WINNER . TOP-mbo’er 2025

8 questions for Dylan Evans (21)

How did your interest in aerospace begin?

Dylan: “You could say I grew up with Star Wars. And I’m still a fan. Even as a little boy, I used to say I wanted to be an inventor. My dad works at ESA, the European Space Agency. So, I was allowed to go along to all sorts of events about space travel. I’ve been hearing inspiring stories about the sector my whole life. That way, love sort of grows naturally.”

What course are you studying?

“At the Leidse Instrumentmakers School (LiS), I’m studying the Research Instrumentmaker course, which trains you in the design, prototyping and fabrication of instruments. For the optional module ‘Instrumentation in Space’, we were given the choice of making a mirror mount or developing a payload for the Stratos V rocket from DARE (Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering, a student rocket society at TU Delft, ed.). I seized the opportunity to design a satellite and brought two classmates on board for this project. In the meantime, I was experimenting with electronics and came up with the idea of building a muon detector, intended to measure cosmic radiation. Our school also has its own space team, called LiSSat, where you can design your own satellite. There, I took part in the CANSAT project.”

How did you come into contact with the NLF?

“I didn’t know about the NLF. My physics teacher told me he’d nominated me for TOP-mbo’er of the Year. I felt honoured that he had the confidence in me to nominate me on behalf of LiS. Actually, I was also a bit surprised, because I work with various people on school projects and I think any one of them would have a chance of winning this award. Most of them are so talented and motivated – I think it’s really cool what the students at LiS are doing.”

How is someone selected as a TOP-mbo student?

“For the other NLF awards, the entries are graduation or work placement projects. If you’re nominated for TOP-mbo student, you explain to the jury in an interview why you’d be the best candidate. In addition to the school projects I mentioned earlier, I created a replica of a Carbonite Freezing Chamber from the film Star Wars: Episode V – ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ for the European Space Agency’s 50th-anniversary open day, but with a twist. I did this in consultation with my father and the ESTEC Box Makers. Our plan was to 3D-scan the Dutch astronaut André Kuipers for this. Fortunately, he was willing to cooperate, and I then imported the model into 3D printing software. I managed to print the replica in two and a half days. Together with Greg from the Box Makers, I made a casing. After a lot of sanding, painting, assembling and fitting the electronics, the sculpture was finished. I think all these projects together were the reason I received the award.”

What was it like to hear your name announced as the winner during the gala evening?

“Being nominated means you’ve done something good. That alone made me happy. On the evening itself, three candidates were presented to the audience; I was the last to be called. It all happened quite quickly, but because of the tension, it felt like it took ages. When I heard my name, all that pressure just melted away. I stood on stage feeling relaxed, because recognition for what you’ve done boosts your confidence: people in the sector confirm that my contribution to the projects is special.”

Did you make any interesting contacts during the gala evening?

“I met André Kuipers a few times whilst working on the replica. I was really pleased that he still recognised me at the awards ceremony. As an astronaut, he’s obviously a big name in Dutch space travel, and as a person, he’s very approachable. I also made some new contacts that evening, although to be honest my network is already quite extensive. I even managed to find a job for a friend!”

How do you see your future in the coming years?

“First, I want to finish my studies at LiS. After that, I hope to study at a university, such as TU Delft or Imperial College London. As I was brought up bilingually and have a better command of English than Dutch, studying abroad might be the more obvious choice. Ultimately, I’d love to work at ESA, perhaps in the Astrophysics Department. There are cool people working there.”

Why do you recommend that other students enter the NLF awards too?

“Every student who has won an award has gone the extra mile with their project. Yes, it means stepping outside your comfort zone, but that opens opportunities. I’m genuinely proud of my award, and I want other students to experience that too.”