Jilt Sietsma, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (3mE) of the Technical University Delft was made a Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion in Rijswijk.
In his research, Sietsma focuses on understanding the structure and properties of metals. He uses experimental and theoretical approaches to investigate the evolution of the microstructure of metals as a function of time, temperature and deformation. In doing so, he manages to seamlessly connect curiosity-driven research with societal and industrial needs. This not only results in many new insights and scientific publications in the field of materials science, but leads to important innovations of industrial production processes. Sietsma is a connector, who knows how to build bridges between education, research, industry, science and society.