HTHT minors highlight societal issues for which UT is developing High Tech Human Touch solutions through state of the art research.
The HTHT minors are offered in English and are therefore accessible to UT bachelor’s students as well as international exchange students. The tool of options shows, after choosing your regular programme, which of these HTHT minors and all the other minors UT offers, are accessible for you (applicable to current UT students only).
In most cases, HTHT minors are offered in a package of 30 EC (2*15 EC). Some 15 EC minors will be offered on their own. It is almost always possible to follow only one of the courses of a package as long as the remaining 15 EC are covered by an independent minor to come to a total of 30 EC. HTHT minors are only offered in the first semester.
Click on the name of the minor in the tool of options. Pay special attention to possible additional requirements (assumed previous knowledge). Check also the language of the minor.
Minor packages (2*15 EC)
- Aeronautical Engineering and Management
PRACTICAL INFORMATION AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
This HTHT package consists of
- HTHT-minor Aerospace Management & Operations
- HTHT-minor Aircraft Engineering
OrganizationWebsite of the package
Not available
Responsible faculty
Engineering Technology (Aircraft Engineering)
Behavioral Management and Social Studies (Aerospace Man.)Minorteam
dr. D.R.J. Prak and dr.H. Ozdemir
Description of the advantage by taking both minors
The module “Aircraft Engineering” is all about technical aspects of aircraft, whereas the module “Aerospace Management & Operations” is about the aviation industry and its managerial challenges. For example, in “Aircraft Engineering” students learn the aerodynamic principles behind various aircraft properties, make calculations with these, and ultimately design their own aircraft. “Aerospace Management & Operations”, on the other hand, takes the aircraft as given and focuses on the interplay between the various actors in the aviation industry and how they can optimize their decisions. Particular attention is paid to airlines (business models, route structures, revenue management, etc.) and airports (governance, terminal design, passenger processes, etc.).
So, students that follow both modules gain knowledge and insight in both the inner workings of aircraft (Aircraft Engineering) and the working of the civil aviation industry (Aerospace Management & Operations).
Minor 1: Short description of content ‘Aerospace Management & Operations’
The aerospace industry bridges technology, economics, business, and the social sciences. In this module we first zoom out to get a complete overview of the aerospace industry as it is today, as well as its development in the past and future, in conjunction with technological advances of aircraft, macro-economic, and political developments. Then we zoom in on the particular decisions that airlines and airports face, such as route structures, business models, operations, costs and revenue management. Particular attention is drawn to the interplay between aircraft, airlines and airports, economic, social, and environmental impacts. The civil aerospace industry is the main focus, but military aerospace will also be briefly addressed, if only because civil and military aerospace are so intertwined.
We address questions like: which factors determine whether an aircraft is suited for the tasks demanded of it? What are the strategic choices airlines make that determine their success? Why are profit margins of airlines so razor-thin, despite air travel having been a growth market since World War 2? What role does maintenance play in the efficient utilization of aircraft? What is the optimal price to charge for a ticket? Why is an inherently dangerous activity like flying one of the safest forms of transport, with human factors being the main threat? Why do governments attach so much value to having an aerospace industry, despite the massive investments that it requires?
We do not confine ourselves merely to theory. Students will experience what it is like to manage their own (virtual) airline, and they will perform an in-depth analysis of an airport of their choice. The result is that the disciplines of technology, economics, management and the human-machine interface are merged in a natural way and students learn to use an interdisciplinary approach to problems and questions concerning the aerospace industry.
After completing this module, students know how the global aerospace industry developed to the state in which it is now, which problems individual airlines and airports face, and how the aerospace industry connects to the broader economy, society, and environment.
More information can be found in the brochure.
Minor 2: short description of content ‘Aircraft Engineering’
Within this module, the student gets acquainted with aspects that play a role in the design of an airplane. The focus is on the history and application of the high tech (mechanics, structures and aerodynamics) as well as the human touch aspects (decision making, business case).
The central theme in the module is the conceptual design of an aircraft. In this design all knowledge gained during the courses Aircraft Technology, Aircraft Structures and Aerodynamics is applied and integrated. The conceptual design will be done in groups of about 5 students. The design must be presented and defended for all other module students and the team of lecturers being the board of the company that delivered the assignment and (demanding) requirements for the design.
