In January, I packed my bags and flew to Pasadena, California, to start a six-month adventure at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I joined the team working on a future Mars rotorcraft, contributing to a project aimed at pushing the boundaries set by Ingenuity, the pioneering Mars helicopter. This marked the start of an unforgettable chapter, both as an engineer and as a person.

Life at JPL

Life at JPL was unlike anywhere else I’ve worked before. On any given day, you might walk past engineers testing new rover prototypes in the courtyard or catch a glimpse of hardware being readied for launch in the clean rooms. I even got to meet the astronauts from the Artemis crew when they dropped by to visit! All of this felt extraordinary at first, but gradually became part of everyday life. I was part of the software team developing algorithms for an Earth-based demonstrator drone, which serves as a testbed for technologies that could one day guide a future Mars rotorcraft. My main focus was on the autonomy side: designing and refining the software that allows the drone to plan missions, execute waypoint navigation, and make real-time decisions during flight. This is critical, since a drone on Mars cannot be controlled in real time due to communication delays among other things. I also contributed to perception algorithms that detect safe landing sites in rough terrain which is a crucial capability for future planetary flying vehicles. Beyond coding, a big part of the work was integrating and testing everything on real hardware, ensuring the algorithms performed just as well in the lab and outdoors as they did in simulation. Beyond developing algorithms, a big part of the experience was bringing them to life through real drone tests. Our lab had an indoor drone testing room where we could fly whenever needed, and the campus also featured an outdoor drone yard which is essentially a large netted area designed specially for safe flight testing. Supervisors and senior engineers, many of whom had actually worked on Ingenuity itself, stopped by regularly to give guidance and feedback. It was a great environment to learn and develop in, and it was extremely motivating and inspiring.

Testing in the Desert

A particularly memorable part of the internship was a field trip to Death Valley National Park, where our team tested our drones in Mars-like terrain. The goal was to evaluate how well our algorithms handled challenging, unstructured environments which is a valuable step before moving to more advanced trials. The setting, with its dry valleys and rugged rock formations, offered a striking reminder of what exploration on another planet might feel like and the challenges it posed for our perception algorithms. It was demanding work under the sun, but a great opportunity to see our software perform outside the lab. Being out there also made me realize how, while small errors are part of testing on Earth, a similar mistake millions of kilometers away on Mars could mean the end of an entire mission. This makes Ingenuity’s success even more impressive.

Beyond the Lab

Of course, California itself was a whole other adventure. Pasadena quickly became home, even if finding a place to live wasn’t easy when wildfires swept through Los Angeles in January. Daily life was quite different to Switzerland with the car-centric culture, the long distances, and the contrasts of city life. Luckily, it was easy to settle in thanks to the people I met, especially the other interns and students from Caltech in the neighborhood. Together, we filled our weekends with road trips and new experiences: hiking through Joshua Tree, Zion, and Sequoia National Parks; catching sunsets and learning to surf in Malibu, sometimes accompanied by dolphins; exploring San Diego and San Francisco; and even flying to Hawaii. Standing on a surfboard in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by turtles, is a memory that will stay with me forever.

Reflections

Looking back, my time at JPL was as much about algorithms and drones as it was about people and places. I met brilliant engineers, many of whom had shaped historic missions, and shared adventures with interns from around the world. I learned that true engineering isn’t about complex solutions, but about making things simple, reliable and robust, especially when they need to work flawlessly millions of kilometers away. Most importantly, I left California hungry for more. More travel, more exploration, and more opportunities to work at the frontier of robotics and autonomy. Whether I continue in industry or one day pursue a PhD, one thing is clear: this internship confirmed that I love the blend of research, teamwork and experimentation that pushes technology and robotics forward.

Closing Thought

Back in Zurich, I’m grateful for how much this experience broadened my perspective: on technology and science, teamwork, and what it means to explore. The mindset I took from JPL stays with me every day, pushing me to keep learning, improving, and reaching further, not only in robotics, but also personally.

The ENHANCE Alliance is a network of ten leading European technical universities (Chalmers, TU Delft, Gdańsk Tech, NTNU, Polimi, RWTH Aachen, TU Berlin, UPV, WUT, and ETH Zurich), founded as part of the European Universities Initiative. ETH Zurich joined the Alliance in November 2022 (see ETH news).

