In short
- Solar Team Twente wants to share knowledge and innovations with newer generations
- Primary school students become acquainted with technology and sustainability through an excursion at Solar Team Twente
Global Goal
During the two-day excursion, the students get acquainted with innovation, sustainability and the car of the future. Sharing knowledge with the future RED Engineers is important, according to team manager Annelies Dekker. “We welcome the attention being paid to innovation and sustainability in schools and are therefore happy to contribute. Besides, it’s nice to see the kids’ excitement.”
“At school, the students participate in a project about discovery and invention, in which they design the car of the future. An excursion is an excellent way to inspire students for their projects. Solar Team Twente was our go-to location as they truly build the car of the future,” says primary school teacher Petra from the Kardinaal Alfrinkschool. For Solar Team Twente this was the first of many more excursions to come. Excursions are excellent ways to share knowledge with the younger generation and to make them excited for technology and sustainability. This way, students realise the possibilities in the high-tech Twente region.
The kids go through all the steps in the process of building the solar car together with the team members. That includes all steps between sketching a solar car to testing the car in the test stage. Rob Kräwinkel, an electrical engineer at Solar Team Twente, takes the students on a tour of the RED Shift (the 2017 solar car). “The children love seeing our solar car in real life,” he says. “It is interesting to explain technical components such as the battery, the engine and the steering system to another generation. Students become excited, making it even more fun for us to transfer our knowledge to other generations. Perhaps we have even met future team members!”
Solar Team Twente now offers an excursion package for primary schools. If you are interested, contact onderwijs@solarteam.nl or bezoek de website.
On October 13, 2019, Solar Team Twente will be at the starting line of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the most prestigious race for solar cars. The team will drive their car 3000 km right through the Australian outback, with more than 50 other international participants. The race has three classes. Solar Team Twente is participating in the Challenger Class, the Formula 1 class for solar cars.
Solar Team Twente consists of 19 students from the Saxion University of Applied Sciences and the University of Twente. In addition to the students, a strong network of innovative partners is an integral part of the team. Top sport is practised together, which is exactly what the team does on its way to building the fastest solar car in the world. By participating in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the team, of course, hopes to win but also aims to create attention for the possibilities of solar energy.