CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

5	Name: Lars Huigen Date of birth: 04-07-1988 Education: Chemical Technology Profession: still studying Function in 25 years? Project leader at an engineering consultancy Hobbies: Volleyball, spending time with friends

Which education have you followed?
I followed higher general secondary education and took my final exams in 2006. Then I started the Chemical Technology training. In the meantime I am in my third year and my study is going as planned.

Why did you choose this field?
I choose this training because I am interested in how things are made. I enjoy thinking up creative solutions to optimise or design a factory.

What is an average work day like?
At the moment I am involved in a project about algae, actually producing oil from algae. The project is very broad because we have to figure out a way of getting oil by ourselves. When we have thought of a way, we will make a concept design of a factory for the continuous production of oil from algae. On an average day I'm in the laboratory carrying out experiments and then scaling these processes up to factory size. In addition I am following subjects at college which support this project. Our project group meets every week to ensure that a good result is reached.

What makes your field so special?
Chemical Technology can be found everywhere. The most well-known example is of course in petrochemicals, processing natural oil into petrol and plastics for example and also in the foodstuff industry, such as making emulators for peanut butter and mayonnaise. Or the environment, where you could be involved in the reduction of exhaust gases or recycling waste into something useful such as re-cycling PET bottles to make fleece jumpers. You will always find something new because of this diversity.

Have you discovered anything in particular?
My most important discovery is that I am finding this course very enjoyable! In the first two years of the course the subjects appear to be separate sections and you are as yet unable see the connection. But with my work experience and this project the sections are all falling into place, and then you can see what is still missing.