Professor Stefan Wiemer is the new Director of the Swiss Seismological Service (SED). The Executive Board of ETH Zurich has appointed the 46-year-old, who has been interim Director since January 2012, to succeed Professor Domenico Giardini.

Physicists at ETH Zurich have developed a quantum simulator that allows arranging atoms in a way that they mimic the behaviour of electrons in magnetic materials. The experiment opens up the possibility of systematically studying poorly understood properties of novel materials. The fresh insights might lead to designs for new magnetic materials.

ETH Zurich is setting up a new Institute for Theoretical Studies which will offer sabbatical placements to top academics from all over the world. This has been made possible thanks to two outstandingly generous donations made by ETH alumnus Max Rössler and the Walter Haefner Foundation, each of whom have pledged 25 million Swiss francs to ETH Zurich Foundation.

ETH Zurich is to receive ten million Swiss francs from the Werner Siemens Foundation to establish a chair in deep geothermal energy. This will enable ETH Zurich to immediately fulfil its aim to launch an initiative in this promising field.