TopDutch solar team is recruiting RUG students for 2021
Last year, the team only had one RUG student: Friso Resink. The third-year student of engineering physics served as a strategist for the northern solar team; he made sure the solar car’s energy was used in the most optimal way.
The other students hailed from the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the Noorderpoort college, and the Friesland college. ‘We want a more equal distribution’, says Resink.
The students don’t necessarily have to study anything technical. The team is also looking for media or business studies students. ‘They could act as press contact, focus on logistics, finances, or the contact with project partners like Fokker.’
Full-time
He’d advise the new batch of students to use the project to write their thesis on. Last year, he had already picked a different topic. ‘That was my greatest mistake.’ Anyone on the solar team is expected to do it full time.
‘We’re trying to get the university to see it as a year of board work, so the students can have their tuition fees reimbursed. But we’re still working on that’, says Resink.
Hardy
What is expected of the new participants? You have to be a team player, says Resink, because you’ll end up being friends. ‘You have to be ambitious, adventurous, and hardy.’
Don’t expect the trip to be a vacation, though. ‘It’s a year of really hard work, with its ups and downs. Australia isn’t easy, either. There are times when you’ll get little sleep and it can be really stressful to get the car ready on time.’
You can sign up for the TopDutch Solar Racing team until March 22, through become@solarracing.nl.