatigue. Martin de Maré from DTU Wind Energy presents new mathematical models for the wind’s natural turbulence and the wind shadow’s movements which can be used when calculating and planning wind farms.
Biomarker tests can replace biopsies
The chronic lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (ILF), where proteins are deposited in the lungs, is diagnosed today with lung biopsies, which are very unpleasant for patients. However, Jacob Hull Kristensen from DTU Systems Biology has shown that biomarkers in the blood may provide an alternative to such biopsies. The biomarker in this case is the protein elastin. Patients with ILF have increased levels of activity for two specific proteins, which break down elastin, leaving behind recognizable fragments. Studies of these fragments can show whether they are the actual enzymes responsible for the process. Two methods for establishing the presence of elastin fragments were developed (one for each enzyme), and initial clinical tests indicated that they could show the breakdown of elastin in connection with lung diseases such as ILF. Therefore, there is good reason to hope that the painful biopsies can, with time, be replaced by blood tests and contribute to the validation of new drugs for treating ILF.
Algorithm to find your favourite tracks
tones Postdoc Jens Madsen is developing an algorithm which can find just the right music to suit your mood and situation from millions of tracks.
Jens Madsen is crazy about music—or rather, what music does for him: It boosts his spirits, it gets him to relax, or it creates just the right party mood. Spotify, Wimp, TDC Play, and similar streaming services entice him with more than 30 million music numbers, but Jens Madsen is looking for a service which he can use to sort through the large data volumes and help people find the right music for a given situation. Therefore he is in the process of developing an algorithm which can predict which feelings a given track will induce.
‘You can search by artist or title, and there are also playlists and radio channels based on previous choices, but this is of course limited by what you know or have listened to previously. I want a service that builds on a deeper understanding of both the user and the music,’ says Jens.
Jens Madsen first studied for a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology degree at Aarhus University School of Engineering, and was then an intern at Bang & Olufsen A/S. However, he wanted to explore sound in greater depth, and therefore continued his studies with an Master's degree at DTU Electrical Engineering where he focused on sound perception. Afterwards, he continued at DTU Compute, where he started to look at the cognitive aspects of sound and people's feelings in relation to music, and did a PhD project to create these musical algorithms.
The first step involved finding out why we listen to music in the first place.
‘I had to disassociate myself from numbers and equations, and immerse myself in psychological literature. This confirmed that, like me, many people use music to regulate their feelings—both for the positive and the negative,’ says Jens.
‘However, there can also be unpredictable factors such as unique links between a feeling and a specific piece of music. Therefore, I chose to focus on the feelings which are expressed by the music, rather than on the feelings that people say they feel when listening to music.’
To start with, Jens chose 20 pieces of music which he asked his test subjects to categorize on a scale from one to 10. However, it proved too difficult to classify the pieces individually when listening to all them from the top. Instead, he switched to asking people to choose the most cheerful piece of music, for example. This, on the other hand, gave rise to too many possible comparisons, so he was forced to design some algorithms which could select the music pair which made most sense to ask about.
What effect does the music have?
The next step was to describe the actual music, i.e. the aspects which have an effect. Is the timbre or dynamics, how it is played, or something to do with the energy in the different frequency areas and the connection between the tones? Jens was becoming immersed in the science of music.
‘I used hundreds of parameters in my initial studies to find out which aspects best explained the emotional annotations which the test subjects had noticed. The aim was to arrive at a model which could predict the annotations,’ explains Jens Madsen.
He has now received a postdoc grant, and is about to start his third study. The methodology is slowly but surely beginning to fall into place, so he can include a lot more music in the study. Finally, he is beginning to realize his dream: An algorithm that can predict which feelings a random piece of music will evoke.
Musicians are sceptical about Jens’ project—they don’t like the idea of transferring delicate feelings and beauty to a coordinate system.
‘An algorithm will, of course, never be able to describe the magic in the music. All I want to do is to describe which aspects of the music make you happy, or arouse other feelings within you. And I think it’s possible,’ he says.
‘At the end of the day, I want to produce a tool which will be useful—a sort of psychological tool without side effects. The worst an algorithm can do is suggest a music number which irritates you—but it won’t harm you in any way.’
No more polluted drinking water
Bacteria Three former students have developed a biosensor with the capacity to measure bacterial levels in waterworks’ pipelines in real time, 24/7, all year round.
If drinking water pollution is suspected, it is currently necessary to send out a specialist to take samples from the water supply. The samples must then be returned to the laboratory for cultivation and analysis. This means that it usually takes several days to establish whether the water is actually polluted, and if so, which bacteria are involved. But three former DTU students have now developed a biosensor with the capacity to measure bacterial levels in waterworks’ pipelines in real time, 24/7, all year round. This means that in the event of pollution, the waterworks will be notified immediately—and can then take the necessary precautions.
“I’m convinced that our product will revolutionize the way in which people take microbiological measurements of water quality,” says Gustav Erik Skands, CEO of SBT Aqua, the small start-up responsible for the newly developed sensor.
Top prize in Venture Cup
The three founders studied nanotechnology, physics and computing at DTU. Established in 2013, their company has won a number of prizes and competitions—including top prize in Venture Cup, the biggest competition for entrepreneurs in Denmark— for its sensor and the underlying measurement concept.
The company is based at the science park Scion DTU, which provides ready access to the University’s various academic environments. Work is already well under way on product development, testing and patent applications. It is expected that the sensor will be launched commercially in 2016.
Read more at sbtaqua.com.
MIT Professor: How to succeed with innovation
Guide He developed the first system in the world for the controlled release of macromolecules into the body. Robert S. Langer is now ready to share some good advice with budding entrepreneurs.
Robert S. Langer is a chemical engineer and a professor at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). He is also considered a pioneer in the field of drug delivery on account of a string of achievements—including development of the first system in the world for the controlled release of macromolecules into the body. In addition, he has penned more than 1,300 scientific articles and is co-founder of 27 biotech companies. As such, he knows a fair amount about innovation ...
Earlier this year, the American researcher gave the H.C. Ørsted Lecture at DTU, and he used the occasion to share the following three pieces of advice with budding entrepreneurs.
