The final session of the Thesis Lab ‘Green Skies’ - at The Field in Leiden - marked the culmination of an intensive interdisciplinary journey focused on sustainable aviation. Sixteen students from the LDE universities and InHolland university of applied sciences from eight different disciplines, collaborated with Netherlands Aerospace Center (NLR), Collins Aerospace, and the foundation AETHOS. To find solutions for reducing the environmental footprint of the aviation industry.
How can sustainable aviation be made economically viable? What innovations are most urgently needed? How to engage consumers in green initiatives? And how to avoid the trap of greenwashing? From February to June, students worked on real-world challenges, researching topics ranging from environmental assessments of airports and closed-loop supply chains of aircraft materials to the reprocessing of aircraft materials and consumer involvement. “Sustainability in aviation is a complex, systemic issue that demands transparency, cross-sector collaboration, and a stronger link between academia and industry,” said Lab student Matthew.
Leading innovation
During a panel, industry experts and students exchanged bold ideas on making aviation more sustainable. “Sustainable solutions can create new challenges,” said Daniël Kan (NLR). “It’s essential to take a holistic view.” Roelof Vos (AETHOS) highlighted the need for action from government: “Policy-driven incentives are key to making sustainable options economically viable.” Students however pushed for a mindset shift. “Companies shouldn’t wait—they need to lead innovation,” argued Julia. Izabela added:“Real change requires sacrifice, and we need to raise consumer awareness around solutions like Sustainable Aviation Fuel.”
Altogether, it was a very fruitful afternoon, which revealed a shared recognition of the industry’s urgent need for change. As Agata Zarnowska (Collins Aerospace) pointed out: “There is still a lot to do. But the students gave us some inspiration for our strategy going forwards.”
Inside the Green Skies Thesis Lab: Voices from the Students
The Green Skies Thesis Lab brought together students from diverse academic backgrounds to tackle the challenges of sustainable aviation. We spoke to three participants—Suraj, Izabela, and Matthew—about their experiences, lessons learned, and how the Lab shaped their outlook on the future.
Suraj Bhageloe (InHolland University of Applied Sciences)
Suraj really valued the hands-on support he received from the partner company during his research: “I could always approach them when I was stuck,” he said. “They were very open and even connected me with other companies and experts who could help.” With a background in Aeronautical Engineering, he liked the collaboration with the other Lab students that, for example, had a background in law, which gave him a broader view of sustainability. “It made me think differently about the issues we face in aviation,” Suraj reflected. “The lab really pushed me to think more seriously about sustainability in my future career.”
Izabela Klus (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Coming from a Global Business and Sustainability background, Izabela found the interdisciplinary approach of the Lab particularly enriching. The Lab helped her understand the technical challenges in making aviation more sustainable. “We always learn from each other,” she said. “Everyone sees the same problem from a different angle—and that’s powerful.” Izabela now feels motivated to possibly work in the aviation industry in the future, which she hadn’t considered before. “Now I know that there are many opportunities for creating a sustainable future.”
Matthew de Ruijter (TU Delft & Leiden University)
For Matthew, the Thesis Lab offered a chance to dive into a field he’s passionate about, while gaining real-world experience. “Working on actual cases was a big highlight,” he said. “It was great to hear other students’ perspectives and to collaborate on something we all cared about.” He believes the insights and connections he gained will play a big role in shaping his future career.