ETH Ambassadors Blog: Best of 2025

As the year comes to a close and the holiday lights begin to glow across Zurich and other cities, we take a moment to look back at the stories that shaped 2025 and inspired many on the ETH Ambassadors Blog. It has been a year defined by innovative scientific research, bold ideas, invaluable internships, global partnerships, and inspiring voices.

From quantum connection between Switzerland and India, to improving public policy through science, to trees revealing the secrets of mountains, to talk on sleep research, to student adventures across Southeast Asia… Our top-performing posts show what makes ETH Zurich truly special and unique: a spirit of exploration grounded in science, enriched by people, and connected to the world.

Whether you are curling up with a warm cup of tea, sipping a festive glühwein at a Christmas market, relaxing on a flight home or simply enjoying a quiet moment between the holidays, re-visit a few of our 2025 Holiday Reading List. A curated selection of the year’s most-read ETH Ambassadors Blog posts, they will help you re-live the moments that made us pause, wonder, reflect, giggle and smile, and spark your curiosity for the year ahead. Happy reading, and happy holidays!

1. Strengthening Global Quantum Connections: India and ETH Zurich Join Forces

“The collaboration between ETH Zurich and Karnataka reflects a shared vision. Quantum technology has immense potential to shape the future of computing, communication, and sensing. By connecting leading research ecosystems, we accelerate both scientific discovery and real-world impact.” — Andreas Wallraff

This post celebrates a milestone year for ETH Zurich’s global partnerships as we deepened cooperation with leading Indian institutions to advance quantum research. From shared projects to a jointly built vision for future technologies, this collaboration embodies the best of science diplomacy.

Read more: Strengthening Global Quantum Connections

2. Trees as Sensors: A New Tool for Slope Movement Detection

“Curiosity can take you far beyond the classroom — sometimes straight into the forest.” — Lorenz Hübel

This beautifully written piece by ETH Zurich mathematics student Lorenz Hübel captivated readers with its blend of science, storytelling and scenery. During his internship at SLF Davos, he uncovered how tree rings hold centuries of geological insight — and how nature itself can become a scientific partner.

Read more: Trees as Sensors

3. How Can Science Truly Inform and Improve Public Policy?

“Would we be better off if we had seven Nobel laureates in the Federal Council?” — Walter Thurnherr

This lively discussion at the ETH Global Lecture struck a chord in a year when public trust and scientific evidence were more important than ever. Professors Tobias Schmidt and Walter Thurnherr emphasized that the key ingredients of good policy are not just data — but humility, dialogue, and collaboration.

Read more: Improving Public Policy Through Science

4. Sleep Well – Knowing How!

“Sleep is a human right. Deprivation is torture.” — Caroline Lustenberger

In this beautifully written reflection by Charles Bara, readers dove into a talk that reframed sleep not as a luxury, but as an essential foundation of health. Drawing from more than 15 years of neuroscience research, Professor Caroline Lustenberger explained how our routines, stress levels, environment, and modern habits shape the quality of our rest and why understanding the brain’s rhythms matters more than quick fixes.

Read more: Sleep Well – Knowing How!

5. CERAWeek 2025: Navigating the Energy Landscape in an Era of Change

“Net-zero requires navigating uncertainty with clarity, courage, and cooperation.”

Written by Ayca Duran, Fiona Kriwan and Giacomo Matteo Mastroddi, this report from one of the world’s most influential energy conferences made waves. The authors unpacked global debates on energy security, clean technologies, and the evolving role of ETH Zurich in shaping the international energy conversation.

Read more: CERAWeek 2025

6. How to Avoid MESTakes in South-East Asia: A Student Advice

“Cultural awareness isn’t a detail — it’s a superpower.” — Giuseppe Nappi

Giuseppe’s practical, witty and insightful guide quickly became one of our most-read student stories of the year. Packed with advice on navigating cultural differences, embracing openness, and avoiding common missteps, it resonated with anyone preparing to travel, study or work in Southeast Asia.

Read more: Avoiding MESTakes in SE Asia

Looking Forward to 2026

As we wrap up this vibrant year, we are reminded that the ETH community thrives when we share our experiences — from labs and lecture halls to conferences, mountain trails, and cultures around the world.

Thank you to all the contributors who brought their stories to life, and to our global readers who engaged, reflected, and carried these insights forward.

We look forward to an exciting 2026 filled with new discoveries, new voices, and new connections.

Until then, enjoy the break, stay curious, and happy holidays from the ETH Ambassadors team!