Globi at ETH

Globi and the Crazy Machine is the 87th volume published by the Globi publishing house. The title doesn't reveal, though, that the book is set at ETH Zurich. Media professionals and representatives from the book trade were invited to the University's focusTerra Earth Science and Information Centre, where they were welcomed by ETH Rector Sarah M. Springman and Globi CEO Gisela Klinkenberg, who introduced the new book and discussed the creative process behind it.

What happens in the book

A twist of fate brings Globi to ETH Zurich: on his way to the train station, he sees a woman lose her purse and runs after her to return it. The woman, whose name is Professor Schrödinger, invites Globi to visit her lab as thanks. The lab is home to the “crazy machine” of the book’s title – crazy because it shrinks the two protagonists without warning. Reduced to the size of a pea, Globi and the ETH professor go from one adventure to another across a host of different ETH laboratories. Their fast-paced journey takes them from the Zentrum to Hönggerberg campus and even to the Singapore-ETH Centre.

Getting kids into science

Discussing the University’s interest in the project, Sarah Springman explains that “ETH would like to get as many children as possible into technology and science from an early age”. She also describes how illustrator Daniel Frick worked with the ETH project team to develop an exciting story that would bring the fascinating world of ETH into children's bedrooms. “If you want to be successful at university, you need the imagination and ideas to break the monotony of everyday life,” the ETH Rector says. The idea invites comparisons with Globi, who was described by his creators back in the 30s as a “go-getter, a rascal and a lovable scamp”. It’s hardly surprising to hear Springman say that the Globi project has been met with considerable enthusiasm at ETH and has opened a number of doors.

The publishers are also keen to stress how fruitful the collaboration has been. For Gisela Klinkenberg, who has already carried out similar projects with organisations such as the police, rail and postal services, ETH Zurich was an ideal partner for the book project. “Globi is all about discovery, invention and helping others, so he was very much in his element at ETH,” says the publishing director. She was particularly pleased that a renowned institution like ETH was so happy to go along with the shrinking episode – a fairly fantastical part of the story. The result is a book that's truly perfect for kids. Illustrator Daniel Frick was on hand to offer a clearer picture of what makes it so special; in just a few deft strokes, he brought the comic book star to life and left the audience spellbound.

Robot dog and chocolate Globi

During the official part of the book’s launch event, Globi himself looked after the guests of honour, a group of around 30 children who managed to get their hands on an invitation via Facebook. Afterwards, kids and grown-ups alike got the chance to see the places and objects from the book in real life, including the robot dog StarlETH. They also visited the earthquake simulator and were allowed to test out the Scewo, a wheelchair that can climb stairs. The chocolate printer was a particular source of wide-eyed amazement – the children got to watch a new Globi being created layer by layer.

This 3D printer is a great example of how Globi’s ETH visit triggered the kind of enthusiasm mentioned by Sarah Springman. There was no such printer at ETH at all before the book's launch event – it was a product of the project team’s imagination. Professor of Food Processing Technology Erich Windhab decided to entrust his doctoral student, Lucas Grob, with the task of creating one. This morning, just one month later, the printer created its own Globi made from premium quality chocolate.

Globi will be a guest at Treffpunkt Science City on 2 April.