Slovak President visits ETH
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová and President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis visited ETH Zurich today. The Slovak President is currently on a two-day state visit to Switzerland and made a stop at the university.
ETH President Joël Mesot had good reason for receiving his guests in the machine laboratory. The Slovak President wanted to place a wreath at the bust of ETH Professor Aurel Stodola. Stodola was born in present-day Slovakia, and in 1892 was appointed Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Machine Construction at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich – today’s ETH. The committed pacifist not only laid the scientific groundwork for the development of steam turbines and combustion engines: in collaboration with Ferdinand Sauerbruch, he also constructed an artificial hand for those maimed in the First World War.
The delegation went on to look at a relief map of the Alps in the focusTerra exhibition, which gave the Slovak President a first impression of Swiss topography. Another type of topography featured next on the programme: in the Student Project House, an ETH ideaspace and workshop for students, Zuzana Čaputová learned all about the multifaceted student project landscape.
Every country needs creativity
The Slovak President’s visit attracted a lot of attention. The well-filled auditorium of the Student Project House provided the opportunity for a couple of short speeches.
President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis stressed how vital innovation and creativity were for a country’s development. He went on to note that ETH Zurich was a platform for new ideas and was even succeeding in redefining teaching.
The visit ended with a cordial conversation between Slovak ETH students and Zuzana Čaputová on the Polyterasse. (Photograph: ETH Zurich / Alessandro Della Bella)
ETH President Joël Mesot emphasised the importance of international exchange and the role played by science. He noted how researchers could often still continue to talk to each other and come up with joint ideas in situations that rendered political dialogue difficult.
Zuzana Čaputová, who has been long known for her commitment to the environment, spoke of the crucial role played by innovation in combating climate change. In her opinion, time is running out for the next generation. People are needed today who will tackle the problems head on. On this note, she wished all of the students much success with their ideas and careers.
Slovak students meet their President
ETH Rector Günther Dissertori was given the task of explaining the idea behind the Student Project House to the Slovak President before the entire delegation departed to take a look at some of the projects on the premises – most of which involved the participation of Slovak students. Alongside a number of interesting ideas aimed at improving sustainability, the Slovak President was particularly impressed by the Airleg Project, which in the best Stodola tradition focuses on making prosthetic legs a lot more comfortable.
Some 40 ETH students come from Slovakia. Zuzana Čaputová could not resist talking to some of them on the Polyterrasse. This warm exchange marked the end of the President's short visit to ETH.