0EM110 - Research Methodology for the Innovation Sciences

The course addresses 3 kinds of choices that Innovation Sciences researchers make, implicitly or explicitly, when creating new knowledge: (1) the type of knowledge they want to produce; (2) the research design needed to produce that knowledge; (3) concrete research tools for data collection, analysis, interpretation, and validation.

0EM170 - Global Connections

This course illustrates how seemingly local transformations and innovations have a global dimension that often remains hidden. To fully understand localised technological developments, it is essential to understand how they are intertwined with global developments and their social contexts. Global connections are key in this process and the course focus on 2 different kinds: material-based connections like information, communication & transportation; and the institutional & human relations in knowledge systems.

0LM150 - Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility

The course is divided into two parts: in the first part there is a clarification about the hazards to which business ethics is a response and the idea of conscience in relation to corporate culture. Students will examine the role of moral reflection (conscience) in the lives of everyone as individuals and the corresponding role it plays in the culture of an organisation; the second part focuses on the application of the conceptual foundations of the first part.

3MP110 - Solar Cells

This course focus on properties of light, inorganic & polymer semiconductors, and p-n junctions. The principles of photovoltaic energy conversion are discussed based on the case study of crystalline silicon solar cell from which is derived a mathematical model of the current-voltage characteristics for a diode in dark and under illumination conditions. Students will be able to assess several solar cell generations in terms of cost reduction, efficiency increase and production technologies.

4AT020 - Clean Engines and Future Fuels

The course focus on all relevant processes in an internal combustion engine with particular focus on physical and chemical fuel properties. Student will follow a ‘reverse engineering’ approach to ‘design’ a new fuel given certain demands. Also, new combustion concepts will be introduced based on their (dis)advantages and operational limits. An outlook regarding next generation after-treatment systems and possible combination with advanced combustion concepts will be given.

4GA50 - Solar heat system

In this course students will design & realize a small scale Solar Heat Storage System. For the optimisation of the system, a (quasi-) 1D model of a solar collector and associated storage vessel will be developed, according with different heat transfer mechanisms: conductivity, for the determination of an ideal insulation material and thickness; convection, internal convection tube and natural convection; radiation, absorption of radiant heat in the absorber; and heating capacity.

5LEB0 - Environment and power engineering

The course comprises the composition of an essay regarding environmental aspects of power engineering and solutions of emerging technologies such as alternative renewable energy; depletion of resources for technology; energy storage, E&PE challenges; among others. The essay should imply a grand, state of the art overview of the subject area obtained from scientific literature, data acquisition and data interaction, adding a personal signature.

7LS3M0 - Sustainable buildings

This course addresses the integral sustainability of buildings. On the building material aspect, the raw materials, way of production, its properties, the building products and the entire construction chain are considered. Also, attention is paid to sustainable land use, water and energy systems. Student will be able to assess buildings regarding their sustainability and design sustainable buildings based on the functional requirements and the 4 themes: energy, materials, water and space.

DCM130 - Design for Social Innovation

The course aims to get students acquainted with the transformation economy that focus on addressing larger societal challenges, boosts social innovation and transformative practices. Also, students will learn 1st, 2nd and 3rd person perspectives, embodied theories, micro-meso-macro lenses, aesthetics of transformation and situated practices. The communication of findings will be through a public exhibition, a video and infographics, to stimulate debate with people from various backgrounds.