1 Platform
View the invention or discovery as a platform technology. A newly started company is much more likely to succeed if there is more than one possible use for its invention.
2 Papers
Write papers. If you have published your research results—ideally in leading journals—you will have a much better chance of connecting with both academic and commercial partners.3 Patents
Collect patents. Investing in new businesses is always a high risk. So it is understandable that investors want to be sure that other parties cannot simply plagiarize the products.
Cross-border activities
Wi-Fi speeds a thousand times faster
How about a Wi-Fi network with speeds of up to 1 terabit? That is the goal that the Center for Wireless Technology at TUe in Eindhoven hopes to achieve in 2020. The need for lightning-fast networks is increasing in step with the rapid rise in the number of appliances with Wi-Fi capability—also known as the ‘Internet of things’. Fast, error-free Wi-Fi networks are quite simply essential if all the different new devices and sensors are to interact seamlessly with one another. As a base for this research, TUe has set up a new 700 m2 laboratory complex, which was officially opened on 31 August.
Better to study nanoparticles individually
By studying nanoparticles individually rather than in clusters, researchers at Chalmers University in Sweden have discovered that seemingly identical nanoparticles can, in fact, feature very different properties. By adapting a new, experimental method—plasmonic nanospectroscopy—the team of researchers has established that particles of the same shape and size demonstrated differences of up to 40 millibars in the pressure at which hydrogen was absorbed. The findings, which have been published in Nature Materials, may prove to be of significance to the development of new materials or in the use of hydrogen sensors in vehicles powered by fuel cells, for example.
Finnish investment in graphene equipment
Aalto University in Finland has invested EUR 2 million in new equipment which, for instance, allows the university to conduct research into components and quantum phenomena, as well as into industrial production processes. The ’chemical vapour deposition’ equipment is used to make graphene, which consists of carbon crystals with the thickness of a single atom. According to Professor Harri Lipsanen, Head of Department, the new equipment may help make an appreciable contribution to EU flagship projects in the field of graphene research.
Nanyang in partnership with BMW
The German automotive manufacturer BMW has teamed up with Nanyang Technical University on a new research programme, to which each partner has contributed USD 1.3 million. The research, which is to be conducted in NTU’s Future Mobility Research Lab, will involve the electric BMW i3 and the hybrid BMW i8. While the programme will fundamentally focus on advanced battery technology, driver support and intelligent mobility, two new areas have been added: electrically powered mobility in Asia, and ‘smart’ materials.
Rensselaer breaks into the US top 6
The American Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has moved up to sixth place on the list of universities where it is best to take an MSc in physics. This is confirmed by rankings carried out by USA Today. “We are extremely proud of the skilled and dedicated lecturers at our Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy,” relates Curt Breneman, Dean of Rensselaer’s School of Science.
DTU most innovative in the Nordic region
A new ranking shows that DTU is among the world’s most innovative universities. DTU is ranked no. 43 in the world, no. 7 in Europe, and no. 1 in the Nordic region on ‘Reuters Top 100 World’s most innovative Universities’ ranking list. This is the first time the ranking list has been published, and it is the first time that so many indicators have been used to rank the world’s most innovative universities. Read more at kortlink.dk/hd5v.
New visual alphabet for innovation
Two lecturers from DTU Diplom found themselves lacking tools to teach their students about innovation processes. They therefore decided to launch their own innovative project with the intention of developing a visual alphabet that could be used to support innovation and learning processes. VINCA is a physical tool that uses tiles with signs and symbols to clarify the different phases in work with innovation. The name is taken from that of an ancient written language from South-East Europe. Read more at kortlink.dk/hd66.
More partnership with industry
DTU Civil Engineering is inviting the department’s partners and representatives of the public authorities to Innovation Day on 22 October. The theme of the event is innovation and partnership, and topics for discussion will include how companies can draw on research from the universities, and how the world of research can contribute to meeting the needs and challenges that industry is currently facing. Time and place: from 1.30 to 6 p.m. on 22 October, at DTU Civil Engineering, Brovej, Building 127, room 119 on the first floor. To register, go to kortlink.dk/hddb. Read more at kortlink.dk/hdd8.93—the number of patent ideas that DTU has submitted between the start of the year and 20 September 2015. A total of 96 patent ideas were submitted during the same period last year.
Grades up after course reorganization
Teaching Günther Peters, Associate Professor at DTU Chemistry, felt he simply had to do something about the low grades and high drop-out rates. So he turned his course upside down.
For a number of years, the average grades from the ‘Physical chemistry for the biological sciences’ study programme had been too low, and the drop-out rate too high. Associate Professor Lektor Günther Peters from DTU Chemistry could not understand why the students were finding physical chemistry so difficult, so he decided to turn the course upside down. He applied for funds for a radical change in the form of teaching, was granted financial support from the pool for special input in the field of e-learning at DTU, and received help from DTU LearningLab.
His idea was for the students to take personal responsibility for learning the theory, while lecturers and teaching assistants would be on hand to help them. Put another way, the idea was to meet the students at their own scientific level and then support them in progressing to a higher level of understanding.
Following the reorganization, ‘Physical Chemistry for biological scientists’ consists of just four lectures and two experimental studies that conclude with a report.
A number of videos related to the learning outcomes have been prepared, and all are available on Coursera— which also presents quizzes designed to give students a better understanding of the theory.
Finally, the course comprises a major project that requires students to study theory in depth and present their research to each other. They are subsequently to apply this theory to working with interdisciplinary problem issues.
The course as a whole concludes with an oral exam, where the students are given the questions in advance.
Tough reorganization
There were, however, more than a few problems involved with transforming the type of teaching from a traditional course where the students were used to attending lectures and then working together in groups. Many of the students felt that they lost their overview of the course contents when the weekly lectures were replaced by group work, for example, where the groups themselves were responsible for studying their areas of theory in depth and then presenting their work to each other.
Nevertheless, Tine Frederiksen, a teaching assistant who is currently taking an MSc in Applied Chemistry, is convinced that these wrinkles will have been ironed out the next time the course is taught.
“The students have been brilliant at providing constructive criticism about the course, which is sure to help the next batch of students,” she says. She herself has also contributed to estimating what the students can and cannot reasonably be expected to achieve in the way of assignments, and to ensuring that they remain motivated and challenged throughout the course.
