'When I'll return to my country, I would like to implement the research tradition, scientific knowledge, and skills I gained at BME'

 After his bachelors made in Turkey, Yahya Kara graduated on BME as an MSc mechanical engineer.  He pursued his studies on PhD level, at the Department of Polymer Technology. Interview about education quality, Budapest life, and his experiences as an international student.

'Both in MSc and PhD studies, I was able to enhance my skills with engineering courses taught by distinguished professors in the field. Balancing practical implementation and theory-based education is the key to improve the skills of engineering candidates. BME professors provide valuable learning tools that meet the highest standards in teaching a blend of laboratory, workshop, and lecture. Besides, students can take active participation in the research projects no matter the level of study. Up to now, I had the chance to participate actively in various domestic and international research projects with a multidisciplinary working group. As an MSc alumnus and current PhD fellow, I can say the candidate can either contribute high quality and internationally recognizable science work by using research infrastructures in BME.' More

What can a designer and a researcher create together? Turning a pub free of waste! Interview with Tibor Gungl and Ákos Kmetty

Ákos Kmetty (left),Tibor Gungl (right)

A popular open-air pub’s orange peel and PLA plastic glass waste were turned into a design material by Tibor Gungl, designer of UPLUX lamps and other recycled home interior equipment. His mentor was Ákos Kmetty, senior lecturer of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at BME, in a two-week internship of the Start Programme of the Hungarian Fashion and Design Agency. Interview with Ákos Kmetty, senior lecturer of BME Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Polymer Technology, and Tibor Gungl, designer.

 Why did you choose the Department of Polymer Technology at BME?

Tibor Gungl: It was a real detective job. My starting point was to upcycle waste, and I was seeking for an organisation dealing with polymers. I contacted Ákos Kmetty after 15–20 failed attempts. It is difficult to find someone in Hungary in this sector, and ask them to help me create a new material. Most of the interns of the mentoring programmes had a design perspective instead, so they had an internship at concrete designer workshops, in the furniture industry, or the Hollóházi Porcelain Manufactory.

One of the two raw materials is PLA. What features does PLA have?

Ákos Kmetty: PLA (poly-lactic-acid) is a thermoplastic material, which is also renewable resource-based, compostable, and even recyclable. The compostability of this material does not mean that it is needed to be composted at the end of its lifetime; we can recycle it by producing something new. More