Student Experiences
Priyadarshini Thiruvenkatachari
Why did you choose this programme?
I did my Bachelors in Chemical Engineering in India before starting my Masters in Environmental Engineering here at TU Delft. I always knew I wanted to pursue my career in the field to mitigate pollution and when I realised this possibility, I just took it as it was an obvious choice for me. The quote by Robert Swan, “The greatest threat to the planet is the belief that someone else will save it,” resonates with me. This is a very important field of study to tackle the current environmental issues and I want to be a part in mitigating them. Adding on to that, I have seen issues of water pollution and scarcity all my life and the impact it has on people. This has motivated me to build a career focused on contributing to the welfare of the environment.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently doing my internship at Zero Emission Fuels. It is a company that captures carbon from the atmosphere and converts it into Methanol. I am working on the sorbent that captures carbon. It is a very educational and challenging experience.
What experience have you enjoyed the most?
It is not just classes, there is so much to learn and experience in this international learning environment. The facilities like labs, classrooms, and access to software at the department are excellent. The curriculum is regularly updated and relevant. The quality of research that is performed at the university is amazing.
Tip for future students?
I would advise students to make full use of the facilities and opportunities that are available. Attend the events on campus, network with people, build connections and relationships. Discipline and schedules are two most important criteria to get through your masters degree.
Emma Little
Why did you choose this programme?
I chose this programme because I was interested in nature-based solutions to current problems, both in terms of climate change and the transition to a circular economy. In particular, I was inspired by ideas like using wetlands to remove pollutants from water in the city, adding green walls to keep cool in the summer and I was even curious about mycelium-based structures (packaging, buildings, you name it). These simple synergies with nature are not only “engineering” solutions, but also have profound effects on our health and wellbeing. I wanted to broaden the scope and consider the human element as well as the analytical aspect as a future engineer. Plus, in terms of my studies, I was hoping to learn in an international environment, which has definitely been the case!
What are you currently working on?
I’m doing a thesis internship with Waternet, the organisation responsible for the water cycle in Amsterdam, researching the performance a storm water treatment unit (SediSubstrator L from Fränkische Rohrwerke) installed in Amsterdam Zuid. I’m getting towards the last stage of this project now, processing results I collected during fieldwork over the summer.
My thesis investigates the removal of sediments and phosphorus from stormwater (rainwater once it hits the streets, roofs etc.) in the full-scale SediSubstrator L. Sediments, because sustainable urban drainage systems store and infiltrate water on-site rather than pumping it through kilometres of pipelines to be centrally treated or discharged, and we want to know if this treatment unit could extend their lifetime in a meaningful way.
The actual process of studying this unit in the city was dynamic and a lot of fun as it felt like working in a living lab. I was at the mercy of the weather - whenever it rained I had samples to pick up and prepare for analysis. There was plenty of troubleshooting and even new discoveries that we didn’t expect. Plus I feel like I got to know the neighbourhood (and even some neighbours) as we saw each other regularly. Now I’m doing data analysis and making recommendations based on my results, wrapping up the project. And by that, I mean I am back to desk work for the time being.
What experience have you enjoyed the most?
The opportunities for involvement in the university community and in education have completely exceeded my expectations. My professors have been enthusiastic and supportive, and meeting like-minded people who are interested in sustainability has also been a highlight.
Last year, a fellow student and I took a discussion-based course at TU Berlin that focused on topics of ethics and philosophy in technology, personal responsibility and sustainability. It really opened up my perspective as to just how much we as engineers have a responsibility to take ownership of our work and think critically about our impact on society. We felt that our peers at TU Delft could really benefit from a similar seminar, and pitched it to one of our teachers. With her support we successfully launched the pilot course at TU Delft with the first-year Environmental Engineering MSc students in the autumn of 2021.
Tip for future students?
Check out the extracurricular activities. There are sustainability-related initiatives (ie. GreenTU, Foodsharing Delft) and fun collective groups for students (i.e. Dispuut Water & Environment) that absolutely add to the academic experience here at TU Delft.