She thinks it is positive that Günther Peters has chosen to react to the high failure rate and the course evaluations by changing the form of teaching itself. She has previously seen other course supervisors in the same situation express the view that it is simply a matter of the students being less gifted.
“But with this new form of teaching, he’s chosen to do something different to make it easier for the students to pass the course,” she adds.
Good grades for the guinea pigs
Even though the students may have felt a bit like guinea pigs for the new form of teaching, they have also showered Günther Peters with positive feedback and praise for his commitment and attentiveness. Personally, he thinks that the new form of teaching has provided him with better 1:1 time with the students, and that the level has improved.
After the most recent round of oral exams, the grade point average for the course was an impressive 7.1.
Learn more
Günther H.J. Peters, Associate Professor, DTU Chemistry, ghp@kemi.dtu.dk
Read more in the course database: Course number 26202.
Back to school for marine engineer
Industrial PhD An industrial PhD will give Kirstine Toxværd, MSc, the chance to study her chosen field in depth; it will also serve as a springboard to a change of career.
After graduating from DTU with an MSc Eng in 2009, Kirstine Toxværd took a job in the consultancy industry, working with the environment, sustainability, and energy. However, she had a feeling that she was moving in the wrong direction professionally. The solution proved to be to take an industrial PhD, which provides the in-depth study she craves. And COWI will benefit from insight into the direction research is taking.
With a view to establishing her opportunities to change track, Kirstine Toxværd made contact with a number of potential employers. They were all seeking academic depth in the field.
She therefore contacted DTU Aqua to find out more about the MSc programme in Aquatic Science and Technology, where she was introduced to her current supervisor, Professor Torkel Gissel Nielsen.
“Torkel suggested that I should take an industrial PhD instead. He and my other supervisor—Morten Hjorth from COWI—had recently started working together on a project centred on examining the effects of different methods for dealing with oil spillages in the Arctic. This was the perfect opportunity for me,” relates Kirstine Toxværd.
As an industrial PhD student, Kirstine Toxværd is employed by COWI’s department for Water and Nature, and is simultaneously enrolled as a PhD student at DTU Aqua. She has a supervisor at the University and at the company and, as far as possible, she shares her time equally between the two workplaces.
“Whereas the time I spend at the company is primarily devoted to tangible problem solving, the university setting gives me the opportunity to continue learning at an accelerated pace. In my opinion, it’s a fantastic opportunity,” she adds.
Her PhD project is based on an international research project launched by the oil industry and coordinated by Akvaplan in Norway. The project involves participants from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia and the United States. Kirstine’s work is financed by COWI, the COWI Foundation, Innovation Fund Denmark and the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers.
“Through this project, I’m involved in building up a new pool of knowledge that will help players in the oil and gas industry to be better prepared for dealing with oil spillages in the Arctic. It gives me the chance to work in cross-field of biology, technology and industry intersect, and it is precisely this type of consultancy I want to continue to explore,” says Kirstine Toxværd.
In the laboratory at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Kirstine has examined how different methods for eliminating oil spillages affect the smallest life forms in the sea—copepods—which are a source of nutrition for a variety of fish and whales. The clean-up methods whose effects the project examines are combustion, chemical spraying and natural decomposition of the oil on and in the sea ice.
A course in how to shoot polar bears is one of the elements in Kirstine Toxværd’s career shift from consultant engineer to industrial PhD at DTU Aqua and COWI.Q&A with the employer
Morten Hjorth, Senior Specialist at COWI Water and Environment, works with consultancy in the fields of ecotoxicology and marine ecosystems.
What does COWI stand to gain from an industrial PhD like this one?
“For COWI, it’s interesting to be involved in a research project on the front line in the Arctic, facing a variety of technological and knowledge-related challenges to which we can help to find solutions. Research partnerships such as this one provide us with insight into the direction development is taking, and what the future needs will be. We can then take these aspects into consideration in our consultancy.”
What can the consultancy industry learn from the universities?
“In our work, we are heavily dependent on the knowledge generated in expert environments like the one at DTU Aqua. We draw heavily on knowledge from the universities and pass it on through our consultancy work, and partnering on a project like this one gives us a better sense of what’s going on at the university; at the same time, the university can find out more about how we actually work.”
Do the universities have anything to learn from the consultancy industry?
“Through working relationships like this one, our university partners become more aware of what the industry needs in the context of knowledge and recruiting graduates. For example, they find out which skills universities need to teach students looking to work in areas where consultancy and research intersect.”
Facts about the scheme:
The industrial PhD scheme is administrated by Innovation Fund Denmark under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Industrial PhD students are employed by private companies or organizations and simultaneously enrolled at a university, and they split their working hours between the two workplaces.
Innovation Fund Denmark subsidises the salary paid by the company and helps cover the cost of the university course.
Companies can also choose to team up with DTU to finance a PhD student’s programme—if they need help with a specific problem, for example.
Win DKK 80,000 for culture app
DBC, which develops and operates library infrastructure, is inviting entries for a competition to develop the best new app for communicating library and culture data. The competition is open to everyone who is interested in culture data, and who can program and develop apps. The objective is to create a new approach to communicating culture, and to improve user experiences. The deadline for submitting suggestions is 12 noon on Tuesday, 1 December, and the winner will be announced at the Data Science Day at DBC on 14 January next year. Read more at www.dbc.dk
New course for innovation pilots
Acting as an innovation pilot involves working with students from different study programmes to tackle a specific engineering challenge at a company. This is the objective of the new course: 62999 Innovation Pilot. The course will be taught for the first time over a 13-week period in spring 2016, starting on 1 February, and carries 10 ECTS credits. All BEng students on their fifth semester or later are welcome to enrol. As from autumn 2016, the new course in innovation and interdisciplinarity will be mandatory for all BEng students. Read more on Portalen.dtu.dk/innovationpilot.
Physics lecturer day devoted to fusion and plasma physics
In partnership with the association of high school physics teachers, DTU will be holding a physics lecturer day devoted to fusion and plasma physics on 8 October. The event follows a course held in September, where the physics teachers participated in activities including a trip to the Joint European Torus in Oxford, which is part of the European research programme targeted at peaceful applications for fusion energy.