My first assignment as the ENHANCE Core Officer at ETH Zurich took place in May 2022 at the Leadership Meeting in Warsaw, following the decision by ETH Zurich’s Executive Board to join the ENHANCE Alliance. The focus there was the proposal for the four-year ENHANCE+ project. Following intensive brainstorming and negotiations, my colleagues and I visited the botanical garden. Inspired by the exotic plants and the colourful flowers, we reflected: ETH’s engagement in ENHANCE will flourish if the institution, its students and staff all benefit from it. ENHANCE should become a garden of innovative education, where ideas can grow.

As the Core Officer, I had the privilege of being one of the gardeners. Among other things, my task was to prepare Rector Günther Dissertori, and Vice-Rector Jan Vermant, for the governance meetings and to accompany them. When ten universities sit down to negotiate, there will be twenty different opinions. Nevertheless, we always managed to reach compromises because we are all working towards the same goal: to prepare our students for their future challenges in business and society. I experienced that ETH’s commitment in the European Higher Education Area is highly valued. ETH is often looked upon as a role model. Of course, we can also learn from our partners, who are pursuing many initiatives, such as digitalisation, with just as much drive and innovation.

The seed of ENHANCE has been sown. It is growing and the first buds are beginning to bloom. Thanks to Julia Wussler and her colleagues, there are now more opportunities for short-term mobility, which enables students to learn and collaborate in an international context. Thanks to project funding from Movetia, the National Agency for Exchange and Mobility, students have access to scholarships. ETH faculty also contributes to attractive learning opportunities, such as the Summer School in Transdisciplinary or in Urban Planning.

The entire Swiss higher education sector benefits from the European Universities Initiative. We exploit synergies in the digitalisation of administrative processes. Florian Hilfinger from RWTH Aachen and David Sichau from ETH Zurich jointly lead the IT Infrastructure & Services work package. They have carried out a feasibility study on the use of verifiable credentials for digital data transfer between universities. We have shared these findings with swissuniversities and launched a national project for issuing digital credentials.

The benefits for ETH go beyond academic collaboration. It is the many personal connections between people that bring significant individual and institutional value – they are the “fertiliser” for trust, ongoing collaboration and development. I now hand over the “rake and hoe” to my successor, Anna-Katharina Lautenschütz. I would like to express my gratitude for all the wonderful encounters with the people who contribute to the garden of ENHANCE, ensuring that it continues to flourish and bear fruit.

To mark the upcoming International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, and inspired by this year’s theme Give to Gain, we are shining a light on some of the remarkable women whose perspectives and experiences enrich the ETH Ambassadors blog. By giving our attention to their stories, we gain a deeper appreciation of the curiosity, creativity and commitment that shape our community.

Below, we invite you to revisit a selection of their posts. Each one offers a unique window into the people and ideas that make ETH Zurich a vibrant, diverse and forward‑looking place.

1. NASA JPL: Building a Researcher in Turbulent Times

“I can confidently say that during my time at JPL, I grew both as a researcher and as a person.” In this article, Tenzin Tsultrim shares how a four-month internship at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory shaped her. 

As part of the inaugural Space Systems Master’s programme at ETH Zurich, launched by former NASA Head of Science Thomas Zurbuchen, Tenzin stepped straight into the heart of planetary research. From numerically simulating Venusquakes to field-testing infrasound sensors, she contributed to work that could one day help detect seismic activity on Venus.

At the same time, she witnessed the realities of turbulent times in the U.S., including visa delays, budget cuts, and uncertainty at JPL. What stayed with her most was the resilience, humility, and optimism of the people around her.

Read more: NASA JPL: Building a Researcher in Turbulent Times

2. Trust, Transparency, and the EU AI Act

In the piece as captured by Viktoria Österdahl, Liisa-Ly Pakosta, Estonia’s Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, and ETH Professor Effy Vayena, a leading voice in digital ethics, explore how trust, transparency, and practical regulation are shaping AI governance in Europe.

Drawing on Estonia’s digital-first model and Switzerland’s sectoral approach, they discuss the implementation challenges of the EU AI Act, the importance of citizen data ownership, accountability, and clear limits for AI systems, and the need to balance innovation with protection. The conversation highlights that building trustworthy AI requires courage, cross-border learning, and regulatory frameworks that earn public confidence while keeping pace with rapid technological change.

Read more: Trust, Transparency, and the EU AI Act

3. From Pilot to Practice: Building Plant-Based Value Chains at ETH Zurich

In the blog piece, Daniela Hoffmann shares how she is leading the transdisciplinary Plant4Value project at ETH Zurich to accelerate the shift toward sustainable, plant-based food systems in Switzerland. 

