European Wind Energy Convention

A couple of weeks ago, four classmates and I flew to Brussels, Belgium, to participate in the annual convention of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). Throughout the convention, there were wind energy presentations in everything from turbine rotor aerodynamics to policy and financing of large wind energy projects. There was also a large exhibit hall, where hundreds of companies, whose business relates directly to European wind energy, had booths to introduce their products/services. But the main reason I went to the convention was to participate in the job fair with prospective employers, since all of us in my program need to find a 5-6 month internship with a wind energy company, from mid-June through mid-December of this year.
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In addition to the convention, this was a nice opportunity to discover Brussels – someplace I’d never been before. Belgium is “divided” into several language/cultural regions: Wallonia (French), Flanders (Flemish/Dutch), and a small German part. Although Brussels lies in the Flanders region… it’s primarily a French-speaking city – an island, so to speak – due to historical and cultural elements that I didn’t delve into thoroughly. Throughout the city, you can hear French and Dutch being spoken, but French is slightly more common.
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Here are some photos from our trip:
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Convention center where exhibition took place
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Me and a “wind energy mascot” (companies will do just about anything to get people to stop by their booth and take note of their products/services)
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Pretty monument at sunset
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Sunset view along the canal
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Nifty wooden sculpture
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The (in)famous “Mannekin Pis”
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“La Grande Place”
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Another “Grande Place” view, by night
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Interesting building art
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Carlos, me, & Emma (from my program), along with Mario & Georgios (Greek guys we met at our hostel) drinking several of the 2000+ beers available at the Brussels bar, "Delirium"