Vocational students follow in the footsteps of old water masters
On September 22 and 23,Noorderzijlvest Water Authority the Blauwe Lijn Foundation, organises a hackathon for the second time for technical vocational students from Groningen. More than fifty young people from three technical vocational programs at Alfa College Groningen are participating in this two-day event to develop new solutions for water and climate issues. The event is being held in collaboration with Landgoed DeCamping ’t Zandt, a social experience center where the young people will spend the night and receive guidance.
Hackathon
The two-day event is a so-called hackathon, an event in which teams of participants work together non-stop on assignments over a short period of time. As an added bonus, through a guided tour, an overnight stay in tents, and an excursion across the mudflats, the students experience what it feels like to stand with their feet in the mud. These experiences give the students a more complete picture of water-related issues, enabling them to solve the assignments in their own way.
Inspire and challenge
The goal of the hackathon is to let students contribute to addressing future water challenges. In doing so, they are inspired by the knowledge of the water masters of the past. The old plans of Groningen native Johan van Veen, the visionary behind the Delta Works and Eemshaven, are still highly relevant today! This year, Groningen Seaports, the Province of Groningen, the dike workers from Heijmans, and Noorderpoort Groningen are supporting the event.
Past and Future
Experts from the Blauwe Lijn Foundation show the students how farmers from the Hogeland region and water engineers like Johan van Veen were pioneers in Groningen. Noorderzijlvest Water Authority young technical professionals a clearer sense of their role in the present and an exciting glimpse into the future of the water sector. To that end, they visit, for example, the Lauwersmeerdijk dike reinforcement project in Lauwersoog and engage in dialogue with the youth climate ambassadors of Youth for Climate Adaptation (YFCA).
Right out of the box
At the De Camping ’t Zandt estate, the students will tackle two specific assignments. The first assignment on the first day focuses on designing a dyke that will still hold up in 2080. In doing so, the students must take into account the still-uncertain sea-level rise and current subsidence. The second day is dedicated to sustainable flood defence—meaning minimal CO2 impact and room for sound ecological development. The ideas will be presented at the conclusion of the hackathon at the Nijlicht venue of Groningen Seaports.