Insights From a Physics and Technology Trip to Holland
Recently I had the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands as one of forty students around the world who were a part of a physics and technology enrichment program. We got to stay in the Brainport region in the city of Eindhoven, which is one of Europe’s tech hubs. During my time there I opened myself up to multiple learning experiences that I had the opportunity to grow and reflect from.
I was able to learn more about my particular field of interest in quantum communications and the research going on in the subject. Thanks to the Eindhoven University of Technology and a mentor, I had the chance to meet with Professor Paul Koenraad and learn about the research going on with semiconductor nanostructures as well as the implications it will have with the way we transport information through quantum communication networks. By exposing myself to these emerging technologies, I gained insight on the various solutions we are coming up with to tackle some of the world’s problems.
The time I spent with people who were passionate about their work and driven to innovate allowed me to broaden my perspective. I learned more about myself by developing relationships with people who found their purpose in causes greater than themselves. I was lucky enough to be in an environment of enthusiastic change makers.
From this opportunity, I’ve gathered three key takeaways.
Open up to experiences. Do not limit yourself to your current situation or surroundings.
Throughout most of our lives, we spend our time insides classrooms at school to learn. Often times that involves learning about the world from our textbooks and course material but ultimately one of the best teachers is experience. The moment we can connect our knowledge to a real-life scenario we understand it.
In the past year my exposure to any sort of knowledge relating to physics or quantum communication networks was from a textbook, article, video or teacher. I was learning about different topics but passively not actively. I did not completely understand the implications of what I was learning because I did not comprehend the applications of the material.
During my stay in Holland I got to experience my learning. I had the chance to learn about nanomagnetism and spintronics while checking out the devices the university was using for their research. I had the chance to see a glimpse of the future, not by imagining it through the information I’m given about the world. Instead, I got to go out there and experience the world.
As a group, at first, we sat through lectures and after wards we were given tours to see what we learned about. For example, when we learned about solar energy at a lecture at TU/e, afterwards we had the chance to go to Solliance (a solar research company) to see how they were integrating solar cells. The best part was when we were able to apply our knowledge by building structures that worked using solar cells. Our group decided to make a carousel with moving pictures that would work using a motor. It would move the carousel when we put the UV light on the solar cells. The moving pictures would turn around depicting a story.
That willingness that came from getting to know the world better allowed me to gather more insight. I was only able to understand what I was learning after I took initiative to be involved. Therefore, be willing to experience. Whether it’s a good experience or bad experience there is always something to learn from it, you just have to be willing to seek knowledge.
Reach out. Don’t be scared of the result because what’s the worst that could happen.
During my stay in Holland, I desperately wanted to visit the Centre for Quantum Materials and Technology Eindhoven. It was recently launched at the end of June this year. Initially my drive to visit the Quantum Centre was because of the research they were doing on quantum nanophotonics but I later got to know about the development of nanostructures and quantum materials specifically that was going on at the Centre. I decided to email my contacts in Holland expressing my interest to visit TU/e’s new Centre before my trip to Europe. They later replied back saying that it would not be possible for me to visit the labs.
I was a bit disappointed hearing that I would not be able to visit but I remember wanting to open myself up to that experience. I thought to myself that there just had to be a way. Then, on my first day at the university (TU/e), before starting the day there, we were given an introduction on behalf of the university. After the introduction there was a small break for snacks. At that moment, I saw one of the faculty members of the university named Marjan, who presented during the introduction. I wanted to go approach her, but I kept doubting myself. Then I thought to myself, “what’s the worst that could happen?”
As everyone was getting their snacks, I went up to Marjan and told her about my interest on the research going on in the quantum department and I asked whether it would be a possibility for me to visit the university’s Centre for Quantum Materials and Technology. She told me that she knows one of the researchers, Professor Paul Koenraad, at the Centre and that I should send him an email expressing my interest. Coincidentally, he happened to be the same professor that was looking into nanostructures and quantum materials.
The moment I got back to the hotel room, I sent him an email. The next day I got a reply saying that I’d be able to meet with the professor and visit the department as well.
If I did not try to reach out multiple times and ask for what I wanted, I would have never been able to have this once in a lifetime opportunity to meet with the professor and get a tour of the department. All I had to do was get over the first step of being uncertain of the result. I had to trust that everything would work out for the best.
Remember, there are 7.2 billion people in the world.
From a very young age, I remember being extremely shy. I would find it hard to approach people and I would try my best to avoid them. It wasn’t until recently that I started opening up more. In the past few years I have been trying to break out of my shell by trying to find people who share similar interests as me.
During my week in Holland, I’ve met some talented and passionate individuals who constantly inspire me. These are also people that I felt like I could connect with on a deeper level. I’ve met people with whom I’d solve math problems for fun with and people with whom I could talk to for hours on nanotechnology and quantum computing.
Apart from connecting with these individuals around the world on physics and technology, I got to learn about their cultures and values. We would all dance and sing to the same music on our bus rides from the university to the various companies we visited. All of us would struggle together when we were given a task to solve during the university lectures or company visits.
After meeting these people from around the world I learned that the world is so much bigger than our daily interactions with it. There is so much out there waiting for us to discover in order for us to reach our full potential. It is our job to go out and explore. You never know, there might be someone across the world that might be more similar to you than you think.
The highlight of the trip was the various connections I got to make with people around the world. Not only did I get to interact with professionals within the field but I got to meet students from multiple cultures. I found mentors and friends whom inspire me to keep growing. Yet, most importantly I’ve learned that at the end of the day, it’s the connection you make with people you were lucky enough to meet that help you improve and develop.