The module starts with a brief account of the history of aviation, the evolution of aircraft configurations, the principles of flight. Subsequently the aerodynamics of aircraft wings (lift, drag, pitching moment, stall, critical Mach number, drag-divergence Mach number) is explained, with some emphasis on transonic transport aircraft. Further attention is paid to the most important structural parts of an aircraft. Their designation and their function in the structure are presented. Special attention will be paid to the new composite materials that are more and more used in aircraft industry.
More information can be found in the brochure.
- Geographic Information System and Earth Observation
PRACTICAL INFORMATION GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM AND EARTH OBSERVATION
This HTHT package consists of
- HTHT-minor Geographic Information System (GIS)
- HTHT-minor Earth Observation (EO)Organization
Website of the package
Not available
Responsible faculty
Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC)
Minorteam
Description of the advantage by taking both minors
Students who take both minors get the complete picture of acquiring, storing, analysing and visualizing geo-information. They can directly make the relation between how one can sense processes on earth and how that can be translated to information on a global, national or even individual level.
Essential difference between the minor GIS and the minor EO is that GIS is focusing on the storage, use and visualization of geo-information, whereas EO is focusing on how to acquire geo-information at various scales and for different purposes. In projects in the GIS minor students how to use existing data for a particular application. In EO the focus is on how to acquire and process data in order to fill the needs for local, regional or global issues.
Minor 1: Short description of content ‘Geographic Information System’
A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a collection of methods and tools associated with answering geographical questions. GIS is a generic term for the use of computers to study and visualize geographical patterns and processes (natural and manmade) that occur on the surface of the Earth. There are many uses for GIS in different scientific and operational domains. Common application areas are urban planning, public administration, environmental monitoring, utilities, telecommunications, transport, hazard analysis, topographic mapping, and the management of agriculture, forest and water resources. In the past few decades, GIS has developed into a major area of application and research and into an important global business. Today, GIS is an active and rapidly expanding field, which generates considerable public and private interest.
The leading theme of this module is: how can GIS be used efficiently for global and actual problems. It consist of three stages: the first efficiently supplies basic knowledge to the corresponding theme (4 EC), the second applies the knowledge in relevant domains (5 EC), and the third integrates the acquired knowledge in a project framework (6 EC).
Students will get lectures in combination with (un)supervised exercises. Lectures and exercises are designed such that the basics of storing, accessing and analysing geo information are covered. Students are encouraged to find creative solutions in the use, design and analysis of GIS functionalities. Treated are the concepts of multi-scale and geometric aspects of mapping in a GIS context, dissemination methods and environments, with emphasis on online and interactive methods.
The final part of this module consist of an inter- or multi-disciplinary project. Projects with an international flavour related to the various societal benefit areas (SBA’s) are proposed from which the students can choose. Focus is on how GIS can be used effectively by combining (geo-) information to provide possible solutions/plans and to allow an efficient communication with stakeholders
More information can be found in the brochure.
Minor 2: Short description of content ‘Earth Observation’
The minor on Earth Observation deals with sensors, platforms and data processing techniques that are used to derive information about physical, chemical and biological properties of the Earth’s surface without direct physical contact. Sensors can be mounted on Earth orbiting satellites, aircrafts, but can also be mounted on a car or even hand-held. Sensors measure electro-energetic emissions from objects and material on the earth’s surface. Data processing techniques subsequently transform raw data into meaningful information sources for a large variety of applications.
The leading theme of this module is: how are Earth Observation Data collected and how can they be optimally used. This module consist of three stages: the first efficiently supplies basic knowledge to the corresponding theme (4 EC), the second applies the knowledge in relevant domains (5 EC), and the third integrates the acquired knowledge in a project framework (6 EC).
The first phase handles the basics on Earth observation (EO) techniques, and gives an overview of several sensors capable of capturing characteristics of the earth. In the second phase of quartile 10 Earth Observation is used to let the student learn how raw data are processed into meaningful information by analysing and designing various applications, such as disaster mapping and monitoring, 3D city and landscape modelling and urbanization. In this phase students learn how to combine data, use multi-resolution data, assess aspects of spatial resolution, spectral information and thus make the most out of the available satellite information. We design an interesting schedule of lectures and exercises, starting from small scale in week 3, medium scale in week 4 and large scale applications in week 5. The final part of this module consist of an inter- or multi-disciplinary project. Students can choose from at least two options.
More information can be found in the brochure.
- Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Business Development
PRACTICAL INFORMATION INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
This HTHT package consists of
- HTHT-minor Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- HTHT-minor New Technology Business DevelopmentOrganization
Website of the package
Not available
Responsible faculty
Behavourial, Management and Social Sciences
Minorteam
Description of the advantage by taking both minors
The relation between modules 9 and 10 of this package is that the first prepares for independent venturing, based on commercialization of a product/service idea into a plan that assesses feasibility of the idea. The second takes this knowledge into an inquiry that aims at exploiting an invention by identifying conditions and potential adopters and users of the technology for the decision either or not to appropriate it by the UT for future technology transfer purposes. The commonality is inquiry into opportunities for business development as independent venturing in module 9 and for technology transfer purposes in module 10.
The second module is not only directed towards creating a new company (independent venturing), but also to business development from a research technology organisation (such as universities and public as well as private institutes) or from a medium-sized to large company. The modules together prepare for a larger application area of knowledge and skills to be taken from this undergraduate education program. get an impression of this modules by watching a short movie.
Minor 1: Short description of content 'Innovation & Entrepreneurship'
This module starts with an introductory Acceleration Program that sensitizes students to the dynamics of the entrepreneurial business model development for 4 days. This is a quick way of making students aware of the knowledge they lack and need to master for operating in and communicating about business. It also introduces in developing a technology-based start-up into a successful company. In a playful manner, participants interact in multidisciplinary teams in the Acceleration program, the project as well as case work during the module. The business planning project synthesizes knowledge to be gained from the courses described below and will be based on a product and/or service concept developed in (a) prior module(s) by someone within the venture team. A lot of fieldwork is involved using the lean start-up approach, continually testing assumptions, claims and data retrieved from secondary sources in desk research to minimize market risk and improve the concept for real-life adoption to prove a business case.
For the necessary analysis and business design work to be done, students need additional knowledge that is offered in three introductory courses on entrepreneurship, innovation and financial management.
In these courses, a decision-centred approach is taken in case teaching where - again - students work on real-life problem situations companies have dealt with in order to prepare for a properly analysed and argued decision to be made for the case proponent.
Introduction to Entrepreneurship is about different forms and categories of entrepreneurship, the differences and commonalities between the entrepreneurial and the innovation process, as well as the jargon and conceptual basics of business disciplines like strategy, finance, marketing, and personnel and organisation.
The subject of innovation management introduces students to the key concepts of an innovation management system and their interrelationships. The focus is on small and medium sized enterprises, and their challenges to create and maintain innovative competitive advantages. This helps students to think beyond the start-up phase of a new venture and to be aware of next-level challenges once the new venture takes off. It helps students understand the typical differences between larger and small organizations in their strategies and resource management for commercializing new product and service ideas.
Finally, to avoid the Valley of Death pitfall, students are introduced to the basic instruments of financial management of innovative enterprises. Focus is on understanding and composing a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement as part of acquiring and managing resources to invest in and develop the technologies required to realize and market their product/service idea.
More information can be found in the brochure.
Minor 2: Short description of 'New Technology Business Development'
Over the last two decades the amount of business that has been generated on intellectual property rights (IPRs) has increased dramatically, making them the fourth production factor in economies today. All technology-oriented curricula should transfer knowledge that explains for the proportionate increase of immaterial asset value in our corporate finance practices. The commercial effect of such corporate immaterialization is that markets for technology have grown to such an extent that they will become institutionalized in the near future and not only will large companies use them, but also technology research organizations an inventive SMEs as suppliers of new proprietary technologies.
This minor is the more advanced part of the minor that builds on the minor Innovation & Entrepreneurship in adding the subjects of intellectual property management (IPM), technology innovation management and marketing in a high-tech context (HTM). Specific for this more advanced marketing topic is the role of e.g. the new product development process and of patent licensing as a way of exploiting inventions and thereby gaining revenues without having to invest heavily in product development and manufacturing capabilities. This minor takes a business and society approach to the study of technology transfer and adoption. The two course subjects are complemented with a feasibility study of an emerging technology in which students investigate the social, market and business opportunities in terms of readiness and which route to the market is most desirable.
HTM deals with such topics as the role of technology standards, new technology acceptance and adoption, innovation in networks, social dynamics such as ethics involved in emergent technology and the new product development process managed by businesses as part of the open innovation context in which such issues need to be dealt with.
Both these subjects are conventionally organised into courses that stage wise provide students with theoretical concepts and analytical models to apply in data gathering and use for interpretation purposes in the project work.
