Top-level sports and science

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Category: Alumni World
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As a rower with Olympic A-status, Arnoud Greinadus has been performing at the highest level for years. His dream is to win gold at the London Olympics. When the ‘Netherlands Four’ lost in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games in Beijing, Greidanus took it as his inspiration for his PhD research at TU Delft. The probable cause was a fragment of algae that got stuck to the boat. This prompted Greidanus to search for another material or coating that would minimise the risk of things getting stuck to it. In particular the rowers in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be able to reap the fruits of his research, but so too will the shipping and aviation sectors. During the alumni symposium, Greinadus was awarded the title ‘Alumnus of the Year’ for the unique way in which he combines top-level sports and research. He received a sculpture of Prometheus, the symbol of TU Delft, and 2,500 euros. He may also spend three times that amount on a Delft research project of his choice. Greidanus decided it should go to ‘Research and Innovation in Water Sports’.