Biotech Academy, week 42
Biotech Academy is inviting high school students to a camp at DTU in the autumn school holidays. The theme for this year is Research into immunological pharmaceuticals—A cure for malaria. The camp will be focusing on placental malaria, and how a biotechnical platform can be used to develop antigens for use in vaccines. The week will feature company visits, presentations, workshops, guided tours and an introduction to biotechnical platforms.
Business Hack 2015
Business Hack 2015 will take place on Friday/Saturday, 23/24 October this year, granting students with an interest in programming access to free data about Danish companies which they are then to use to tackle a variety of problems. The huge volume of company data provides excellent opportunities for developing innovative solutions. Examples of possible solutions include a new credit rating model, new analysis of the text in accounts, and economically priced investment tools for small investors and investment companies, etc. The event is organized by Virk Data, Forenede Danske Revisorer A/S, DTU Compute and DTU Skylab. To register, go to kortlink.dk/hdrd.
Twitter for communicating research as well
Media What you write need not be finely polished and perfect when you communicate on Twitter. Publishing something incomplete can actually an advantage for researchers, according to Sune Lehmann.
“I believe that as researchers, we have an obligation to explain why the work we are doing is so interesting. And I hope we all have a good explanation ...”
Sune Lehmann is a researcher. One of his everyday assignments is to be online and communicate with his colleagues—using Twitter in particular. It is all about communicating and collecting knowledge. This is important, and it helps clarify why what you are doing as a researcher is interesting, as he explains:
“If you think about how much money each and every taxpayer in Denmark is contributing to research via their taxes, then they deserve to know how we are spending their money.”
And it is not ‘just’ for the benefit of the readers that results, ideas, and articles should be shared beyond the bounds of the research office:
“We’re usually proud of our discoveries. It’s really exciting, and we’ve learned something new. We’re at the very limit of human knowledge and we’re moving into uncharted territory. This is precisely what drives our work—the moment of discovery—and this is what we want to share with others,” he adds.
Doesn’t have to be perfect
Sune Lehmann uses Twitter to define a personal voice within his chosen field. It makes sense to have a clearly defined professional identity so colleagues know that there is good reason to keep an eye out for your name and the things you publish, he relates.
“People only have a limited amount of attention available, and they are not overly likely to fritter it away on someone they’ve never heard of.”
At the time of writing, more than 60 DTU researchers have a Twitter profile. Sune Lehmann describes the medium as a cross between a social network and a news feed. It is a way to keep track of interesting people, communicate with them and share articles, news and retweets.
“On Twitter, you can choose what you want to receive by following people who tweet about subjects that interest you. In this way, you can filter out some of the ‘static’ and make an incomprehensible world a little more straightforward,” he relates.
In contrast to a good deal of other research work, what you send out on Twitter need not be finely polished and perfect. And this can be quite an advantage, according to Sune Lehmann:
“The format and the 140-character limit make it easier to produce content. Communication becomes more concise and straightforward because you have to go directly to the heart of an issue—you don’t have time to formulate a long, convoluted answer, which is often the case with emails.”
Find your field on the Net
A medium like Twitter is not necessarily the best choice for all researchers. However, Sune Lehmann has no doubt that it is essential for communicating with colleagues:
“There may be grounds for an honest discussion about how important it is to communicate with the general public. But I don’t think there can be any discussion about the importance of communicating with the rest of the scientific environment,” he says.
There are various tools and media available to use, depending on who you want to reach, and where on the Net your research area is positioned. If your colleagues are not on Twitter, this may not be the ideal medium to use—it may be better to focus on ResearchGate, for example, where around 3,000 of the registered users have DTU addresses.
It is rather like attending conferences to keep up with the latest news in your field of research, explains Sune Lehmann. It’s all about heading keeping up.Learn more:
Sune Lehmann, Associate Professor, DTU Compute, sljo@dtu.dk
Jeannette Ekstrøm, Information Consultant, DTU Library— gives presentations designed to help you boost your research and your online profile—jeek@dtu.dk
New book about green corridors
How can the transport sector become more sustainable without adversely affecting the economy? You can find out more about this issue in a new book entitled Green Transportation Logitstics’ and edited by Professor Harilaos N. Psaraftis from DTU Transport. The book collates knowledge from the EU SuperGreen project, whose purpose was to promote sustainable European transport corridors. The text focuses on win-win solutions, and analyses the phenomenon whereby solutions that appear sustainable are actually causing problems elsewhere. The book is available from the Polyteknisk Boghandel book shop for DKK 998—less a 10 per cent discount for DTU staff and students.
Mapping seal damage
DTU Aqua has taken the lead in a project designed to examine the problems that an increasing population of seals in Danish coastal waters is causing for the fishing industry. The study has focused in particularly on bites and damage to tools, and among its findings is the conclusion that the level of damage is largely defined by vessels, fishing practice, the actual area of coastal water, and the time of year. The study was financed by the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and the work was carried out in partnership with Krog Consult, BioApp and the University of Copenhagen. To read the report, see kortlink.dk/hay6
Limit value for fluorinated substances
Food authorities have introduced a recommended limit value for fluorinated substances that are used to make paper and cardboard food packaging water- and grease-repellent. The limit value has been calculated by researchers from DTU Food, working closely with Danish and international authorities, researchers and the representatives of the food industry. Fluorinated substances are problematic because they are not readily degradable and tend to accumulate in both people and the environment.
Road rage figures
The Danish Road Safety Council is keen to build up more systematic knowledge about anger and aggressive road users. In order to do something about the problem which, at worst, can result in accidents, it is essential to obtain current and accurate figures about road rage, and this work will be carried out in partnership with DTU Transport. The most recent figures are from 2008.
Big data to facilitate traffic
Researchers at DTU Compute are to assist the EasyPark parking service to direct customers to vacant parking spaces, ensuring that they do not cause congestion by driving around looking for vacant spots. EasyPark made contact with the researchers through Scion DTU’s ’Smart Innovation’ programme, and the partnership is based around the researchers using EasyPark data to calculate the coverage percentage of a given car park at a given time so that this information can be communicated to users of the app.