More information can be found in the brochure.
- Philosophy and Governance of Science and Technology
PRACTICAL INFORMATION PHILOSOPHY AND GOVERNANCE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
This HTHT package consists of
- HTHT-minor Philosophy of Science and Technology
- HTHT-minor Governance of Innovation and Socio-Technical ChangeOrganization
Website of the package
Not available
Responsible faculty
Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Minorteam
dr. S.O.M. de Boer and dr. K.E. Konrad
Description of the advantage by taking both minors
In this package consisting of two HTHT modules students will develop a basic understanding of how science and technology influence the human being and society, focusing on human behaviour, knowledge and values, and on evaluating and governing social change. They will do so using insights and perspectives from philosophy (this module), from science and technologies studies and governance studies (the ‘Governance of Innovation and Socio-Technical Change’ module), and by applying those to projects in which students will work on concrete examples of technologies in collaboration with the UT science and technology institutes (both modules).
Short description of content Philosophy of Science and Technology
This minor analyses and evaluates the influence of science and technology on humans and society. Students will be introduced in the main approaches and theories in the history of philosophy, which will enable them to reflect more systematically and critically on science and technology and their social roles. But rather than merely studying the philosophical tradition in itself, or aiming to understand technology in general, the focus will be on acquiring skills in order to philosophically analyse specific technologies and technological practices. How will, for example, wearable technologies change and shape our social interactions? How will we be able to maintain traditional ideas about privacy in an age of exponential increase of information and communication technologies? And how will our society and culture incorporate and shape those technologies? Since these reciprocal influences are value-laden, the minor will investigate normative aspects of technologies: how have specific technologies affected our ethical and political views? The focus on practices will also shed a new light on the role of science: scientific knowledge will be approached as a tool for technological design. In a so-called Philosophy of Technology Lab students will work in teams on specific technologies on the basis of acquired perspectives and insights from philosophy.
The minor consists of 3 thematic components and a project. In the component ‘Philosophical Theories and Methods’ students are introduced to various approaches and methods within philosophy and lays a basis for the other components. The component ‘Cyborgs and other Human-technology Relations’ focuses on how technology influences and constitutes human nature and human existence and how emerging technologies seem to blur the boundaries between humans and machines. The component ‘Technology, Ethics and Society’ focuses on contemporary social and ethical problems and the role of technology in these problems. The component ‘Knowledge as epistemic tool’ aims at a better understanding of the role of scientific research in technological applications. In the Project ‘Philosophy of Technology Lab’ students analyse technologies developed by researchers at the University of Twente on the basis of insights they gain in philosophy of science, human-technology relations, and ethics. They will also investigate the impact of technologies on certain philosophical assumptions.
More information can be found in the brochure.Short description of content 'Governance of Innovation and Socio-Technical Change'
In this module you will learn how society and technology influence each other, in particular how this plays out in innovation processes when new technologies are developed and embedded into society, and what are possibilities for purposefully shaping innovation processes.
We constantly witness how innovations affect various areas of society and social life, but identifying and working towards innovations which actually fulfil society’s needs and to embed them successfully into real world contexts is not an easy task. Given the central role that many technologies have for modern societies, be it in the form of enablers of key societal functions as energy, transport, public health etc., or as creating risks and unwanted effects, science and technology are also an important issue for governance, with policy and other societal actors trying to shape innovation and societal embedding. As part of this, prospecting possible technology dynamics and also their effects on society is a common activity for research, innovation and governance actors, but needs to be informed by a proper understanding of socio-technical dynamics.
Following this module will allow (technical) students to reflect and anticipate on the societal relevance of particular technologies and on the way the world ‘beyond the lab’ influences the work of researchers and designers. Students (from the social sciences) will enhance their understanding of technology and innovation as essential ingredients of modern social life, and the role policy and social science can play in the governance of science and technology in society.
The module consists of 3 thematic components and a project. The first component is dedicated to developing an understanding of the interrelations of innovation and social change and how these typically unfold. This includes the ‘journey’ a new technology may take from development to becoming embedded in user’s practices and getting to work in broader socio-technical environments, and the roles of different actor groups therein. For instance, new telecare or point-of-care devices have to find a place in patient’s daily life or medical routines, just as in the broader health system. Electric vehicles interact with user’s mobility patterns, and have to be integrated into the mobility and (smart) electricity system more widely. E-government may facilitate information flows, but also change roles and power relations of various actors. New sensors for measuring water quality have to fit with the way how quality monitoring is organized in water companies and fulfil regulatory requirements. Along such an ‘innovation journey’ more or less unexpected changes in user’s practices, broader systems and the innovations themselves may be the result. Both contemporary and historical examples will be used to explore this empirically.