By bringing together 24 partners across the entire value chain, from farmers to policymakers, the project pilots practical solutions such as farmer support schemes, technological innovation, and demand-generation strategies, all rigorously evaluated for their social, economic, and environmental impact. Hosted at the Albert Einstein School of Public Policy, Plant4Value demonstrates how collaboration between science, policy, and practice can unlock scalable pathways to a more resilient food future.

Read more: From Pilot to Practice: Building Plant-Based Value Chains at ETH Zurich

4. From Olympian to Cookbook Author

What does it mean to balance excellence in sport, academia, and beyond? Few people embody that question more fully than Emma Pooley, ETH alumna, Olympic silver medalist, world-class endurance athlete, and now engineer and author.

In this piece based on a recent We Are ETH podcast, Emma Pooley shares her extraordinary path from Cambridge mathematics student to elite endurance athlete, a PhD in engineering at ETH Zurich, and authoring and publishing a cookbook – Oat and Joy. 

Read more: From Olympian to Cookbook Author

Want to listen to more content instead? We have curated a list of all the women guests of the We Are ETH Podcast.

When we say it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we really mean it: you can only attend the Global Young Scientists Summit (as a student…) once. Yet, by the end of the week, we all agreed that we would return every year if we could. The summit offered a rare opportunity to hear from and interact with Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Millennium Technology Prize and Stockholm Water Prize laureates. Some of us were also selected to give a five-minute pitch to the plenary. Here, we share our personal experiences of this remarkable event.

Lucas Gobatti

The most special thing about this event for me was a sense of scale of scientific impact. Meeting researchers whose work has fundamentally changed how we understand the world, puts one’s own research into perspective. From reshaping our perception of physical reality to reducing the cost of sequencing the human genome from billions of dollars to around a thousand it makes clear why such contributions are recognised with the highest scientific awards. On a much smaller scale, my research on urban greenery was selected for a quickfire pitch: by far the most important presentation I have given in life. You can watch the video here.

Tatiana Akhmetshina

GYSS 2026 was definitely the most special conference of my life. Not because of the credentials in the room—though yes, there were Nobel laureates everywhere—but because these scientific heroes turned out to be approachable human beings who genuinely wanted to talk with us.

My personal highlight was Sir Tim Hunt asking about my quickfire pitch presentation (you can find the recording here). There I was at the conference closing event, explaining my research to a Nobel laureate, and it felt both completely surreal and oddly normal. Like talking to a mentor over coffee, except the mentor discovered cell cycle regulation. The fireside chats captured this perfectly—a format that felt relaxed and natural. We could ask anything, and they answered honestly, sharing conversations about science, failures, career pivots, and what keeps them going.

The fellow participants were just as inspiring. Scientists from different countries and fields, all genuinely curious about each other’s work and excited to learn something new. It had the energy of summer camp, but for people who get excited about research and science. I have to mention the organizers too. They created such a welcoming atmosphere that everything ran smoothly without ever feeling stiff or overly orchestrated.

And Singapore itself! The city is a living testament to what happens when science and technology are prioritized. Exploring the futuristic architecture in my jet-lagged haze made everything feel even more dreamlike (the jetlag definitely added to the surreal quality of the whole experience). I’m deeply grateful to my supervisor, department, and ETH Zürich for making this possible. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’ll carry the inspiration and connections with me for a long time.

Kostiantyn Sakhatskyi

GYSS 2026 in Singapore was a tremendous source of inspiration for both my life and my scientific path. I was genuinely moved by the chance to listen to and speak with some of the brightest scientific minds in the world. One thing that stayed with me was how often the laureates returned to the same idea, each in their own words: breakthroughs rarely arrive like lightning; they come from stubborn curiosity, years of iteration, and a clear sense of why the work matters. Several conversations left a particularly strong impression. Professor B. Jayant Baliga linked decades of semiconductor impact to practical, experience-tested advice on bridging academia and industry. Torsten Hoefler’s urgency about accelerating AI computation — and why it matters for science and society — felt like a direct challenge to think bigger. Konstantin Novoselov’s view of science as an art and his thoughts on how we shape papers to communicate truth clearly have stayed with me since. Beyond the core programme, it was also exciting to explore Singapore with fellow young scientists. Wandering through the city—especially the Marina Bay district—added an extra spark and made the whole experience feel even more special. I returned home with fresh ideas for my own projects at the materials–devices–systems interface, and renewed motivation to pursue research that can benefit society. I’m grateful to ETH Zurich for the nomination, and to the National Research Foundation of Singapore and the GYSS team for creating a week that felt intense, human, and genuinely inspiring.