Research to promote dialogue about wind power
April saw publication of the first interim report from a working group in a major international and interdisciplinary research project—Wind2050—in which DTU Wind Energy is participating. The researchers are looking into issues such as how wind turbine owners deal with public opinion about wind power, and the impact this has on their projects. The hope is that linking engineering disciplines to social sciences will enable taking neighbours’ concerns about wind turbines into account, without this negatively affecting the goal of establishing a fossil-fuel-independent energy system by 2050. The project manager is Kristian Borch from DTU Management Engineering. Read more in the newsletter at kortlink.dk/h87h
Women drop out en route to the top
Career “Women seldom reach the top of the career ladder. This is a situation we are keen to change,” explains the instigator of the ‘Women in Engineering Science’ network.
By Nanna B. Hartmann, Senior Researcher, DTU Environment.
More than half of all the students accepted by Danish universities are women, but a look at the gender distribution farther up the academic ladder reveals a significant decline in the number of women. This is known as the ‘leaking pipe’ syndrome and affects all areas of the world of research—at DTU, throughout Denmark and, indeed, internationally.
But what are the factors behind this phenomenon? Is it because women give priority to their families and children? Is it discrimination? Or is it simply because women are not as committed to research as men?—as Larry Summers, former President of Harvard, infamously claimed in a statement that cost him is job. One thing is certain: opinions are numerous and diverse, and can raise the temperature of any discussion ...
I do not believe that the drop-off among women researchers is due to a lack of commitment. On the other hand, research findings indicate that women are generally subjected to tougher evaluations than men when submitting applications. An American study revealed that identical applications for a research position were assessed differently depending on whether they were signed by a woman or a man.
It seems that by default, women are considered less competent and less suited for the position— irrespective of whether the applications are assessed by men or women. So even though the world of research may not be marred by conscious discrimination against women, these findings indicate the existence of unconscious mechanisms that make it harder for women to carve out a career for themselves. And this gives plenty of grounds for reflection and discussion.
A new gender equality policy has now been adopted at DTU, and in this context it is important to have a forum for discussion of the career-related challenges that contribute to the elevated drop-out rate among women in research. It is against this background that a new network entitled ‘Women in Engineering Science’ (WiES) has been established.
The leaking pipe syndrome can be caused by a combination of factors—including, personal choices and priorities, of course— so the objective in and of itself is not to achieve a 50/50 gender balance. However, it is important to us in WiES to draw attention to the invisible and perhaps unconscious dynamics that contribute to a gender bias. When all is said and done, gender equality is all about equal treatment and equal opportunities, where gender is not a factor in erecting obstacles.
We hope that in the long term, the network’s activities can help DTU to retain talented female researchers, and to support a diverse workplace and research environment.
New network for female researchers
Equal opportunities 1 New DTU network to help female researchers climb the academic career ladder.
A group of female researchers at DTU has founded the network entitled ‘Women in Engineering Science’—or ‘WiES’ for short. A great many women enrol at DTU, and many continue all the way to PhD level, but hardly any become professors. So where along the way do they drop out? Why? And what can we do about it? These are all issues WiES has been set up to examine and discuss.
One of the driving forces behind the initiative is Nanna Hartmann, Senior Researcher at DTU Environment. The network has not been formed on the basis of actual experience of discrimination, but rather because Nanna feels it is time to focus on aspects such as the unspoken, but nevertheless clear, differences in how male and female researchers are evaluated—as she explains in more detail in her column on this page.
WiES will organize informal monthly meetings featuring internal presentations and the opportunity to exchange experience, as well as major after-work meetings with guest speakers from other universities, for example. In addition, the network will be working to establish a mentoring scheme whereby women who have made it to the top act as sounding boards for those waiting in the wings.
“Studies and experience indicate that over the years, mentoring schemes help to break down career-related barriers and reinforce women’s careers in research,” says Nanna Hartmann.
The network is supported by the Corrit Foundation.
The steering committee for Women in Engineering Science:
Susan Løvstad Holdt (DTU Food)
Nanna B. Hartmann (DTU Environment)
Sarah Christine Boesgaard Christensen (DTU Environment)
Zaza Nadja Lee Hansen (DTU Management)
Geraldine Henningsen (DTU Management)
Signe Poulsen (DTU Management)
The first lunchtime meeting will be held on 19 October, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in S02 in the Meeting Centre, Building 101, Lyngby Campus.
For details, see CampusNet and Portalen
Find a mentor in ten minutes
Equal Opportunities 2 Hypatia was founded in 2008 as a network for young female engineers—from students to alumni.
Both during their time at university and subsequently when they enter the labour market, most female engineers cannot help but notice that their male colleagues are in the majority. The ‘Hypatia—Women in Engineering’ network is a forum where women can discuss the challenges this situation can present, and meet women from the business community who have found ways to tackle them.
Membership of Hypatia currently comprises around 600 DTU students and newly qualified graduate engineers. The purpose of getting together is not only to share experience and enjoy each other’s company, but also to forge links between current students and female engineers in employment. Men are also welcome to attend the events.
One of Hypatia’s popular event is ‘Speed Mentoring’, where 14 successful women from the business community are mentors for an evening and share their experience. During the evening, each participant can have a 10-minute conversation with three mentors. The event provides an opportunity to discuss career choices, pick up tips and hints about study programmes, find out more about specific jobs, or simply to gain inspiration.
The fourth Speed Mentoring event will be held on 20 October. Read more at kortlink.dk/hban
Bestseller list
The best-selling academic books at the Polyteknisk Boghandel bookstore.1. Mastering the Business Case
By Klaus Nielsen, Martin J. Ernst; Varius Business, 2015.
2. Matlab for Dummies
By Jim Sizemore, John Paul Mueller; John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
3. Ten Types of Innovation
By Larry Keeley, Bansi Nagji, Helen Walters, Ryan Pikkel, Brian Quinn; John Wiley & Sons, 2013.
4. God undervisning på de videregående uddannelser
By Lars Ulriksen; Frydenlund, 2014.
