Hester Bijl

Name

Prof. Hester Bijl

Position

Professor of Computational Fluid Dynamics, head of the Department of Aerodynamics, Wind Energy and Flight Performance and Propulsion, head of the Delft Energy Initiative and other positions, including membership in the Advisory Board of the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN).

Private life

‘I live with my partner and two sons, aged 8 and 9 years. I like to spend my free time with the children. I love playing games! Salsa dancing is another passion of mine. Unfortunately, I usually don’t have time for it. I do read a lot, preferably English literature. After all, I did study English Language and Literature at Leiden University, in addition to my studies in Applied Mathematics at TU Delft. I also enjoy a night out at the cinema with my partner. In the summer holidays, we usually go camping in France, because the weather is always so nice there.’

Career high point

‘There have been several. I was thrilled with the Vidi grant that I received from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) in 2005. The grant allowed me to conduct research on more precise calculation models for predicting forces on the blades of wind turbines. Another event that I consider truly special was my 2005 appointment to the board of the Young Academy, which was established by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). And, of course, my 2006 appointment as the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Professor of Aerodynamics. With this appointment, I became the first female professor in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.’

Greatest challenge

‘Packing everything I do into 24 hours. I’m always short on time. And with regard to my work, I’d have to say my group’s research, which is which is aimed at developing better insight into the flow of air around aircraft wings and wind turbines. My colleagues take the measurements, and I perform the mathematical calculations. We try to minimise the differences between them. The ultimate challenge is to combine their measurements and my mathematical calculations in a single simulation, instead of comparing the final results with each other. That’s a big step. After all, this field has always had the measurement people on one side and the calculation people on the other. We are trying to find some common ground in order to improve the reliability of our predictions. One unique feature here is that we have both brilliant calculation people and brilliant measurement people, in addition to our superior methods and research facilities. We’re actually sitting on a gold mine; now we just have to fit the pieces together.’

Another challenge involves the future of aviation: where can we find the energy today that we will need in order to continue flying in the next 50-100 years? This is an urgent, but intriguing question. One advantage is that the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft is the largest of its kind in the world. We are thus well equipped to think about this problem.’

Most enjoyable aspect of work

‘The variation. For example, when I teach, I work with clever, enthusiastic young people who are particularly eager to learn. My research work offers me the opportunity to increase my capacity to understand, together with a team of colleagues, PhD students and other people. The writing that I’m now increasingly doing is becoming more and more enjoyable. As the head of the department and as the chair of the Delft Energy Initiative, I have the chance to think about the direction in which we are headed and how we can best help to develop people further. Finally, I enjoy the international aspect of my work – the collaboration with people all over the globe, the opportunity to speak on international conferences and to visit symposiums. In a nutshell, my various capacities offer me an interesting mix of activities’.

Why Delft?

‘Delft offers complex yet worthwhile problems to be solved. We don’t do research just for the sake of doing research; we do research in order to contribute to society. I truly enjoy puzzling about them, even if it does take a lot of time! What I really like is that we have a first-rate infrastructure and good people who like to collaborate. Moreover, the people here are highly motivated. We don’t mind staying up until 1:00 in the morning e-mailing each other clever thoughts about Delft and advancing the students and research. The Delft style is also pleasant. It’s very direct; we just get right to the point. Another unique characteristic of Delft has to do with the type of student. They are both clever and enterprising. They are always developing new initiatives. Take the Energy Club: this group offers a particularly inspiring and exciting atmosphere. First-year students are another example. I don’t see them in my lecture hall until they’ve completed six months of their studies. They are full of ideas, and they ask me for permission to try them out. I like how they think their ideas through on their own, as well as their desire to achieve. There is absolutely no culture of mediocrity. They are motivated to do well on tests, but they are motivated in other contexts as well.’

Best character trait

‘I am focused on results; I don’t let myself get distracted from my goal. I also have a positive attitude, and I’m able to inspire people and and generate enthusiasm. I have a lot of energy; I’m really glad about that’.

Worst character trait

‘I like a lot of things, so I say “Yes” a lot. I tend to be over-optimistic about how much time things are going to take, and this gets me into trouble sometimes. I also tend to get really excited about too many things.’

Key issues on the political agenda

‘Education. Much more than is currently the case, we need to create a climate in which we can realise the maximum potential from everyone, at every level. Investing in education is essential to the future of our country. A second issue for me has to do with research: for years, technology has been treated like an afterthought, although the situation is gradually starting to improve. People are referred to as having ‘only’ a degree in engineering. At the same time, people don’t seem to realise that we desperately need engineers in order to solve such global issues as climate change. Engineers thus deserve much more appreciation!’

Source of inspiration

‘Several people, actually. My dissertation supervisor, Piet Wesseling, because I admire the way in which he treated the material. In addition, my grandmother. She worked until the age of 65; she’s done a lot of exciting things, and she is really nice on top of that. And finally, Rector Magnificus Karel Luyben, for his inspiring vision on governing a university.’

Personal philosophy

‘Try to get as much out of your life as possible.’