ETH News

Researcher, lecturer, Executive Board member, and the first global ambassador for ETH: Gerhard Schmitt wore many hats during his time at ETH. Schmitt has now retired from his post of Professor of Information Architecture. Here we take a look back at his eventful career.

The latest university ranking from Times Higher Education (THE) puts ETH Zurich at 14th place in a worldwide comparison. It thus retains its position as the best university in Switzerland. The University of Oxford remains the world leader.

ETH Zurich held its 6th place in the new QS World University Ranking. According to QS, it remains the top-ranked university in continental Europe confirming its position among the leading universities worldwide.

The winners of the Alfred Escher Prize 2020 are Julia Gschwind and Sébastien Delsad. This year ETH Zurich awarded the Escher prize for its second time, as one of the special prizes in the 54th national competition “Swiss Youth in Science”.

The ETH Executive Board has passed a three-stage plan for resuming normal operations in the areas of research, teaching and administration by the end of 2020. It is important that every step of the process follows the government’s guidance, ETH President Joël Mesot emphasises. The health and well-being of staff and students continue to be the top priority.

The expected surge in coronavirus patients is pushing Swiss hospitals to the very limits of their capacity. Equipment, consumables and other resources are desperately needed. Researchers right across Switzerland can provide valuable support through pooled resources. The ETH Domain has set up a dedicated platform “Academic Resources for COVID” to coordinate their efforts.

The uncertainty created by the coronavirus continues to build. What precautions are ETH taking? In this interview, Ulrich Weidmann, Vice President for Infrastructure and Personnel Development discusses the current situation.

Defence Minister Viola Amherd and ETH President Joël Mesot have opened a laboratory for the national Cyber Defence Campus at ETH Zurich. This is the final element in a project connecting three locations and bringing together the Swiss federal government, universities and industry in a joint effort to tackle the growing threat emerging from cyberspace.

Gerd Folkers was the first head of Critical Thinking ETH (CTETH) and left an indelible mark on the initiative. After retiring from his professorship last year, he has now handed over leadership of CTETH to the next generation. As one of ETH’s most multifaceted intellectuals, Folkers could always be counted on to hold up a mirror to the scientific community.

In the second round of ETH+, the Executive Board’s funding instrument for new research ideas and exchange between disciplines and departments, five new initiatives were selected. These address a range of topics, from living materials to quantum science.

The current situation is paradise for computer criminals, said entrepreneur and cybersecurity pioneer Eugene Kaspersky in his ETH Global Lecture. That’s why IT security needs to be built directly into systems. Kaspersky is building a centre in Zurich to promote knowledge sharing.

On the recommendation of ETH President Joël Mesot, the ETH Board appointed several new ETH professors and conferred the title of ETH professor on two researchers during its meeting on 22 and 23 May 2019. All the new appointments consciously connect their subject expertise with other disciplines.

After completing a new round of capital investment on Thursday, the ETH spin-off GetYourGuide has now reached an estimated value of two billion Swiss francs. The travel guide platform is the university’s first spin-off to gain the celebrated status of a unicorn.

The New England Chapter (NEC) of the ETH Alumni Association is an outpost of the university in the midst of one of the world’s most vibrant hubs of innovation. Alumni involvement benefits the tech industry on the US East Coast as well as ETH Zurich itself.

Joël Mesot, who became the university’s new president on the first of January, says he is starting the job “with enormous enthusiasm for ETH and excitement about the new challenge”.

Gerhard Schmitt, ETH Professor of Information Architecture, was instrumental in the development of ETH’s international network – both as founding director of the ETH hub in Singapore and as ETH’s first head of international relations. After handing over this role to Gisbert Schneider, Schmitt is now heading up the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) once again.

By replacing the CTI and launching the Innosuisse funding agency on 1 January 2018, the federal government intends to give an additional boost to innovation in Switzerland. As one of the 21 members of the Innovation Council, the ETH Chemistry Professor Christophe Copéret is closely involved.

The ETH Faculty Retreat in Lucerne was the perfect platform for an intense discussion between the Executive Board and professors about ETH Zurich’s future direction. The focus was above all on debating the Executive Board’s strategic proposal to substantially increase the number of professorships in coming years.

In a public speech during his visit to ETH, Defence Minister Guy Parmelin emphasised the importance of establishing a unit to defend against attacks from cyberspace. To achieve this, the Federal Council is counting on the support of ETH and, above all, of its graduates.

In the ETH domain, tuition fees are to be increased by 500 Swiss francs per year. After the increase, ETH Zurich's tuition fees are roughly on a par with those of other Swiss universities. Definitive decision on this proposal will be made in March 2018.

The Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) in Singapore tackles concrete problems that will only become a reality in temperate climate zones such as Switzerland in the future. According to Peter Edwards, the outgoing director of the ETH hub in Asia, and Gerhard Schmitt, who is set to take over this post once again, this opens up opportunities to use expert knowledge to tackle challenges in metropolitan areas.

“Naturalness” is a construct – but according to a new study from the ETH Consumer Behavior group, a product’s success on the food market is primarily defined by whether or not consumers perceive it as natural.

The Helmut Horten Foundation has supported Zurich’s medical hub for many years. Now, a new donation to ETH will enable the strengthening of the Zurich-Ticino “health axis”.

Both science and Swiss businesses are benefiting from the ETH science hub in Singapore. The newly founded Switzerland Technology Impact Platform (STIP) is helping Swiss SMEs to gain a foothold in Asia. For Remo Burkhard, Managing Director of the Singapore-ETH Centre, STIP offers an opportunity to link research with practice, which is in everybody’s interests.

ETH’s sixth annual togETHer staff party was held on Friday, 26^th August. It was also a very special occasion for Lorenz Hurni, Professor of Cartography, who was presented with the Golden Tricycle award in recognition of his skill in fostering an optimum balance between work and family life. Arik Jung, President of the Academic Association of Scientific Staff at the ETH Zurich (AVETH), presented him with the award.

As vice-president of human resources and infrastructure, Roman Boutellier has played a defining role in ETH Zurich’s robust development. Now he is ready to retire, and ETH professor Ulrich Weidmann has been tapped to follow in his footsteps.

On Thursday 8 May 2014, the Professors’ Conference at ETH Zurich nominated Sarah Springman, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, to succeed Lino Guzzella as Rector. Ralph Eichler, President of ETH Zurich, supports the wishes of the professors and the ETH Board will now come to a decision on the matter.

In the context of the referenda on immigration, leading proponents of Switzerland as a centre for knowledge are calling for the borders to remain open for research and education.

This year’s Polyball features New York – the city that never sleeps. Find a slice of the Big Apple around the Polyterrasse: an ice rink, reminiscent of the famous Rockefeller Center Ice Rink, and a mini Brooklyn Bridge.