Zurich - From Einstein to the Digital Future
Exclusive to participants of the 11th World Conference of Science Journalists in Lausanne, Switzerland, ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich host a conference field trip that demonstrates how researchers at these top Swiss institutions advance digital technologies from robotics to medicine.
Embrace the Digital Age with a visit to ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich (UZH). During your train journey across the Swiss countryside from Lausanne to Zurich you will engage with a few experts in the fields of medical technology and digitalization. Arriving in Zurich, you will learn of Albert Einstein’s time as a student and professor in Zurich and will follow in his footsteps via the Polybahn, a vintage funicular. During the tour, you will encounter the latest in drone technologies, find out how giant robotic arms reinvent architecture and construction, and see how new technologies change the face of medicine and many other aspects of the way we live. You will follow autonomously flying drones, learn how the Cybathlon is advancing assistive devices, and how we can better understand human behavior by looking at the neural basis underlying our decision-making.
Zurich, the science capital of Switzerland, is home to both ETH Zurich and the external pageUniversity of Zurich (UZH). These two internationally renowned universities, rank among the world’s top universities and closely cooperate in many fields. Join us on this exciting tour and see how some of the most prominent researchers in Zurich advance digital technologies through science and engineering.
Registration for this Field Trip is exclusive to participants in the external pageWorld Conference of Science Journalists.
Meeting Point
We will meet you in the Main Hall (Place de la Gare) of the Lausanne Main Train Station with a field trip sign between 07.45 - 08.00. If you arrive a bit late, please go directly to this train:
08.20 - InterCity 711 (IC 1) train to Zurich HB, Platform 1
Reserved train car TBA or labeled "WCSJ/ETH." We have a group train ticket for registered participants.
Field Trip Highlights
We will visit leading projects and labs at both the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich.
Science speed-dating on the train!
Commute via high-speed direct train via Lausanne and Zurich. Researchers from ETH Zurich and University of Zurich join the journey in Bern and engage you in brief conversations about digital technologies as well as science and tech research at two of Zurich's top universities.
Arrive via the Vintage Polybahn
Vintage Polybahn funicular has transported the likes of Albert Einstein and countless students, professors, staff and visitors to ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. external pageMore...
Neuroeconomics: Looking Deep into the Brain to Understand Behavior and Decision Making
Tour the Lab for Social and Neural Systems research (SNS Lab) at the University of Zurich where world pioneers in Neuroeconomics will present their research and live demos of medical technologies. DownloadMore... (PDF, 815 KB)
Searching for Victims of Natural Disasters: Autonomously Flying Drones to the Rescue
Robotics expert Davide Scaramuzza's lab is at the forefront of drones that can adapt autonomously. This demo shows how the combination of fast neuromorphic sensors & machine learning algorithms expand the capabilities drones. DownloadMore... (PDF, 1.4 MB)
Cybathlon 2020
The Cybathlon returns to Zurich in May 2020 with an Olympic-style competition to advance the development of assistive devices and foster a dialogue of science diplomacy between researchers, developers, the disabled, and society. Learn more about the Cybathlon and preview a demo of the latest exoskeleton from the VariLeg research team. More...
Albert Einstein in Zurich
Learn about Albert Einstein's younger days as a student and later a professor at ETH Zurich and University of Zurich. Learn little known facts about his idiosyncrasies, study habits, and family life. Peak into Einsteins old locker. More... and even more at external pageUZH
How Robotics and Digital Tech Change the Face of Architecture
ETH Zurich houses the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research Digital Fabrication (NCCR DFAB) leading the development and integration of digital technologies in architecture, structural design, materials science, computer science, control systems engineering, and robotics. More...
How Mud, Waste, and Funghi will Make You Rethink Building Materials in a New Circular Economy.
Mud, fly ash, and funghi - all new materials challenging the way we build. MycoTree is a spatial branching structure made out of load-bearing mycelium components. Its geometry was designed using 3D graphic statics, utilising compression-only form to enable the weak material to perform structurally. More...
MycoTree - growing architecture with funghi - Nazanin Saeidi and Alireza Javadian researchers from the Singapore-ETH Centre