The second component addresses how these insights can be used for anticipating on and partly assessing future developments of and around innovations, for instance in the form of scenarios, and how this can feed into innovation processes. Furthermore, you will learn about the (often) strategic role of expectations and promises in research and innovation, and their dynamics – e.g. hype-disappointment cycles, and what this means for innovation actors.
The third component delves into possibilities, approaches and limitations of governing innovation and socio-technical change, building on the insights of the former two components. Finally, we will inquire about the role of science, technology and scientific expertise in policy-making and governance more broadly.
In the project, groups of students work on a case of a particular technology or application, and apply insights from the thematic components, resulting in e.g. a strategy recommendation for an innovation actor, a policy recommendation, or a scenario development.
More information can be found in the brochure. - Science to Society
PRACTICAL INFORMATION SCIENCE TO SOCIETY
This HTHT package consists of
- HTHT-minor part 1: Science to Society: From Idea to Prototype.
- HTHT-minor part 2: Science to Society: From Prototype to Society.Organization
Website of the package
Responsible faculty
Engineering Technology - Industrial Design
Minorteam coordinator
ir. K. Nizamis
Description of the advantage by taking both minors
Humanity is rushing towards a future, where technology will take over crucial parts of daily human living. This highlights the need for engineers and designers with a very broad skillset. Communicative skills can facilitate collaboration with the industry and various multi-disciplinary partners and users. Team player skills, are highly valued within a research & development team. Realizing the societal impact of technology and its future implications is also of great importance in any project. This two-part minor attempts to cultivate those increasingly important skills. It will achieve that by a combination of real-world problem solving, and a multidisciplinary team setting. The real-life problems will focus on societal challenges in diverse fields like energy, healthcare, learning and robotics. Creative design ideas and technological innovations in cooperation with different societal stakeholders are necessary to tackle these challenges. In the first module, you will work on generating novel ideas and design concepts, and transforming the initial concept into a prototype. Taking both modules means you will play an important role in the full realization of your concept and will thoroughly deepen your understanding on the topic and the state‐of‐the‐art in technological innovation. The stage for the Science 2 Society minor is the UT DesignLab, a creative ecosystem where faculty and students from all fields work together with companies and governments on the societal design challenges of our times, inspired by the newest scientific insights.
Minor 1: short description of content 'Science to Society: From Idea to Prototype'
In this module, you will research a problem of your choice, and together with a multi-disciplinary team you will design a solution. This solution will aim to push the current state-of-the-art further and it will address multiple factors such as technology, business, government, and society.
Private and public partners bring in the real-life cases you can choose from. In the past, solutions ranged from the design of a distributed system, technology for monitoring or coaching, serious gaming design, or healthcare support. To structure your iterative research and design process, you will learn and apply various project management and design tools, and work towards a prototype realization. You will be also introduced to the foundations of different scientific disciplines through peer-learning. A tutor will coach your group, both in managing your project and in acquiring any further knowledge and skills you will need for a successful design.
More information can be found in the brochure.
Module 2: Short description of content 'Science to Society: From Prototype to Society'
In this module you and your multi-disciplinary team, will work on realizing a concept by making use of a prototype that was made in the previous module (From Idea to Prototype). The chosen prototype can be the one your team developed previously, or can be a prototype developed by another team. In the process of this module, the prototype will be enriched with a business model addressing its feasibility. There will be close interaction with problem owners from the world of business, government or science. Additionally you will have the opportunity to choose and follow a number of short mini-courses to enhance your research skills and your understanding in the field of the chosen project case, as well as develop the skill set necessary to design solutions. A tutor will coach your group, both in managing your project and in acquiring any further knowledge and skills you will need for a successful design.
More information can be found in the brochure.
