Stef van Zanten

The astounding evolution of wireless communication started back in 1865 [1], when the scientist James C. Maxwell (figure 1) predicted that electric and magnetic fields propagate through space as waves. Figure 1: James C. Maxwell. After Heinrich Hertz experimentally confirmed these expectations, novel applications quickly started making use of this newly discovered world of possibilities. It began with analog wave modulation techniques in the first half of the 19th century and progressed into the use of digital modulation techniques for efficient transfer of information in the current modern era. ...

We visited Jurriaan Schmitz, professor in Semiconductor Components and head of the research group Integrated Devices and Systems (IDS). He leads a group of around 35 people working on MEMS devices, diodes, and basically anything using semiconductors. The group does research on the hardware related to these devices. Questions such as ‘which materials should you use and combine to make something?’ are commonly addressed by research within the group. With their research, the group is always looking at ways to make transistors faster, cheaper or smaller (preferably all three). ...

In February, the foundation behind the historic study collection of the faculty of EEMCS, Ampère, celibrated the 40th anniversary of the faculty’s historic collection. Over these 40 years, the collection has steadily grown to the impressively diverse collection it is today. We’ve paid the foundation a visit and are very excited to share some stories behind the historical devices present in their collection. About Ampère Martin Beusekamp is one of the volunteers helping out with maintaining and extending the historic collection. ...

Remember that time when mobile phone still had the size of a brick? In roughly 30 years’ time, mobile phones have developed to the incredibly fast and powerful smartphones of today. To make sure we can keep innovating the technology of today, we need flexible education that cannot only keep up with these advancements, but education that is one step ahead. In our common effort to tackle the challenge to deliver such a degree of flexibility, we are constantly advancing our university programmes. ...