The Student Challenge at the EuMW08 in Amsterdam

The European Microwave week in Amsterdam achieved bridging the gaps between researchers, even before bridging the gaps between university and industry. The Student Challenge brought to life this new spirit of the European Microwave Week. A flow of enthusiasm brought together both young and senior researchers in this experience where the European Microwave Week offered fertile ground for creation of ideas. The final output of the Student Challenge, provided as a regular poster session, had such a big attendance of delegates that the whole location was crowded.

The Student Challenge was smoothly inserted in the traditional course of the EuMW. Various moments of its preparation took place during the days of the European Microwave Week. Active involvement of its participants was scheduled in order to interfere the least with the technical sessions of the various conferences. The participants were promoted to join as many technical sessions as possible to gather information and stimulate their ideas and problem solving.

The Student Challenge gathered participants from all sides of the world, as a testimony of the worldwide dimension of the European Microwave Week. Between all of them a strong interaction was established both during the dedicated social event and in all other moments of the Student Challenge that involved all participants.

Very remarkable was that the posters that were prepared by the teams tackled social problems like: Health Care, Traffic Regulation, Total Power Consumption, Life Detection and Medicines. Showing that this new generation of EuMW participants is bringing quite new ideas and innovations to EuMW2008. Thus also challenging the traditional microwave community to keep pace with them.

The jury evaluating the technical content of the posters composed by the student was an international group of eminent experts in the various fields of the EuMW.  Their involvement and contribution to the success and high quality of the outcome of the Student Challenge was outstanding.

Mayazzurra Ruggiano; Chair Student Challenge
Frank van den Bogaart; General Chair EuMW2008