PhD student at Aarhus University wins international engineering competition
Lasse Bjerg, PhD student at iNANO and winner of the EUSPEN International Challenge 2011.
Lasse Bjerg, a PhD student at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO) and the Centre for Energy Materials (CEM), Aarhus University, has won the title of EUSPEN International Challenge Winner 2011 at the Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing, UK. The word ‘EUSPEN’ stands for European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology.
2011.08.11
This year’s competition involved building a device that could help a blind person to walk up and down stairs. The device had to be based on photonics, using a limited number of parts. After being presented with the task on Tuesday afternoon, the competitors had until Friday to present their final prototype.
The winning solution was a prototype of a sensor to be built into the toe and heel of a shoe. Using the reflection from an infrared LED, the sensor can determine the relative distance to a surface, thus providing the blind person with information about whether the shoe is high enough to reach the next step. It also signals when the shoe is safely positioned above the step or stair.
“For me, winning the competition proves that I’m capable of working within a time period and on a specific topic completely different from my own PhD project. I think that my interdisciplinary education has helped me to approach issues from different angles, and to pluck up the courage to solve tasks right outside my area of expertise,” says the PhD student.
“Lasse is an outstanding student, and he deserves to win a title of this calibre. His winning this prize proves to me yet again that the most talented students at iNANO can compete at an international level against the best students from the rest of Europe. I therefore feel convinced that the interdisciplinary nature of the nanoscience degree programme is invaluable, just as this result helps highlight the fact that we have a considerable number of extremely talented PhD students,” says Professor Flemming Besenbacher, centre director at iNANO.
About the EUSPEN Challenge
The EUSPEN Challenge is an international competition that aims to identify outstanding students from all over Europe who have the potential to become leaders within the fields of precision engineering and nanotechnology. The EUSPEN Challenge thus provides a unique opportunity for young engineers who would like to further themselves and make contact with the industry. In spring 2011, competitions were held in nine EUSPEN member countries: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Croatia and the UK. Twenty-seven competitors qualified for the final round, which was held in late July at the Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing, UK. Here the nine countries taking part were each represented by three competitors who were put together in multinational teams. The winning team of the overall competition consisted of Benjamin Gorissen (K.U. Leuven, Belgium), Simon Ravensbergen (Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands) and Lasse Bjerg (iNANO, Aarhus University, Denmark).
More information
Scientific Coordinator Kaj Jensen
Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre
Ny Munkegade 120
Building 1521, room 325
8000 Aarhus C
km@inano.au.dk
+45 8942 5533
Mobile +45 2338 2024
Director Flemming Besenbacher
Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre
Ny Munkegade 120
Building 1521, room 309
8000 Aarhus C
fbe@inano.au.dk
+45 8942 3604
Mobile +45 2338 2204
Great international recognition of Torben Heick Jensen
2012.05.09 — Professor Torben Heick Jensen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, has achieved great international recognition with his nomination as a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). The election to EMBO is in recognition of Professor Jensen’s outstanding research within gene expression.
Royal visit to Aarhus University – two Joachims and 20,000 ants
2012.05.01 — Prins Joachim visited Aarhus University’s Silkeborg department on Friday 27 April. Senior Scientist Joachim Offenberg, Department of Bioscience, explained how weaver ants are used in ecological pest control. Read more (in Danish only).
Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education waved goodbye to mother-in-law’s house
2012.04.27 — Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education Morten Østergaard was faced by facts when he visited Aarhus University for the Festival of Research. The MADALGO basic research centre and the EcoSense research group showed the minister how computer science research addresses this year’s theme – EUROPE’S CHALLENGES.
Your subject portal – all study information concentrated in one place
2012.03.29 — From Wednesday 28 March, you can find all information about teaching, examinations, timetable, course enrolment, student counselling and career guidance, and much more at your subject portal.
Grants for studies or research in the USA
2012.02.28 — The Denmark-America Foundation & the Fulbright Commission offer grants to Danish citizens to undertake study or research programmes at graduate level in the USA. The grants amount to DKK 85,000–100,000.
Lecturers wanted for ‘Science pays a visit’, 24–28 September
2012.02.28 — The Danish Science Week requires skilled lecturers to be part of a team giving talks about science at schools throughout Denmark from 24 to 28 September.
Unique pump in sperm cells makes a difficult journey possible
2012.05.01 — In his PhD work, Michael Jakob Voldsgaard Clausen made a detailed study of a molecular pump that is essential for sperm cells and is not found in other types of cells. The job of a sperm cell is to carry genetic information from a male to a female. In order to carry out this project, the cell has to travel from the testicle to the ovary, where both the pH value and salt concentrations are drastically altered. His results show that this pump is specific to sperm cells and is adapted to be able to maintain stable activity in conditions in which there are changes to the salt concentrations and the membrane potential of the cell. In time, it is possible that his results could be used in developing a birth control pill for men. Michael Clausen defended his dissertation on 23 April 2012. PhD supervisors: Professor Poul Nissen and Postdoctoral Research Associate Hanne Poulsen. Listen to the interview with Michael Clausen on Radio24syv (in Danish) about his results. (The interview starts 45.22 min into the broadcast). More information Michael Jakob Voldsgaard ClausenDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmarkmjc@mb.au.dk
2012.02.15 — Biologists are concerned about climate change impact, and they predict that a range of flora and fauna will disappear from Denmark within a few years. Hear Jens-Christian Svenning talk about climate change research at Aarhus University (in Danish only).
Play computer games and help research
2012.01.22 — Jacob Sherson, postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is developing a computer game where users can ‘play’ their way to answers to the most difficult research problems. On 17 January, he took part in Videnskabens Verden (Science World) on radio P1. Read more and hear the broadcast (in Danish only) here.