5. Ventilation ståbi
By Henning Hørup Sørensen, Ole B. Stampe, Finn H. Ludvigsen; Nyt Teknisk Forlag, 2004.
6. Stå fast
By Svend Brinkmann; Gyldendal, 2014.
7. Origin of Species
By Charles Darwin; Wordsworth Editions, Limited, 1998.
8. Story of Physics
By Anne Rooney; Arcturus Publishing, 2014.
9. What If?
By Randall Munroe; Hodder & Stoughton, 2014.
10. How Not to Be Wrong: The Hidden Maths of Everyday Life
By Jordan Ellenberg, Penguin Books, Limited, 2015.
I want my food to be like fuel
Sushi King The experienced chef Jens Rahbek was once responsible for several hundred employees at Sticks’N’Sushi. But he is now serving food from his Japanese street kitchen in a container on Lyngby Campus.
“It’s like being a student again,” calls Jens Rahbek from the door to the red container located behind Building 324 on Lyngby Campus. He and two other employees have their work cut out turning flame-grilled sticks and laying out sushi trays with chicken or raw salmon, rice, seaweed and soya in his food stand named ‘Yatai’, which is the Japanese word for ‘street kitchen’. The stand serves up good, quick food prepared according to authentic Japanese traditions.
“I’ve gone back to my roots. The food I’m preparing now reminds me of the yakitori sticks I ordered in Tokyo in 1983—when I discovered I wanted to be a chef. It’s the closest I’ve come to that time when my eyes lit up. Everything before this had just been part of the journey to get here,” he adds.
Sushi success
Jens Rahbek and his brother Kim grew up with a Japanese mother and a Danish father, who owned a fish factory. His parents were convinced that the Danish people would quickly develop a taste for Japanese cuisine. And they were right.
In 1994, the two brothers opened Sticks’N’Sushi on Nansensgade in central Copenhagen. The restaurant soon became a roaring success, turning into a chain with several hundred employees, and the media dubbed Jens Rahbek ‘The Sushi King’. But while his brother took over running the Sticks’N’Sushi chain that currently comprises ten restaurants in Copenhagen, North Zealand and the UK, Jens Rahbek sought out new challenges.
He opened the Japanese gourmet restaurant Ebisu in the former Customs House, as well as Etika restaurant in Copenhagen. Last year, he moved into the ‘Papirøen’ area of Copenhagen to serve street food.
Towards the end of 2014, one of the DTU professors happened to swing by his food stand on Papirøen. The professor thought it would be wonderful if Jens Rahbek could bring his street kitchen to DTU. And after a short period of reflection, Jens Rahbek ‘upped sticks’ and moved his red container to the DTU campus in early September.
Less elitist food
“I’ve always dreamed of preparing delicious dishes other than the ones we serve at Sticks’N’Sushi. I want to contribute authenticity and love through my cuisine. The young generation is really cool. They know that we simply have to take care of our society, the world and each other. So if I can make a contribution by serving Japanese food that is healthy, nutritious and easy to digest, then the students can build up the energy they need to learn and study. I want my food to be like fuel,” says Jens Rahbek.
As he sees it, food is not just food. Food can make history:
“There’s no doubt that food played a key role in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter succeeded in convincing Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to sign a peace treaty between their respective countries. At the summit, the Italian pizza chef Wolfgang Puck served a completely new type of pizza. I cannot say if it was this that laid the basis for the treaty, but good food can certainly change a bad atmosphere to a good one.”
Jens Rahbek loves
Raw fish, raw vegetables, raw meat, raw chicken, raw liver, raw gizzards, and hearts.
Jens Rahbek hates
Food that fills you up too quickly, such as white bread, pastries, rice pudding, and meatloaf.Yatai on Facebook
Follow ‘Yatai by Jens Rahbek’ on Facebook, where you can read about the week’s special dishes and new initiatives. For an offer, call 2097 0007. The food stall is a permanent feature of Lyngby Campus, but it changes location every two months. In the cold winter months, there is a tent to shelter diners while they eat.
More stalls to come
In the immediate future, it will be possible to buy lunch at street food locations by Buildings 116 and 414, where the stalls will be selling bagels and kebabs, respectively.
In addition to being an alternative to the canteen menu, the street food is intended to generate a lively environment life between the buildings and create a forum for informal meetings between students and staff.
News in brief - names and career
New professor
Jakob Bardram, Pervasive Computing in Health Technology, DTU Compute
New title
Martin Vigild, Senior Vice President and Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs, President of SEFI, the European Society for Engineering Education, 2015–17.
Professor Hans Nørgaard Hansen, Deputy Head of Department at DTU Mechanical Engineering, Chairman of Euspen, the European society for precision engineering and nanotechnology.Anniversaries
Brian Møller, Business Controller, Finance Centre West, 25 years on 1 October
Anette Schnipper, Head of Section, DTU Food, 25 years on 1 October
Pia Knuthsen, Senior Scientist, DTU Food, 40 years on 1 October
Lars Ole Andresen, Senior Advisor, DTU Vet, 25 years on 1 October
Anne Louise Biede, Senior Assistant, DTU Chemical Engineering, 25 years on 18 October
Line Reggelsen Nissen, Librarian, Office for Innovation and Sector Services, OIS, (Technical Information Centre), 40 years on 1 November
Mogens Bjerg Mogensen, Research Professor, DTU Energy, 40 years on 1 NovemberHello
Seven years ago, Heidi Gutierrez left her home in Nicaragua with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and travelled to Denmark to work for Mærsk. When her contract with that company expired, she wanted to try something completely different—which is what she found at DTU Physics. Here, she was taken on as quality assurance manager for the Physics Plasma and Fusion Energy group, which is working to design a diagnostics system for the international fusion project ITER. “Fusion energy sounds like science fiction, and I love science fiction. The really exciting thing, however, is that it is actually possible to generate energy from hydrogen. It’s so cool, and I love the feeling of being involved in something that’s going to be really huge 50 years from now,” she says.
