An afternoon on the S&T workplace: from self-built machines to international students

A machine for measuring turbulent flows. A fume cupboard that extracts only as much air as necessary. And a goose board game showing how many colleagues are involved in an international student's journey.

These are just some examples of the work that happens behind the scenes to make research and education at the University of Twente possible. Machteld Roos, Vice-President of the Executive Board, saw this first-hand during her working visit to the Faculty of Science and Technology (S&T) on 18 August.

Instead of an afternoon filled with meetings, the focus was on the shop floor. Machteld visited laboratories, watched demonstrations and spoke to colleagues about their day-to-day work.

Machteld Roos

“It was a really wonderful, enjoyable and inspiring visit. I particularly appreciated talking to so many enthusiastic and dedicated colleagues who put their heart and soul into supporting our students. It was also great to see how people work together and how we continue to learn from one another.”

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Technical solutions for research

The afternoon began at TCO (Techno Centre for Research and Development). Johan Bijleveld showed Machteld around and demonstrated how technicians and researchers work together to develop solutions that address specific research questions.

Many of these solutions are developed at the University of Twente itself. TCO, for example, builds cooling systems and digital boards. The automation group designs control systems and develops the software that goes with them.

The collaboration often starts with an idea or technical problem raised by a researcher. Together, technicians and researchers explore what is needed. Sometimes this requires a completely new solution; in other cases, existing technology can be adapted.

One example was a machine that allows researchers to measure turbulent flows, including their speed and direction. Among other things, this enables them to investigate how large blocks of ice melt.

It is a good example of how technical and scientific expertise come together to address questions that matter.

Safe and energy-efficient laboratories

Safety was another important theme during the visit. Jessica van de Vosse showed how S&T is working towards laboratories that are both safe and energy-efficient.

Fume cupboards are one example. Their ventilation can be automatically adjusted according to how they are being used. At night, the extraction can be reduced and increased again during the day. Simply closing a fume cupboard when it is not in use also helps to prevent unnecessary extraction and energy consumption.

Machteld was then given a look inside the new biolabs being developed as part of the NextGen project. Among other things, the labs are used for cell culture and stem-cell research. In the BIC lab, for example, heart muscle cells are grown from stem cells for further research.

The new labs will be officially opened on 8 October.

The student journey: much more than a degree

From the laboratory, the afternoon moved on to the student experience. Rita de Wilde used a goose board game to illustrate the many steps a student takes from admission to graduation.

For international students, that journey can start with securing a scholarship and arranging everything needed to move to Enschede. It then includes the Kick-In, the start of the degree programme, exchange opportunities, visas and financial support.

The game made visible just how many staff members and processes come together to support a single student journey. Behind a good student experience lies a great deal of work that is often invisible to students.

Focus on people, research and collaboration

A safe working environment was another important theme during the visit. Lieke Bosch explained S&T’s approach to psychosocial workload and social safety. The conversation focused not only on policy, but also on practice: two statements provided the basis for a discussion about what is needed to create a working environment where staff and students feel safe and can work and study effectively.

At Health Research Support in the Technohal, the focus then shifted to research involving human participants. Remke Burie showed how much support and expertise are needed to conduct human research carefully and in accordance with the relevant regulations, including those relating to the Medical Device Regulation.

The tour of TechMed also highlighted how expertise is connected across the University of Twente. The institute brings together knowledge from different faculties and applies it to research and innovation across the university. Machteld was also given an update on the developments surrounding the new MRI at TechMed.

Close to the workplace

The conversations on the workplace made clear just how valuable it is for the Executive Board to see first-hand what is happening within the faculty. Participants in the visit emphasised that these kinds of meetings help strengthen the connection with day-to-day practice.

“It is valuable for the Executive Board to come and see what happens on the shop floor. It creates a connection with everyday practice. It is good to show what we do and to have an open conversation about it.”

The visit offered a glimpse into the wide range of expertise that comes together within S&T. From technicians developing new equipment with researchers to colleagues ensuring laboratory safety, supporting international students and helping researchers conduct human studies.

It is precisely this work behind the scenes that shows how many people and areas of expertise are needed to make research and education possible every day.