"Find Your Thesis" connected students with real industry challenges

More than 30 students joined "Find Your Thesis" at the University of Stavanger, an event organised in collaboration between Energy Transition Norway and ETN Young Professionals Board.

Finding the right master’s thesis topic can be challenging. At the same time, companies across the energy industry are working on technological, commercial and societal questions that could benefit from new perspectives and academic insight.

On Monday, 14th of September, more than 30 students gathered at the University of Stavanger to hear from selected ETN member companies, learn about their technologies and explore real-life challenges that could form the basis for a master’s thesis.

The students represented a broad range of academic backgrounds, including Sustainability Studies, Marine and Offshore Technology, Data Science, Business Administration and Applied Finance, City and Regional Planning, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Energy, Reservoir and Earth Science.

‍From industry challenges to potential thesis topics

The participating companies represented several different areas of the energy transition, giving students a broad range of potential topics to explore.

SEID, represented by Frode Kleveland Vik, presented potential thesis topics related to industrial climate technology. These included methane slip from LNG and dual-fuel engines, hydrogen production through methane pyrolysis, onboard carbon capture and treatment of industrial odour and VOC emissions. The proposed projects are linked to ongoing industrial and R&D activities, giving students the opportunity to work on challenges with direct relevance to industry.

Norsk Kjernekraft,represented by Øyvind Aas-Hansen, highlighted how nuclear power creates potential thesis topics across a wide range of disciplines. Suggested areas included energy and industrial technology, economics, finance, materials, emergency preparedness and sustainability, as well as questions related to which SMR technologies could be suitable for different types of Norwegian industry.

Havkraft, represented by Knut Holtan, introduced students to wave power and the development of the company’s SPAR-type wave energy converter. Their proposed thesis topics ranged from mooring systems and structural design to material selection, fatigue analysis and social acceptance of offshore renewable energy.

GOBY, represented by Morten J. Lyssand,presented the Goby® Autonomous Wave Charger, a wave-powered platform designed to provide renewable power to offshore and subsea equipment where conventional infrastructure is unavailable. The technology can support applications such as sensors, monitoring systems and autonomous subsea operations.

Creating value for both students and companies

The purpose of Find Your Thesis is not only to help students find an interesting topic. It also gives ETN member companies an opportunity to meet students who can bring new knowledge and fresh perspectives to challenges they are currently working on.

Following the presentations, the students had the opportunity to meet the companies directly over pizza, ask questions and discuss possible thesis projects in more detail.

“Several students came up afterwards and told us that they had connected with the companies. That is exactly what we hoped to achieve” - says Kristina Smolaniukova, Chair of ETN Young Professionals Board.

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A meeting place between students and industry

This was the second time ETN Young Professionals Board has organised "Find Your Thesis", and feedback from both students and participating companies has been very positive.

‍We wish all the students the very best of luck with their master’s theses, and look forward to the next Find Your Thesis event.

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Want to know more about ETN Young Professionals Board? Contact hege.e.anglevik@energycluster.no to get more information on how to get involved.

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