Goodbye
After almost 25 years at the University, Peter Lind has stepped down from his position of Senior Adviser at DTU Vet. He will, however, be enjoying a gentle transfer to his new life as a pensioner, as he will still be devoting a few hours per week to working on a variety of statistics assignments. From the start of his university career in 1991, Peter Lind has worked with parasites and bacteria. One of his key discoveries was that it is possible to use meat juice as test material to check for infections such as salmonella in pigs. His method has since been adopted both in Denmark and internationally. For the past 15 years, he has also worked with diagnostics and risk assessment of the dreaded BSE (mad cow disease), which has fortunately been almost completely eliminated now.
DTU on the water once more in 2016
Sailing DTU was the only university in Denmark to compete in the Second Division of Sejlsportsligaen in 2015.
DTU Sejlsport (DTU Sailing) competed in the Second Division of Sejlsportsligaen (The Danish Sailing League) in 2015, where the final has just been held on the club’s ‘home water’ in Svanemøllen Harbour. The DTU team got off to a slow start in the first meets, but, as the team became more experienced and cohesive, the results gradually began to improve—although unfortunately not enough to maintain a place in the Second Division. However, the DTU team did not finish the season completely empty-handed, as it was presented with Sejlsportsligaen’s Media Award and Fighter Prize, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
DTU is the only university in Denmark that is represented in Sejlsportsligaen, where every club must present a team of eight people—although only four at a time are required to crew the boat. All students are welcome to take part, and the 60 members of the association include MSc, BSc, PhD and exchange students from DTU.
“Our members include a high number of exchange students, because we teach in English. We train once a week in Skovshoved and Rungsted, which are the two harbours we use. We teach both novices and more experienced sailors in the club’s dinghies and keelboats,” relates Peter Juhl Savnik, who is taking an MSc in Electrical Engineering and was a member of the DTU Sejlsport league team in 2015.
DTU Sejlsport offers several types of membership: ‘Touring’, ‘Racing’ and a special ‘Matchrace’ membership available in partnership with Kongelig Dansk Yachtklub, (The Royal Danish Yachting Club—KDY). Half-year membership is also available because the club attracts a high number of exchange students.
The club has two Trapez dinghies, four Laser dinghies, one Yngling (keelboat), and one x-79 (keelboat). The matchrace partnership with KDY also provides the opportunity to sail a J/80 vessel.Learn more
www.dtu-sejlsport.dk
DTURacingTeam on Facebook
Skill Meet the five craftsmen who staff the DTU Civil Engineering workshops, and whose practical skills mark the first step on the path from idea and theory to testing and adjustment to real-life conditions.
Wind turbine blades, railway tracks, bridges and houses featuring concrete constructions of every shape and form. These everyday items and materials are often the work of engineers, with their wonderful ideas and intricate calculations. But calculations are not enough in and of themselves—the materials must also prove their worth in a simulated reality before they are applied in the real world. This is where the craftsmen in the DTU Civil Engineering workshops display their expertise, which is second to none.
Their workplace is not exactly calm and predictable. In the giant hall, the ceiling is ten metres high, techno-like green towers shoot up everywhere, and the floor is not even in contact with the ground. It is actually a metre-thick clamping plate resting on columns, where every type of test set-up you can possibly imaging can be secured so firmly in place that it can withstand many tonnes of pressure, pull and vibrations.
The columns are there to prevent the entire building from vibrating along with the test elements, and to stop pens and pencils rolling off desktops in the offices. The forces applied are often so great, however, that the pressure can be felt through the ground. Moreover, when the materials finally do buckle and crack under the pressure, the do not give up quietly ...
Almost like a family
In the basement, the concrete mixer is constantly in operation, and wherever you look you are sure to see young people working to complete their individual concrete blocks, which they can then experiment on up in the hall. For the past three years, the concrete realm has been the purview of Per Leth. Per has plenty to do here, because there are a great many young people working on projects, and they all want advice and guidance.
“My boss thinks I get too involved, but he can keep on talking about that until he’s blue in the face. If people need help, I’ll help them. Some students are simply not at all good with their hands, so they need someone to guide them. No-one is going to see their project come off the rails as long as I’m here,” says Per, quietly but with conviction.
It is no wonder that the students come to like him after spending weeks or months in the concrete casting department, talking about everything under the sun.
“My colleagues may be a little jealous of me,” he says with a smile, before making it clear that although he is extremely busy—almost stressed at times—he loves his job.
“The young people are all so positive, and it’s fun to track their development. Quite a few of them come back to say hello after they have had their first taste of life in the real world. I’ve even met some of their parents.”
Workshop with a wooden floor
In order to be able to make a concrete cast, you need a mould; and this is where Steen Lenskjold Jensen, an experienced joiner, comes into the picture. Up in the only room in the building with a wooden floor, he takes orders for moulds in all shapes and sizes, drilled out to accommodate pieces of rebar. Occasionally, he also finds time to cut a stack of wooden blocks destined for use in the fire laboratory across the road. He can even make iron items, if the smiths are fully booked. This is what the craftsmen here do; they are a largely autonomous group with the capacity to cover one another’s areas.
Steen has been at DTU for 18 years, having ‘put four master joiners in the ground’, as he poetically expresses it.
“This is the perfect place for me. I have the chance to work with both wood and metal, I assemble pipes and cables, and get to repair all kinds of things. I spent a whole year renovating offices. In fact, there isn’t an office in the place I haven’t been in to install something or other. It’s been a lot of fun, and it’s never dull,” says Steen, who, in the same way as many of his colleagues, contributes knowledge about his craft to the three-week courses. And he’s an absolute machine when it comes to the final execution of the orders.
“For example, I received a drawing for this large mould,” he says, pointing to his latest project, which measures one and a half metres by one and a half metres and is 25 cm high. “The students thought that it would need crossbeams for support because it was so tall, but it is sturdy enough without them, so I won’t be putting them in. This is the kind of thing I get to decide.”
Data needed
A monitor and mouse are the only things to suggest that the piece of furniture in Christian Rasmussen’s office is actually a desk. Every inch of it is covered, making it seem impossible to do any work at all on it.
“One thing is for sure, I rarely write long sentences. But everything important is placed here in front of the keyboard—and it gets less and less important as you work your way out. I would find it too stressful to take things out and put the assignments up on the board,” says Christian with a gentle smile.
