Arthur Van Geersdaele 🗣️

e-Nable phoenix hand prosthesis

Winter 2025

I was an active member of the Makilab, an open-to-all fablab hosting hundreds of projects. My role was to help people to concretize their ideas and designs, and to use the machines (3D printers, heat-press, laser-cutters, etc.). In the mean time, I had the opportunity to use the resources of the Makilab to work on the e-Nable phoenix hand v2.

Since I already volunteer in other associations, I decided to not engage officially to the e-Nable community, but I still built a test-hand. It allowed to understand the pros and cons of 3D printed PLA prosthesis, and the main challenges associated: communication, dimensionning and optimization. Later, I presented my work and conclusions to multiple other researchers and students during a workshop at Open-hub, and encouraged my audience to take the challenge too.

AAOS Convention

Winter 2025

I was invited by my research partner, 3D-Side, to attend the 2025 Convention of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). This event provided a valuable opportunity to engage with leading experts and cutting-edge companies in the orthopaedic surgical field.

The convention spanned five days, during which I presented my research alongside 3D-Side's developments. I also took the opportunity to explore the entire exhibition, discovering new surgical practices, emerging technologies, and innovative materials relevant to my ongoing work.

In the evenings, I had the chance to engage with 3D-Side's management team, gaining key insights into healthcare company operations, strategic management, and international market development.

To minimize expenses from my research funding, I opted to stay at the Gaslamp Hostel. This choice allowed me to meet both locals and fellow travelers, providing a rich cultural experience and a deeper understanding of Southern U.S. culture.

JnJ booth at AAOS 2025, San Diego, California. Author: Arthur VG DG.

Preterm Medical Device 3D printing

Spring 2024

I offered my 3D printing skills to prototype a future preterm medical device. This device, not official yet, aims to help the nurses to place catheters in premature babies, and to clean the zone around when necessary. Not picture can be shown due to the confidentiality of the project.

Technology used was the Form 3B and Elastic 50A resin. The main challenges where:
  - Delicate features preservation during post-processing of the fragile non-fully-cured material;
  - The proper full-curing of the printing material in case of complex geometrical features;
  - Optimal supporisation for best surface finish whitout affecting functionnalities of the device.

ITECO, « here or elsewhere, what to do? »

Summer 2023

The training course “Here and elsewhere, what can we do?” offered by ITECO is designed to help participants find their way in the fields of cooperation and social action, both locally and internationally.

The training aims to give participants a better understanding of the political, social, economic, and cultural realities of societies in the North and South. It also seeks to develop skills to guide their commitment to solidarity, whether locally or abroad.

The training is recognized for its pedagogy and content by international solidarity associations. It includes courses on economic and social issues, testimonies, small group debates, and exchanges with field stakeholders. The training is structured around four pillars that helped us to build a "compass" to guide my future commitments.

Today, I still have great connections with many of the international people I met during this 5 days experience. We exchanged cultures, habits, stories and many more. I miss that every year.

ITECO: "Ici ou ailleurs, que faire ?", July 2023. Author: Shafik.

Mzumbe Hospital Internship

Summer 2023

I desired to enter the international life with a concrete project. I discovered AIESEC, a student association that allows people to go abroad and to enter local projects. To be fair, I had a bad experience with AIESECers. They had no intention to introduce the volunteers to the locals or the culture, and the project they promised me was not existing. It was voluntourism-centered, and it is hard to not be part of this reality when coming by its own, even unintentionally.

I met tree other volunteers at Dar El Salam before leaving alone to Mzumbe, where the hospital I was supposed to work was located. Once in Mzumbe, I quickly understood that no one was aware of my arrival and that there was no project or people willing to welcome me. I went to the hospital, introduced myself and explained my situation. There, I met Luckymay and Jaff, two 40 years-old biotechnicians of the clinical-laboratory. They were the only ones able to speak english, and they teached me their habits, Swahili, how to negociate. They also introduced me to their friends and their city: Morogoro (1h bus away from Mzumbe).

The village I was living in was very small, with very few people of my age. Having only Luckymay and Jaff to talk to, and no reliable internet connection, with no real objectives, loneliness hit me hard. I had great interactions with locals too, but I was not used to be alone. I learned.

Everyday in Mzumbe, I used to wake up at 6:00am, same time as the locals. Then I would leave to the hospital to meet Luckymay or Jaff. We stayed there all day long, doing blood and urine analysis, malaria tests, vaccines, cleaning their old devices, etc. They teached me how to help them. There, I discovered a lot of management issues, mostly due to the lack of ressources and the amount of simply-copied European rules. Still, I was there to immerge and discover.

During the weekends, I eventually went back to Dar El Salam (5 hours bus) to spend time with the other internationals and exchange our experiences and feelings.

In conclusion, I loved this experience. I loved the challenges, exchanges, and the differing values. It led me to redefine my understanding of humanity and what constitutes friends and family. I will come back, but this time in a manner that allows me to apply my skills for the better.

My friend Jaff, July 2023. Author: Arthur VG DG.

Mzumbe, Morogoro, Tanzania - Mainland. Author: Arthur VG DG.

Sign Language lectures

2022-2023

I followed the LSIGN1101 course, at UCLouvain, given by Mrs. Mouyabed Fatima. I was initially motivated by the disabled children I care about during my summer camps since they often use Sign Language to communicate.

The course is taught exclusively in person and in Sign Language. Thus, from the very beginning of their learning, students will evolve in LSFB. Indeed, as the course is taught exclusively in LSFB, students will have to learn to listen differently and will very quickly be required to practice LSFB in order to interact with both the teacher and their classmates. The teacher, who is deaf, provides explanations in LSFB and, occasionally, in written French. In addition to the courses, students are encouraged to continue learning LSFB and deaf culture through activities organized in Louvain-la-Neuve and throughout French-speaking Belgium. For example, conversation tables with native LSFB speakers and conferences will be organized by KAP-Signes throughout the academic year. Learners are strongly encouraged to participate in these activities in particular, but also in any activity that exposes them to the concrete reality of the deaf world: mastery of a language cannot be achieved without regular practice.

More than new words, this knowledge allowed me to meet new friends and to improve my communication skills under many levels.

Ballet Dancing

Started 3yrs ago

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Scouting

From 2007 to 2020

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Living in a big family

Started 25yrs ago

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