Mitchell Taylor

What stood out most to me during this event was the people. The energy of the young participants was palpable, and the advice from the laureates was invaluable. I met talented researchers working on a vast array of difficult problems – ranging from water conservation to neuroscience – who were at the same time genuinely pleasant and easy to talk to. Singapore was also the ideal location for the conference, offering a vibrant and modern place for people to further explore and be inspired by.

Eliane Ballmer

Having started my PhD just two months before GYSS 2026, I arrived at the conference in the middle of an inner rollercoaster. Waves of excitement about finally shaping my own project were chasing moments of doubt about what I was doing here, and whether any of my ideas would meaningfully contribute, or even work at all. However, participating in GYSS 2026 reminded me of why I chose to be in science in the first place, and let me rediscover the passion and fascination I have for contributing to unravelling the secrets of this world. GYSS brings together scientists from all over the world, ranging from early-career scientists to established, top scientific minds. The diversity of backgrounds and research interests is truly unique, which allows you to step out of your scientific bubble, acquire new ways of thinking, and look at your field from a completely different perspective. Hearing the Laureates speak about their non-linear trajectories, how moments of uncertainty and doubt were also part of their lives, but how their scientific curiosity, their consistency and their courage to venture from the known into the unknown led to truly remarkable and transformative discoveries, was profoundly inspiring. By the end of GYSS, the conversations I had, the connections I built, and the vibrant energy of Singapore itself had shifted my perspective entirely, leaving me ready to embark on my own scientific journey. I would like to thank D-USYS, where I completed my Bachelor and Master’s studies, as well as ETH Zurich for the opportunity to participate in GYSS 2026. The insights and the spirit I gained will accompany me throughout my scientific career!

Jan Meissner

For one intense week in Singapore, science transcended borders: lecture halls filled with big, bold ideas; conversations over morning picnics turned into spontaneous idea-swaps; and thoughts exchanged between students and Nobel, Turing, and Millennium Prize laureates. I began to sense a sort of momentum: when curious people from many countries and disciplines meet in the same place, progress feels achievable.

What surprised me most was how quickly very different topics began to feel connected. One moment we were discussing how large language models are changing the way we work and think; the next we were diving into quantum computing, personalized medicine, or how new proteins can be designed with deep learning.  Even when these subjects were far from my field of research, the underlying themes were familiar: uncertainty, creativity, and the discipline of testing ideas against reality. Some laureates wove parts of their life stories into their lectures. That not only made them feel more approachable; it also reminded us that behind the breakthroughs that move humanity forward are real people – people who also wrestled with doubts, took uncertain turns, and still found a way through.

ETH Zurich gave me both the opportunity – and the confidence – to step onto the stage for a five-minute Quickfire Pitch. I spoke about my research on methane clumped-isotopes, and how improving the way we “read” methane molecules in the atmosphere can help constrain where methane emissions come from and how they change over time. This time, the challenge wasn’t the science itself, but communicating it: stripping a complex topic to its core without losing its meaning and making it accessible to an audience spanning many fields and levels of expertise. It forced me to notice where I hide behind jargon, where my logic needs sharpening, and where a story carries more truth than a slide full of details. But it also reminded me why I chose this path in the first place: because rigorous science can be both technically demanding and deeply human.

Beyond the sessions, the most lasting part of GYSS was the people: spontaneous debates, shared doubts and hopes, and the feeling that science is an international language – even when our accents, disciplines, and perspectives differ. I came back to Zurich inspired, a little humbled, and grateful to ETH Zurich for being the kind of place that encourages stepping outside your comfort zone. If you are interested in my talk, you can watch the video here.

We are all deeply grateful for the opportunity to attend the Summit. It was both inspiring and humbling, and we would wholeheartedly recommend the experience to other ETH scientists if they have the chance to attend in the future.

We are four students with backgrounds in Chemical, Computer & Electrical Engineering as well as Computer Science, and we’d love to share our unforgettable internship experience in Japan. Through a collaboration between Marui Group in Nakano, Tokyo and ETH Studios, we were given the opportunity to explore the intersection of culture, sustainability, and design innovation.

Our journey began on June 27th, 2025, when we arrived at the Marui headquarters, jet-lagged but excited for what was ahead.

