Sterre Van der Wal ‘20 is a recent TU Delft graduate with a Bachelor’s in Applied Physics. As the strategist for the Brunel Solar Team, Sterre is at the forefront of sustainable innovation, helping to design and race solar cars in global competitions. In Sterre’s time at ASH, she explored a diverse range of subjects from physics to psychology, which laid the foundation for her current success. Now, she’s eager to inspire others by sharing her journey and the impact of her work on sustainability.

 

 

Last year I finished my Bachelors in Applied Physics at TU Delft. I’m currently working full-time on a student team called Brunel Solar Team, where we promote sustainability through innovation. We’re now building a solar car and competing in either the World Bridgestone Solar Challenge or the Sasol Solar Challenge. The Brunel Solar Team has been competing since 2001 and has won almost every year. Each year, a new team is selected and this year I am the team’s strategist. I work on providing the best race strategy based on models and simulations for the energy usage of our car. I would love to bring a solar car to ASH and share my story to inspire other students as well!

 

 

ASH offered a wide variety of classes and topics to study, which allowed me to fully customize my academic journey. I was able to choose physics and math at a high level, and additionally psychology for a greater understanding of the mind and behavior. With this background, I was able to study Applied Physics whilst settling in a new city and making friendships.

 

 

One memorable event that stands out to me is graduation. Even though this could be the case for everyone, my graduation was during the start of Corona, where at the time, restrictions were in place, and great social gatherings were prohibited. Despite these challenges, it was still an amazing celebration as we found creative ways to mark this important milestone while adhering to safety protocols.

 

 

One of the most valuable aspects of my time at ASH was the flexible learning opportunities it provided, particularly the Advanced Placement (AP) English classes. As a student from a Dutch family, immersing myself in these English AP lessons greatly enhanced my literacy skills. Through rigorous coursework and engaging discussions, I deepened my understanding of literature and critical analysis. This experience equipped me with invaluable communication and analytical abilities that continue to benefit me today.

 

Photo credits: Hans-Peter van Velthoven; TU Delft.