- Innovations in Sustainable Chain Management
PRACTICAL INFORMATION INNOVATIONS IN SUSTAINABLE CHAIN MANAGEMENT
This HTHT package consists of
- HTHT-minor Innovations in Sustainable Chain Management; Analysis
- HTHT-minor Innovations in Sustainable Chain Management; DesignOrganization
Website of the package
Not available
Responsible faculty
BMS
Minorteam
dr. E.J. Aukes and dr. K.R.D. Lulofs
Description of the minor package
In this High Tech Human Minor you assess, evaluate and rethink linearity in production and consumption systems, The context is the future agenda regarding a fossil fuel free and circular (bio-) society. You will learn about transitions and innovations while you also practice by applying the triple bottom framework thinking. You will map, assess, reflect upon and rethink some production and consumption activities. The triple bottom line emphasizes that responsible solutions start with assessing social, environmental and economic impacts.
Are you motivated to learn how to assess and reflect upon production and consumption networks, products and services (Analysis module) and develop responsible and creative design based action towards good sustainability practices (Design module)?
You can choose two modules of 15 ECs each in a package or enroll in a single module separately.
In both modules, you will study a self-chosen paper topic by yourself and contribute to a real-life energy and/or climate action case in a small-group context. Teachers offer literature tutorials, assignment guidance sessions and tutoring of your individual and group work. In both modules you will expand knowledge and work in multidisciplinary teams. Doing things smarter builds upon social, technical and behavioral science alike. Thus, this Minor suits students from the natural sciences, behavioral and social sciences: business administration, public administration, marketing, communication, psychology, finance, sociology, engineering, logistics, physics are among the relevant disciplines, required to move forward.
In the first module Analysis you learn to map and disentangle the complex interactions between actors in networks, society, economy, materials, energy and technology. Just mapping material and energy streams in supply chains does not lead to diagnosis, evaluation and pinpointing hotspots. Multidisciplinary concepts and methods are therefore offered, and you also learn how to develop a proper research plan and proper research.
In the second module Design you shape and design sustainable and realistic alternatives for selected products, services, processes or infrastructure The creative shaping will be structured by an interactive stepwise design approach that focusses upon reshaping the interactions between actors in networks society, economy, technology and resources. You learn about the design process, designers perspectives and furthermore you practice your skills to develop design artefacts and script them to users.
More information can be found in this presentation and in this brochure.
Independent minors of 15 EC
- BioRobotics
PRACTICAL INFORMATION BIOROBOTICS
Organization
Responsible faculty
Science and Technology
Minorteam
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF CONTENT
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. These technologies deal with automated machines that can take the place of humans in dangerous environments or manufacturing processes, or resemble humans in appearance, behavior, or cognition. Worldwide scientific and industrial demand for skilled engineers with advanced systems and control knowledge of robotic systems that can apply this knowledge in biomedical or general high-tech systems is strongly increasing. The minor BioRobotics applies high-tech systems & control knowledge of robotic design and construction to the biomedical interaction with the human body.
If Matlab was not yet part of your educational programme, you will need to brush up your knowledge before/during summer.
More information can be found in the brochure.
- Materials for the Design of the Future
PRACTICAL INFORMATION MATERIALS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE FUTURE
Organization
Responsible faculty
Engineering Technology
Minorteam
dr. F. Grunert, F. van Elburg
Unfortunately, this minor will not be offered in 2024-2025 due to circumstances.
Short description of content
The aircraft and automotive industries are among the leading industries for new developments in terms of innovative materials and technologies, and many of them are based on polymers. This minor provides a broad insight, staring from the development of innovative materials, special technological functionalities and possibilities to improve their sustainability and recyclability. It is divided into 3 parts: a course about material technology, a course about the sustainable future and a design process project.
Advanced and Innovative Material Science (AIMS)
In the course Advanced and Innovative Material Science (AIMS), different aspects of materials will be introduced. The course contains three main directions. First, lectures about materials in general will be given with a focus on polymers. Secondly, the interaction mechanisms and interfaces between materials will be discussed. Lastly, the focus lies on materials used in advanced and innovative applications, such as self-healing and other SMART materials. During the course, one group assignment will be organized, where students are asked to investigate a material or application in more detail.
Heading towards a sustainable future (HTSF)
The newly developed course “Heading towards a sustainable future (HTSF)” deals with recent challenges and solutions to improve the sustainability of modern materials, in specific polymers. 4 main topics will be covered within this course:
1. National and International policies with regards to sustainability and recycling of polymers, recycling streams, circular economy, REACH legislations and life cycle analysis (LCA)
2. Recycling of plastics, elastomers and composite materials incl. microplastic challenges and solutions
3. New biobased solutions with regards to biomasses, monomers, polymers and additives
4. Recent trends of the industry incl. guest lectures from companies
The course is supported by experts from different chairs at the UT as well as guest lectures from the industry who gives insights into newest trends and developments.
