First L•INT lector appointed by Fontys University of Applied Sciences and FOM Institute DIFFER
Solar fuel expert Peter Thüne connects fundamental and application-oriented energy research.
During the SIA congress on 30 November 2016, Stan Gielen (President NWO) presented the first L•INT lector to be appointed at both a university of applied sciences and an NWO institute. With effect from 1 February 2017, Dr Peter Thüne of Fontys University of Applied Sciences will be lector in the theme Solar Fuels and will fulfil part of his appointment at Fontys and part at FOM institute DIFFER. With this form of lectorates, far better use can be made of the interfaces between fundamental and application-oriented research, and innovation can be accelerated in collaboration with SMEs and large companies. Additionally, the collaboration contributes to the availability of well-trained technical talent. The appointment of Thüne will be co-funded from the L•INT scheme of the Taskforce for Applied Research (NRPO SIA).
The appointment of the lector is the next step in the collaboration between the two knowledge institutes. In November 2015, Fontys and DIFFER signed a collaboration agreement. The continuous development of experimental systems and advanced diagnostics plays an important role in fundamental energy research at DIFFER. At Fontys, a large amount of knowledge and expertise are available in this area. Efforts are being made there to realise an inspiring learning environment and expertise portfolio for graduate professionals through long-term lines of research.
Thüne as a bridge builder
Thüne, who is a lecturer in applied sciences at Fontys University of Applied Sciences, already has a considerable track record with various scientific publications to his name in leading scientific journals. He is an expert in the area of thermal catalysis, materials and surface science, with a broad research background of many years. As lector, Thüne sees his role a builder of bridges between the DIFFER research groups and the students of Fontys. If optimal use is to be made of the students of Fontys, then tangible and applied research projects will need to be defined that contribute to DIFFER's research programme and provide the students with learning opportunities.
Clean circular fuels
The challenge in the area of solar fuels is to make clean circular fuels from sustainable energy and current 'waste products': water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Within the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Fontys University of Applied Sciences, the theme Solar Fuels is the sixth priority area within the lectorate 'Thin Films & Functional Materials'. The lectorate has considerable experience in connecting research with education, in collaboration with the professional field, in area such as thin layers and sustainable process technology. With the theme Solar Fuels, the lectorate is expanding its expertise in the area of societal developments related to the transition towards a sustainable society. Small and large-scale storage and conversion of renewable energy are major technological challenges in this respect.
Unique opportunity
In the shared lectorate, Fontys and DIFFER see a unique opportunity to jointly set up programmes that bring together application-oriented and fundamental research, to make the translation from the DIFFER – Fontys research to SMEs and industry, and to make the link from the DIFFER – Fontys Solar Fuels research to Fontys courses and practical assignments. Thüne: "Solar Fuels is an inspiring challenge that captures the students' imagination. I am pleased that together with all the partners and the students we can work on making this tangible."
About L•INT and the call for proposals
The Taskforce for Applied Research (NRPO SIA) facilitates the realisation of connections between fundamental and application-oriented research with the aim of accelerating innovation and contributing to the human capital agenda. To this end, the taskforce established the scheme Lector Positions at the NWO Institutes (L•INT). This scheme funds lector positions at the eight NWO and FOM institutes (AMOLF, ASTRON, CWI, DIFFER, Nikhef, NIOZ, NSCR and SRON). With L•INT, a lector can, in addition to an appointment at a university of applied sciences, work at an NWO or FOM institute for a period of two years with the possibility of extending this to four years. The collaboration ties in with the top sectors agenda. The call for proposals for lector positions under L•INT is continuously open and closes on 30 April 2017.
About Fontys
The lectorate Thin Films & Functional Materials connects the different lines of research within Applied Sciences at Fontys with the surrounding industry and other knowledge institutions. Within the research-driven learning lines for the courses Applied Science and Applied Physics, the lectorate plays an important role in nominating and supervising research projects for first and second year students, for internships and graduation projects and for the minors of the programmes.
With the addition of Solar Fuels, the lectorate has six key priority areas: Thin Films & Functional Materials, Diagnostics and testing, Plastics, Sustainable process technology, Acoustics, and Solar fuels. The research is carried out within these research lines but also at the boundaries between them. Examples of this are research into biomedical sensors by combining 2D and 3D printing techniques, research into printed electronics, and testing the sound quality of LP records produces using new plastics.
About DIFFER
FOM Institute DIFFER (Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research) is the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research. DIFFER investigates sustainable energy generation from nuclear fusion and develops efficient techniques for using sunlight or clean electricity to produce sustainable fuels from CO2 and water. The institute is building a national network of energy researchers and high-tech companies focused on accelerating the energy transition. DIFFER is part of NWO.
About Taskforce for Applied Research (NRPO SIA)
The mission of the Taskforce for Applied Research (NRPO SIA) is to strengthen and innovate application-orientated research at universities of applied sciences. The emphasis is on the development of knowledge in collaboration with SMEs and larger companies and on embedding this knowledge in the education provided by the universities of applied sciences. The Taskforce for Applied Research (NRPO SIA) has various funding instruments to stimulate the collaboration between universities of applied sciences, SMEs and knowledge institutions.
Further information
For further information, please contact Marianne Kroon, communication officer Taskforce for Applied Research (NRPO SIA), +31 6 51 31 89 77.