Christian is a qualified electronics technician and employed as an engineering assistant. He does not work exclusively with electronics, however, but applies all his mechanical skill to setting the experiments up in test machines and linking them to measuring devices and data loggers to make it possible to track and document everything that takes place, second by second.
“The assignments span the full range from simple ones involving applying pressure to concrete samples to find the breaking strain, or subjecting rebar to tensile tests to establish properties of the steel, to more special experiments centred on new types of concrete,” he explains.
It is often not until they talk to Christian that the students actually become aware of what they need to do, and he spends much of his time pinpointing the simplest possible experiment set-up.
“The trick is to organize the assignments so as to ensure we use as few materials and as little time as possible, without this affecting the ultimate purpose: calculating the actual properties of the finished construction.”
Fewer hands to do more work
Christian has ‘only’ been at DTU for 15 years. Michael Ramskov, assistant engineer, and Keld Plougmann, workman, have both celebrated their 38th anniversary here. They both joined the department on 15 April 1977; Michael having completed his apprenticeship at DTU and spent several years working in the private sector, and Keld having sailed all over the world with Maersk and ØK, and having built ship engines at B&W. Keld will turn 70 in October and has cut his working week to 20 hours. Otherwise, he is carrying on regardless, turning, milling and welding all the bits and bobs used to make sure the samples sit exactly where they should in the set-ups.
Michael does more than work at the machines ; he also maintains an overview of the projects, takes care of the workshop finances, and keeps in touch with external companies that deliver the parts that are too large for the workshop’s own machines. And he is an extremely conscientious OHAS representative, who makes sure the users have everything they need to work safely in the workshop.
“Twenty years ago, we had twice as many craftsmen and half the number of students, and we also handle a range of assignments for external customers. If the young people didn’t do some of the work themselves—in the foundry, for example—we simply couldn’t produce as much as we do.”
“Back in the day, the associate professor would come over and hand us the assignments, so we hardly ever saw the students. The situation is quite the opposite today. It’s great to meet all these enthusiastic people, brimming over with ideas and zest. You sort of get caught up in their ideas and draw energy from their infectious enthusiasm,” he says, neatly expressing the general atmosphere in the workshop.Caption:
Christian Rasmussen, Keld Plougman, Per Leth and Steen Lenskjold Jensen next to one of the more demanding experimental set-ups: 10-metre turbine blades.
Inspired by butterfly wings
Nanotechnology A technology that was originally developed for computer chips is now being used to shape textures on plastic surfaces. The result is cleaner, greener plastic.
It all started on an unremarkable afternoon in Anders Kristensen’s office back in 2009. The DTU Nanotech professor was in a meeting with Theodor Nielsen, founder and CEO of NIL Technology ApS. The two men had previously worked together on a technology focused on producing computer chips and optical components. The question was whether they could come up with a different use for the same technology? It was late in the day, when the researchers pushed back from the meeting table. They had an idea.
“We’re surrounded by plastic, so we thought it might be possible to use the technology to create functional surfaces, such as self-cleaning surfaces, through injection moulding. This would mean taking a technology developed for computer chips, and bringing it into play in a completely different industry,” relates Anders Kristensen.
Inspired by butterfly wings
And the idea proved to be a good one. In 2014, the researchers were presented with an award at a major EU conference in Athens for their work on developing the new technique for surface treating plastic, where nanotextures are cast directly in the surface of the plastic components, obviating the need for colours, chemicals and environmentally inappropriate post-treatment. The technology can be used in the production of toys, cars, and so on.
Anders Kristensen explains that the method was inspired by butterfly wings:
“Nanotechnology allows you to alter the surface structure of a given material and make it change colour. Each colour corresponds to a specific wavelength of light, and changing the surface structure allows you to control which light waves are reflected. The same concept applies to butterfly wings, whose microscopic surface structures generate different colour combinations.”
The European research project entitled Plast4Future is now to continue as the IZADI-Nano2Industry project, where researchers will use the same technology to apply aesthetically pleasing decorations to cars. According to Anders Kristensen, the benefits of nanotechnology are indisputable: the industry can produce cleaner, greener plastic that is also cheaper and easier to recycle.
Telegram
A cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging app centred on security and speed. Developed by Pavel Durov, the Russian entrepreneur.
Tired of dull text messages? Try Telegram. It’s the ‘WhatsApp killer’ if ever there was one. Telegram adds extra features—such as encryption and self-destruction—to your messages, and you can even add your own features through their API.
Website: telegram.org.
Platforms: All (Windows Phone, Android, iOS, OS X, PC, Linux, Web).
Mads Pilegaard (22) is taking a BSc in mechanical engineering, Daniel Baurichter (23) is doing a BEng in mechanical engineering, and Kristian Lauszus (23) is taking an MSc in electrical engineering. Together they are working to develop a product to make vessels sail faster, more stable and to reduce their fuel consumption.
‘Since antiquity, stones and lead have been used as ballast to stabilize monohull sailing vessels. We want to challenge this approach by replacing the ballast keel with our new AirKeel system. The system simply comprises a buoyancy object at the end of the keel fin which must be controlled electronically. This will minimize water resistance by reducing displacement, at the same time that the Reynolds factor for the underwater hull is reduced through the use of hydrofoils. The technology is based on dynamic stability control, because a body of air will rise to the surface again, and this means that the boat will capsize if such a body of air is used as a keel. The AirKeel and its fin must therefore be hinged, like swing keel mechanisms, and controlled electronically to ensure stabilization by means of sensors and actuators. The principle is comparable to the way in which a Segway is balanced. To begin with, our solution will probably appeal to competitive sailors, but in principle it could be rolled out to all shipping. We have patented it in Denmark, and have applied for a global patent.’
Work it out
Combine the numbers 2 7 7 8 to make a calculation that produces the result 23. You must use all four numbers in the calculation. You may only use each number once. You are allowed to use all four mathematical operations and brackets.
Solution: (7 + 8) x 2 - 7
Logic exercise
Fill in each of the empty fields on the chart with a number from 1 to 8, so that each number appears only once in each row, column, and marked area.
Solution:
Guess a quote
“Fantastic start to the day! Flew right over Denmark with no clouds!”
Answer: Andreas Mogensen