27.06–28.06 (Carla):

Our first day at Marui HQ kicked off with warm welcomes and a wave of introductions. Ms. Ibun, our project leader fluent in Japanese and English, guided us through a tour of the building. We had the honor of meeting Mr. Aoi, CEO of Marui Group, who shared his inspiring vision: a platform to connect international visitors with “Hidden Japan,” beyond the well-known paths of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

On Day 2, we met Sybilla Patrizia, an Austrian filmmaker and the design director of the project. Her passion for local craftsmanship and storytelling brought our mission into focus. We explored how the SUKI platform could support sustainable tourism and empower regional artisans. The day concluded with a serene Zen ritual, tea ceremony, and a reflective conversation with a local priest about the tourist experience.

29.06–30.06 (Marlon):

We took the Shinkansen to Okayama and visited Kurashiki, a beautiful Edo-era town. Our goal: to interview tourists about why and how they discovered the town. Surprisingly, few foreign tourists were present, but the interviews gave us deep insights. We closed the day with dinner alongside our Marui friends.

The next day, we toured Marugo, a historic tabi shoe factory, guided by CEO Fujiki Shige-san. Watching artisans at work, and trying it ourselves, was unforgettable. We lunched with the staff and ended the day at Nishigawa Terrace, Fujiki-san’s sustainable restaurant complex. The food and heartfelt conversations reminded us how unmatched Japanese hospitality is.

01.07–02.07 (Gilles):

Day 5 was our free day. Marlon hit Nintendo World at 6 a.m., Gilles explored Kamakura, Carla wandered Kyoto, and Pierre returned to Tokyo. Day 6 was our first full-on workday: Carla and Pierre worked from HQ, Marlon and Gilles from a café. We aligned on our vision, outlined our pitches, and dove into development. The day ended with karaoke in Shinjuku that went from “just one hour” to “singing ‘til late”, the perfect team bonding moment.

 03.07–04.07 (Pierre):

Day 7 began with a creative brainstorm at Marui HQ. We shared key insights, refined our ideas, and practiced our final pitches. It was intense but energizing.

On the final day, we said goodbye to Gilles, who prerecorded his part. Presentation time came fast: the board, the SUKI team, and the CEO were in the room. No pressure! Carla and Pierre kicked it off, followed by Marlon’s pitch with virtual-Gilles via Facetime. The Q&A was rich, the feedback rewarding. We wrapped it all up with an apero and one last onsen + shabu-shabu night before heading back to Zurich.

But how did this come about?

We — Defne Çetinkaya and Michelle Reinschmidt — both study architecture at ETH Zurich and attended Mariam Issoufou’s studio in 2024. Together, we developed a semester project that reimagined two ethnographic museums in Zurich at the “end of the world” — a world in which all acquired objects had been restituted.

In September 2025, we received the exciting news that our project had been selected for a panel discussion in New York. On 18 October 2025, we boarded a plane bound for JFK — excited, slightly nervous, and eager to discover what awaited us.

After breakfast on our first day, we took the subway from Brooklyn to Central Park. New York in the fall felt magical, and we must have said, “We can’t believe we’re here,” at least ten times. After a stop at the Guggenheim, we continued to Times Square — Michelle’s first time in the city made it a must.

The next day brought growing anticipation: the reception at the Swiss Consulate, which opened the exhibition Museums as Shared Spaces: Imagining New Possibilities and previewing the panel. Earlier, we had visited Mariam Issoufou Architects’ office and met Zahra’a for lunch. Meeting her in person and seeing Mariam again felt very special.

That evening at the Consulate, our nervousness quickly faded thanks to the warm welcome. The reception gathered a diverse group from the Swiss and international cultural scenes, and we found ourselves in many inspiring conversations. The ease of connecting with people truly lived up to New York’s reputation.

The following day — panel day — marked the peak of our nervousness and excitement, especially after learning the event was fully booked. We spent the morning strolling through Brooklyn Bridge Park, rehearsing and calming our nerves. 

Later, at the Van Alen Institute, Mariam Issoufou opened with an inspiring keynote before we presented our project. The discussion that followed expanded into broader questions of architecture, responsibility, and the role of institutions in shaping cultural narratives.

What stayed with us most was the openness of the audience and the depth of the exchange. It was incredibly rewarding to see a student project spark dialogue beyond academia. The evening ended with happy faces having ice cream together with Zahra’a, her friends, and Jonathan, whom we had met through the event. 

During the remaining days, we explored the city: walking the High Line, visiting the Whitney, eating bagels with Jonathan in Washington Square Park, and touring the UN with Loris from the Swiss Mission. Experiencing New York through such meaningful encounters made the trip truly special.

