For the students, the day started in the snow-covered Evoluon with a lecture by Andres Delhaas from Next Nature, the organization that also organizes the exhibitions in the building. He posed the question: what is nature and what is technology? As it turned out, the answer was not as simple as it seems. For example, would the Trudo Tower on Stijp-S, which is covered with trees, fall under technology or nature? And what about an anthill? Or apples? There was no clear consensus among the audience.

Delhaas believes that understanding nature and technology better could save the world. The fact that his philosophical talk got students thinking was evident from the many animated discussions that broke out in the hall during the short break that followed. And so, the goal of this outing to the Evoluon – to inspire students – was already largely achieved.

Text continues below the video.

What added to the success was a “rocket launch” outside in front of the building as part of Leo Pel’s mechanics lecture. A bottle of water was launched into the sky twice, reaching almost above the building. Pel then explained in his lecture which forces and equations were involved. At the end of his lecture, he reminded the students that they too can join a student team or take the initiative to set something up themselves.

Assistant professor Hjalmar Mulders, who organized the visit to the Evoluon, hopes the lectures made the students aware of their societal responsibility. At the same time, he sees it as an opportunity for the relatively new TU/e students to explore a unique building in the city. And, he points out after the bottle of water has landed on the snowy grass after the launch: “What better place to launch a rocket than in front of a UFO? Nowhere, right?”