Project:
During the project, students combine their gained knowledge of the 2 courses to create, evaluate and improve their own polymeric materials. The design process consists of working in teams. The process will be presented and discussed with peers on a regular base.More information can be found in the brochure.
- Cybersecurity & Cybercrime
PRACTICAL INFORMATION CYBERSECURITY & CYBERCRIME
Organization
Responsible faculty
Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
Minorteam
Short description of content
The Internet has started out as a toy academic exercise, but by now it is one of the greatest technological achievements of humanity. However, this technological advancement has also paved the way for new forms of crime.This minor will introduce you to the fields of Cybersecurity and Cybercrime. Cybersecurity encompasses measures taken to protect a computer system, a network, or the Internet as a whole, against unauthorized access or attack. As far as the Internet is concerned, however, the spectrum of abuse is large: it ranges from cyberdeviance (a behavior outside or at the edge of the formal norms of society, but not yet illegal) to real cybercrime (an activity that violates a set of legal norms).
The Cybersecurity and Cybercrime minor is a multidisciplinary minor that will cover both high-tech and human-touch aspects of this discipline, and combines them in a hands-on final project. The minor aims at providing a comprehensive, multi-faceted view of the interaction between Internet technology and crime.
More information can be found in the brochure.
- Smart Solutions for Sustainable Cities
Organization
Responsible faculty
Engineering Technology
Minorteam
Dr. S. Vrielink
Short description of the content
Owners of urban space continuously attempt to improve urban life and enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of their cities. Advancements in SMART technologies have shaped the potential for these agents to enhance the quality in urban space even more, creating sustainable cities of the future. However, this quest towards tomorrow’s sustainable cities requires many authorities, public and private parties as well as technology developers to design and implement integrated smart solutions that closely fit within technology trajectories and emerging societal needs. Furthermore, the great potential and challenges lying ahead for sustainable cities demand adaptions in the urban built environment and its critical infrastructures.
Students participating in this module are introduced to the field of civil engineering and management and society’s transition towards a sustainable city urban environment & infrastructures. In the first part of the module, they learn how this domain confronts challenges related to urbanization, energy transitions and more accessible, reliable, safe and secure environments, and how urban life is supposed to be improved in sustainable cities (e.g. through the use of smart energy grids, ubiquitous computing and location based services).
In addition, students learn how technologies require a change and reconstruction of the existing cityscape both in physical as well as in institutional sense.
Despite the discomfort for citizens, construction works are unavoidable given the need to transition toward sustainable cities. Besides addressing the general high-level view on smart solutions, this module therefore also spends significant attention on the design of solutions that help, therefore minimizing the public impact of executed civil engineering work. It focuses on how non-invasive technologies (for example: GPS & sensors to monitor and guide traffic flows; GPS to guide secure and accurate excavating; GIS to integrate design information; sensors to measure green infrastructure performance; and robots to perform inspections safer and more accurate) can help to streamline construction activities. These ‘smart solutions for sustainable cities’ eventually result in less costly and less disruptive urban space transitions. Central to this is the following challenge and question:
How can we use technological design to transform our current cities, reshape and build the cities of the future without disturbing processes and activities in existing public space?
While elaborating on this question, students of this module will obtain basic knowledge about the functioning of these state-of-the-art technologies (construction automation, systems engineering, geophysics, smart buildings, and green infrastructure) that are soon to be deployed in the domain of the built environment and civil engineering. Then, students will be assigned to a real-life client with a very specific ‘non-invasive city engineering’ problem. The students are requested to find a (design) solution for these clients (e.g. by designing a measurement application, excavation safety system, underground facility). During these projects, they obtain feedback from industry stakeholders to develop and mobilize their solutions and learn how their work contributes to smoother upgrading and renewal projects.
In short, the module consists of two integrated parts and is structured as follows: In the first weeks, lectures focus on current developments toward sustainable cities and attend lectures covering basic theory in geo-engineering, geophysics, machine learning and construction. Next, students will be clustered in groups and assigned to projects. In groups they solve a real-life 'non-invasive city engineering' design problem, with field trips to relevant projects. A mini-symposium concludes the course.
More information can be found in the brochure.