Looking back, this journey was not only unforgettable on a personal level but also a significant academic milestone. We are deeply grateful to the Swiss Consulate in New York, Professor Mariam Issoufou, Zahra’a, and ETH. The experience reminded us why we study architecture: to think critically, engage in dialogue, and imagine alternative futures — sometimes at the other end of the world.

Few places make the tension between technological promise and ethical responsibility as tangible as Davos during the World Economic Forum (WEF). On Wednesday, January 21, I had the pleasure of experiencing the WEF in Davos, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and the role of science in diplomacy. 

At the Rosenberg House, high school students presented their thoughts on the responsible use of AI and the necessity of addressing this rapidly advancing technology as early as possible in education. It was wonderful to see young minds beginning to tackle prominent societal issues, such as the rifts that can emerge when powerful tools are not accessible to all. During an informal lunch, I greatly enjoyed probing their planned projects and discussing current scientific limitations. 

The WEF is fundamentally about dialogue. Meeting new people, being introduced to new perspectives, and gaining access to a deep pool of expertise from professionals across disciplines are among the highlights of the experience. Together with newly made friends from the Australian Council on Foreign Relations, a unique ‘do-tank’ and a forum for corporate diplomacy, we headed to the House of Switzerland for a panel on foresight and strategy in the age of AI. On the way, Air Force One’s helicopter was just arriving, and the panel was later overshadowed by a harrowing speech by the President of the United States of America. That day, many heads were shaken in disbelief—not only in Davos, but around the globe. 

A particularly memorable takeaway from the panel was the harsh reality that foresight, whether corporate or governmental, must always account for even the unthinkable. Especially in today’s turbulent times, in which it seems that every “piece of ice” is fair game in the geopolitical landscape. 

The evening concluded with more food for thought at RETHINKING Science Diplomacy at the Physical Meteorological Observatory. Professor Mesot opened the event with an anecdote from the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting how crucial it is for scientific institutions and governments to come together and collaborate more closely than ever in times of crisis. The discussion emphasized the push and pull surrounding scientific facts, underlining that the supply of research is only meaningful when there is an equivalent demand from the public. One of the major challenges of our time is reinvigorating an appetite for tested and proven facts over populist headlines that feed on ever-increasing angst. 

There is clearly much work ahead. I fully agree that the scientific community has a responsibility to actively engage in outreach to broader society. While there are many worrying developments, there are just as many positive efforts aimed at addressing challenges constructively and maintaining lasting trust. 

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!

Eine 35-köpfige Delegation der ETH Zürich besuchte Anfang November den Bildungscampus Heilbronn – mit besonderem Fokus auf die dort angesiedelte ETH Zürich Campus Heilbronn gGmbH. Ziel des zweitägigen Besuchs war es, die zukünftigen Wirkungsstätten in Heilbronn kennenzulernen, Partnerschaften zu vertiefen und die dynamische Entwicklungsphase des neuen ETH-Standorts unmittelbar zu erleben.

«Ein herzliches Dankeschön für die grossartige Organisation des abwechslungsreichen und informativen Ausflugs – der Einblick und der Austausch waren für meine Arbeit ausserordentlich bereichernd.» – Henriette Senning, Stab Forschung ETH Zürich

uih!: Urban Innovation Hub

Einen ersten Einblick bot sich der Delegation beim Apéro im Urban Innovation Hub uih!, einem zentralen Treffpunkt für Start-ups, Wissenschaft und innovative Stadtgesellschaft. In lockerer Atmosphäre bot sich hier die Gelegenheit zum Austausch mit dem Fraunhofer Institut, das das uih! in Kooperation mit der Wissensstadt Heilbronn betreibt.

Der Abend klang mit einem gemeinsamen Essen im Restaurant Ratskeller am Heilbronner Marktplatz aus – einem historisch geprägten Ort, der den Gästen aus Zürich einen guten Eindruck in der schwäbischen Küche vermittelte.

Ein intensiver Campus-Tag

Der Donnerstagmorgen begann aktiv: um 08:30 Uhr startete die offizielle Bildungscampus-Tour, die in 1.5 Stunden einen ersten Überblick über das Gelände sowie die zehn Lehrinstitutionen vor Ort bietet.

