Daily Image
03-11-2016
Retirement of Sjouke Zwier and Hans Tenkink
| Submitter: | Andre Gunst & Bob Campbell |
| Description: | Today both Sjouke and Hans celebrate their retirement. Sjouke retires after working for ASTRON for 42 years. He has been involved in the development of state-of-the-art digital systems, managing to keep up with the rapidly evolving technology for decades! During his last years he participated in the development of UniBoard and UniBoard^2, very complex boards that increased the total data throughput of a single board to unmatched levels. On a personal level, Sjouke is very social and a man of his word. He is known by many as a good storyteller, with lots of humor and bizarre anecdotes. He was also a longstanding member of the celebrated ASTRON cabaret group, where he played his various roles with zest and panache. Hans has been a valued colleague in the ASTRON/JIVE family since August 1975. At ASTRON, he has served as an observer for the 25m Dwingeloo telescope, a data-reductie medewerker in Dwingeloo, and an observer at the WSRT in Westerbork. Hans transferred to JIVE in June 1999 as an operator, and rose to his current position of senior operator in March 2008. While at JIVE, Hans has experienced the transition from the ASIC-based EVN MkIV correlator to the EVN software correlator SFXC, as well as the introduction of operational real-time e-VLBI. In the latter, the operator in the Dwingeloo basement has some control over the equipment at participating telescopes around the world! In terms of local service, Hans has been on the BHV since its creation, and is on the bestuur of the PV. Editor's note: I will use my privileged position to mention two occasions where these guys really impressed me. Sjouke is a indefatigable ice-skater, who has finished the grueling 220km Elfstedentocht more than once. He was kind enough to tow me home one afternoon on the Tjonger, when I had fizzled out after a mere 50km. Hans demonstrated his broad grasp of science by winning the local competition of the Nationale Wetenschaps Quiz, ahead of local luminaries like Jaap Bregman. |
| Copyright: | ASTRON/JIVE |
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