Expedition into the unknown

Visit far-flung corners of the world, take a trip to the centre of the earth, fly to Mars and discover the mysterious world of quanta. The Treffpunkt Science City series will take visitors on an “expedition into the unknown” on four Sundays between the end of October and end of November. The programme, which takes place exclusively in German, features short lectures, demonstrations, a special programme for children and teenagers, and three special weekday events.

Full programme over four Sundays

29 October: Adventurers and explorers can travel to the ends of the earth on the first Science City Sunday. Take a trip across the Antarctic Ocean, visit the Pacific island of Vanuatu, enjoy a stroll through the Andes – and finally, venture into the mysterious world of quanta.

5 November: On the second Sunday, the Treffpunkt is at the focusTerra, ETH’s earth science research and information centre in the heart of Zurich. Journey to the centre of the earth and find out more about bubbling volcanoes, earthquakes and the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

19 November: Forests, meadows, morning dew: what does autumn smell like? What happens out there in the animal and plant world? Experience the wonder of nature and find out what dangers lie ahead of us. Guests are also invited to hone their senses on an expedition into the forest.

26 November: A look up to the sky awakens the adventurous spirit in all of us. Where does the weather come from? What is air? Where is that flock of birds headed? On the last Treffpunkt Sunday, researchers will whisk you up into the air and into outer space to the satellites that explore the earth and to our neighbouring planet Mars.

Special weekday events

On Wednesday, 1 November, researchers will be talking about passion and daring. Thomas Reiter spent 350 days on board the Russian space station Mir and the international space station ISS, and will reveal what life is like in outer space. Thomas Peter, ETH Professor for Atmospheric Chemistry, has just returned from an eventful trip to Nepal, where he investigated the monsoon at 16 kilometres above sea level using a special high-altitude aircraft.

“Tell me where the bees are...” is the title of the panel discussion on Tuesday, 21 November. It will focus on causes of the species extinction and what measures can be taken against this; the panellists will be Franz-Sepp Stulz, President of the Federal National Park Commission, Christine Bühler, President of the female farmers and country women's association and Vice President of the Swiss Farmers Union, Christof Hagen, founder and CEO of the Survival Outdoor School, and Rolf Holderegger, Professor for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at ETH Zurich and WSL.

Finally, on Wednesday, 15 November, Treffpunkt visitors are invited to embark on an expedition of their own. On the way in the forest with a "cone picker" they will find out why he climbs 15 metres into the air with a "tree bike". Afterwards, they get to know a seed archive and a research area in the forest.