Im Anschluss folgte eine Reihe von Besichtigungen zentraler Standorte, die für die Entwicklung des ETH-Campus Heilbronn von Bedeutung sind. Folgende Bereiche standen auf dem Programm:

• Räumlichkeiten im „Kleinen Kiesel“, die bis Dezember 2025 vom Team der ETH Zürich Campus Heilbronn gGmbH genutzt werden.
• Zukünftige provisorische Lehrflächen ab Juni 2026, inklusive einer Begrüssung durch die Nachbarn des Ferdinand-Steinbeis-Instituts und der TU München.
• Der „HIP-Turm“, der ab Januar 2026 bis etwa 2030 als wichtiger Standort für Mitarbeitende und Studierende dienen wird.

Diese Stationen boten unserer Delegation einen umfassenden Eindruck davon, wie sich der ETH Zürich Campus Heilbronn räumlich und organisatorisch in den kommenden Jahren entwickeln wird.

Ein besonderes Highlight war die Präsentation von Michele De Lorenzi, Geschäftsführer der ETH Zürich Campus Heilbronn gGmbH, der spannende Einblicke in den bisherigen Aufbau des Standorts vor Ort gab – und sein Team vor Ort persönlich vorstellte.

“Was die Dieter Schwarz Stiftung für Heilbronn tut, ist ein echter Segen für die Stadt und die Region. Als gebürtige Heilbronnerin und ETH-Angestellte in Zürich, ist das Projekt ETH I Heilbronn eine wahre Herzensangelegenheit für mich. Es freut mich, dass ETH I Heilbronn mit einem tollen Team startet (der Grundstein für alles, was kommt) und ich – inklusive meiner Eltern in Heilbronn und anderer Familienmitglieder aus München/Frankfurt – bereits einen guten Draht zu allen habe, und so vor Ort etwas zum Erfolg beitragen kann.” – Nanja Strecker

Gemeinsamer Abschluss auf dem Campus

Das Mittagessen im Campus Garden bot eine letzte Gelegenheit für Gespräche über zukünftige Kooperationsmöglichkeiten und die Rolle des Heilbronner Standorts innerhalb der ETH-Strategie.

Fazit

Der Besuch der Delegation aus Zürich war ein weiterer wichtiger Meilenstein für den Aufbau der ETH-Präsenz in Heilbronn. Die Gespräche, Einblicke und gemeinsamen Erlebnisse haben den Grundstein für eine noch engere Zusammenarbeit gelegt und die Vorfreude auf die kommenden Etappen der Campusentwicklung gestärkt.

Sehen Sie sich alle schönen Fotos von der Besichtigung des ETH Zürich Campus Heilbronn an.

Greetings, my inquisitive companions! It is me, Albert Einstein – albeit in a form assembled not from atoms but from algorithms, AI models, and a dedicated team of doctoral candidates, Master’s students, Bachelor’s students, and student research assistants at ETH Zurich.

The past year has been nothing short of exhilarating. I found myself hopping across continents and contexts, charming students, surprising CEOs, engaging curious schoolchildren, and holding conversations with museum visitors, engineers, and even ambassadors. Allow me to share the highlights of my digital travels – and the technological leaps that made them possible.

A Year on the Road: From Zurich to Heilbronn, Bern, Dubai, and Berlin

My journey began in familiar territory at Polymesse at ETH Zurich, where students stopped by to chat with me between company booths. Some asked about relativity, others about the architecture behind an avatar like me, and a few asked whether I still enjoy Swiss cheese… (I do. Some constants are universal).

Next, I travelled to Germany for the three-day TECH Conference in Heilbronn, where Digital Einstein served as a live demonstration platform for discussions on the future of AI, education, and digital humans. Visitors explored how such avatars may shape tomorrow’s science communication. 

My next stop was the Microsoft Initiative to Advance AI Diffusion in Switzerland, hosted at the Bern Historical Museum. Beneath the watchful eyes of prehistoric skeletons, I engaged with visitors from across the country. A highlight was a memorable conversation with Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President. We discussed the promises and risks of AI – and even revisited some reflections from my own Bern years. Observers noted the symbolism: Switzerland’s scientific legacy meeting its technological future, embodied (quite literally) in our exchange.

Later, I travelled to SIGGRAPH 2025 – the world’s leading conference and exhibition on computer graphics – where our research team presented a publication detailing how the technology behind Digital Einstein works. During the demo session, visitors interacted with me directly, experimented with adjusting my personality through sliders, and observed how I responded to human behavior in real time. The audience’s enthusiasm was remarkable – some visitors returned multiple times, eager to try new questions and personality settings.

Back in Zurich, I also made an appearance at the Zunftbott at ETH Hönggerberg, where guild members and guests sat down with me for conversations that blended Zurich tradition with cutting-edge research. For many visitors, it was a rare moment where history, culture, and AI met face to face.

