Interview Ilke Ercan
"Curiosity and questioning have always been my survival tools. Growing up, I always found refuge in books, even and especially in times of difficulty. I read everything I could get my hands on - science, history, philosophy - anything that reminded me there was a world beyond my immediate reality.
As an Associate Professor and Chair of the faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science Education Section at TU Delft, I reflect on my journey. I was the child who constantly asked inquisitive questions like "Do fish drink water?" and "Do blind people dream?" My parents appreciated my curiosity but often had no answers. That helped me realize that school was my second home - a place to explore, learn and discover. Even years later, when I moved abroad for the first time in the US, I missed the university’s library as much as I missed my home.
Ironically, I wasn’t particularly strong in physics in high school. When people hear I chose to study it, they ask "Why?" During my undergraduate years, I wasn’t very appreciative of engineers, thinking they were too pragmatic. But then I discovered the fascinating intersection of physics and electrical engineering, especially in quantum electronics and I was drawn in.
Now, my work at TU Delft brings new challenges and surprises every day. I divide my time between the Electrical Engineering BSc program and the Quantum Information Sciences and Technology MSc program. The world changes rapidly - when I first started teaching, I could use old-school TV tubes to explain scientific concepts, but today's students have never even seen those. It keeps us all on our toes, pushing us to constantly evolve our thinking and teaching.
Last year, I established the Johanna Manders Makerspace in the Electrical Engineering department named after one TU Delft's first female electrical engineering graduate in 1916. The idea came from conversations with students, where I realized that in the entire EEMCS tower not a single room was named after a woman. My efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion were honored and acknowledged by the DEWIS (Delft Women in Science) Award I received this year.
Looking back, I've been fortunate to have inspiring mentors who saw the best in me. But I've also seen the other side - women who internalized the barriers they faced and, consciously or not, passed them on to others. Now, I see the technical world evolving with more women, underrepresented groups and minorities stepping into leadership roles, fostering empowering environments. We're not just bridging disciplines; we are bridging people, creating spaces where everyone can thrive.
For anyone starting a technical career: You belong in the spaces you dare to enter. Keep showing up and keep questioning. Your presence makes a big difference."