2019

Food wastage is no longer acceptable – for both ethical and ecological reasons, says Claudio Beretta. But we’ve only just started cracking down on it.

The year 2019 has certainly been a busy one at ETH. A new president took office and the second Sci-Tech Oscar was awarded, along with other major prizes, but there were also plenty of inventions and topics for discussion.

ETH researchers are making chocolates shimmer in rainbow colours without the addition of colourants. They have found a way to imprint a special structure on the surface of the chocolate to create a targeted colour effect.

Researchers in Zurich have reproduced Michelangelo’s David as a miniature in metal. Their achievement highlights the potential of a special 3D printing method developed at ETH.

Renana and Roi Poranne both research and work at ETH Zurich. How do they shape life between research and family?

The administrative investigation into allegations in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering has shown that no laws were broken, although pressure was exerted on some doctoral students through employment contracts and there were errors in how some employment contracts were drawn up. ETH has taken appropriate measures and is strengthening internal controls. The department and the professor involved are working to improve the supervision of doctoral students.

Metamaterials defy conventions, making rigid media flexible, soft materials transmit signals, and sound and light behave in bizarre ways. Metamaterials are engineered to possess properties not found in nature.

Swissuniversities’ negotiations with publishing powerhouses Wiley and Elsevier regarding open access to publicly financed publications has resulted in an agreement for 2020. However, next year may see restrictions on access to Springer Nature publications.

Walking despite paraplegia: at an event in the run-up to Cybathlon 2020, two teams consisting of students, researchers and people with disabilities show that it can be done. Highlights from the Cybathlon Experience.

For the past 50 years, AVETH has promoted the interests of doctoral students, post-docs and scientific staff. The association gives equal weight to representing its members in university policymaking and providing concrete support and counselling.