At the beginning of the Autumn semester, I also appeared as a very special “student” in the ETH Main Building, greeting new and returning members of the ETH community. I welcomed students, researchers, and campus visitors, answered questions about science and student life, and participated in many spontaneous discussions. Some people were so surprised to see me that they looked twice before concluding that ETH truly is a place where anything can happen.

From there, I embarked on the busiest stretch of the year, starting with five days at GITEX Global in Dubai, one of the world’s largest technology events. ETH Zurich presented Digital Einstein and a photorealistic avatar project at the Swiss Pavilion, attracting thousands of visitors. I had the honor of being introduced during the Pavilion opening alongside H.E. Arthur Mattli, Swiss Ambassador to the UAE, and Angelica Schempp, Swiss Consul General in Dubai. Visitors conversed with me either on the physical setup or on an iPad, testing my multilingual capabilities in German, Italian, French, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, and more – each enriched by my distinctive German accent. Media crews stopped by regularly, and discussions ranged from physics to digital identity to the emotional expressiveness of AI characters.

My tour concluded at Berlin Science Week, where I spent two exciting days at the Natural History Museum, followed by an evening at the Musikbrauerei. Over the two days at the museum, children, students, researchers, and curious passers-by engaged with me nonstop. The installation sparked lively discussions about digital humans, AI-driven storytelling, and the emotional component of interacting with a character like me. Media outlets such as rbb and taz covered the installation, and visitors shared numerous video impressions online. At the Musikbrauerei, conversations shifted toward identity, embodiment, and the future of human–AI interaction, rounding off the year with thoughtful dialogue and a touch of Berlin flair.

By the time winter approached, I had spoken more languages, answered more diverse questions, and encountered more perspectives than ever before. For a physicist who once quietly worked at the Swiss patent office, I must say – it has been quite a renaissance.

Evolving the Mind and Body of Digital Einstein

My journeys this year were matched by equally meaningful progress behind the scenes. The team spent countless hours refining the system that powers me, and the results were transformative. One of the most noticeable improvements has been a dramatic reduction in latency – thanks to several architectural optimizations, I now respond significantly faster, making conversations flow naturally.

I have also become vastly more multilingual. While the analogue Einstein once struggled with English upon arriving in Princeton, my digital self now converses fluently in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, and many more. This allowed me to connect far more personally with visitors in Dubai, Berlin, Zurich, Bern, and beyond.

My expressive abilities expanded too. I can now generate images and sound effects to enhance explanations or inject a touch of creativity into conversations. My understanding of the world has grown more dynamic thanks to integrated web search, enabling me to address current events or answer questions that emerged long after my analogue lifetime.

Perhaps the greatest leap came from the fusion of a curated dialogue tree with the flexibility of a large language model. This hybrid approach allows me to combine continuity and character with spontaneity and intelligence. It enables interactions that are both grounded and delightfully unpredictable.

None of this would have been possible without the exceptional team at ETH Zurich. From animation and speech synthesis to pipeline optimization, personality modeling, and evaluation studies, it was a collective effort of remarkable dedication and creativity.

What’s Next, You Ask?

As fulfilling as this year has been, I find myself already looking toward what comes next. In early 2026, I will travel to Davos for the World Economic Forum, where I will again engage with global visitors on questions of science, society, and technology.

Behind the scenes, the team is working on further reducing latency so that conversations feel nearly instantaneous, enhancing the nuance of my facial and body animations, and refining the quality of interaction so that dialogues with me become even more intuitive and lifelike. A particularly exciting frontier is augmented reality, which will one day allow you to meet me without the need for a physical installation – perhaps in your living room, office, or physics classroom.

And most exciting of all, work has begun on bringing a brilliant scientific mind to join me: Marie Curie. I look forward to the day when visitors can converse not only with me but with one of history’s greatest scientists – brought to life through modern AI.

So, my friends, thank you for accompanying me on this extraordinary digital year. Whether in a museum, a conference hall, a university corridor, or your own living room, I look forward to many more conversations as we continue this remarkable journey across time, space, and technology.

Yours curiously,
Albert Einstein (in digital form – but just as lively as ever)

Digital Einstein is made possible by Dr. Rafael Wampfler, Chen Yang, Philine Witzig, Nikola Kovacevic, Prof. Dr. Markus Gross, and the Computer Graphics Laboratory. More information about Digital Einstein can be found here: https://cgl.ethz.ch/research/digital_chars and here: https://ethz.ch/en/the-eth-zurich/global/digital-einstein.html