Hans Cappon's inauguration will be preceded Wednesday by a mini-symposium featuring four speakers. They will each highlight part of the challenges surrounding the availability and quality of fresh water. The mini-symposium will last from 2:05 to 3:05 p.m.
After the break, researcher and coordinator Emma McAteer will explain some of the projects of the Water Technology research group. After this it is Hans' turn to deliver his speech "The beauty of water at stake. The full program can be found here. Below is a brief explanation of the four speakers (and their presentations) during the mini-symposium.
14:05 -14:20 p.m.
HZ and Evides. 'A watery couple for 15 years'. Tessa Philipse-Steenbakker, Evides Industriewater
Tessa Philipse-Steenbakker is a process engineer in the Process & Technology department of Evides Industriewater, However, she is above all an HZ alumnus. In 2013 she graduated from the Aquatic Ecotechnology program after which she worked for three years as a project officer in the Water Technology research group. This is how she got to know Evides. Tessa belongs to the R&D team of her department and fulfills the role of project leader for the internal innovation project HYBRID (High Yield, Better Recovery, Innovative Design). She also provides (technical) support to other departments of Evides Industriewater, such as Sales, for the development of new proposals.
In her presentation, she discusses the research projects of Evides and HZ. "Many HZ students find their way to Evides through (graduation) internships. After graduation, they regularly stay on at Evides as process engineers." Summarize 15 years in 15 minutes? Tessa makes an attempt.
2:20 - 2:35 p.m.
'We're moving forward with SPRONG(s). Länk Vaessen, Centre of Expertise Water Technology'
Länk Vaessen has been a business developer at the Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) on the Water Campus in Leeuwarden for ten years. With a background in economics, he started his career at Philips Lighting in Eindhoven as International Product Manager for rechargeable batteries. For the born and raised Eindhoven native, the northern part of the Netherlands beckoned. He moved to Friesland where he started a company in water technology in 2003. This company (Gallep) focused on international sales of Anodic Oxidation technology. With the arrival of CEW, he made a switch in 2013.
Länk wants to interest students in the water technology sector in the triple helix environment. In this way, he hopes to do his part to help the sector grow and provide it with new knowledge. Ten years later, with more than 300 completed projects, CEW is a knowledge institution where 250 students per year are introduced to the water sector. Examples of projects include the development of a biological early warning system based on mussels for toxic wastewater in the chemical industry and the development of a traveler's drinking water filter for an A-brand.
In his presentation, Länk explains how SPRONG Water Technology contributes to the (inter)national issues surrounding sufficient and reliable water. The aim is to create long-term partnerships and an open innovation environment with quadruple helix parties with practice-oriented research as the flywheel. Four innovation themes from the mission-driven Innovation Policy are central to this: ensuring clean and safe water, reusing water and raw materials, generating and storing energy with water and smart measurement and action for water and infrastructure.
2:35 - 2:50 p.m.
'Flanders also shoots up in water stress'. Bastiaan Notebaert, Vlakwa
Bastiaan Notebaert works as a water innovator at Vlakwa, the Flemish Water Knowledge Center. Vlakwa is the independent pivot between researchers, entrepreneurs and authorities in the Flemish water landscape. Within Vlakwa, Bastiaan initiates and coordinates demonstration and innovation projects, such as FRESH4Cs, COASTAL, Water4All, Flanders Waterproof and Internet of Water Flanders.
The blue thread? Sustainable water quality and quantity on a landscape scale and new water sources. With an integrated approach with a focus on impact, Vlakwa puts systems thinking into practice. Bastiaan holds a PhD in geography from KU Leuven and built his expertise as a researcher in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and the United States.
In his presentation, Bastiaan explained that, like the Netherlands, Flanders is facing major water challenges. In recent years, these have been high on the social and political agenda. Integrated solutions for both droughts and floods and for water quality are pressing. That is why the Flemish government started an unprecedented investment program against water scarcity: the Blue Deal. Weerbaar Waterland lays out the plans to also take structural action against flooding, often in synergy with drought measures. Bastiaan proposes concrete projects that contribute to tomorrow's resilient water system.
2:50 - 3:05 p.m.
'The Zeeland farmer is now to (Z)ED'. Teunike van 't Hof-Buijs, Farm Van 't Hof
Teunike van 't Hof-Buijs is an agricultural entrepreneur of FT Equipment and Irrigation and Landbouwbedrijf van 't Hof. In 2022, she graduated from the International Business program at the HZ. During her studies, she researched drip irrigation in the agricultural sector at Netafim Netherlands, as a manufacturer of drip irrigation systems.
Her thesis dealt with the feasibility of desalination of brackish water for irrigation in agriculture. Currently, a REDStack pilot plant is running on her farm where electrodialysis is used to purify surface water into irrigation water.
During her presentation, she talks about herself and her two farms. She also discusses the availability and quality of water with possible limitations and possible solutions to the water problem. She discusses the desalination plant by electrodialysis that is currently running in the company.