I am Chloé, and while many space paths seem to point towards the USA, NASA or JPL, I felt drawn to Japan, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and a culture I knew would challenge me far beyond science. As part of the first cohort of a new programme, there was no established exchange path yet, so getting here meant searching, asking, hoping and slowly finding my own way.

Then Prof. Louise Harra from PMOD/WRC connected me with Prof. Toshifumi Shimizu at JAXA/ISAS, who accepted me as a student on a SOLAR-C related project studying the Sun and space weather. I was incredibly happy, but also thought: “Okay, now this is actually happening.”

The months before leaving were intense: visa papers, housing, exams and goodbyes all came at once. I chose to live in Tokyo to fully experience the city, knowing it would be overwhelming. I left Switzerland excited and nervous, hoping the path would start to make sense once I walked it.

Arriving in Japan was beautiful, but also very humbling. One of the first big challenges was the language. Japanese is not only a new language for me, but also a completely different writing system. Actually, three writing systems. Before coming here, I had learnt hiragana and katakana, but suddenly I was standing in front of a washing machine covered in kanji, trying to understand how to do laundry with Google Translate and AI. It sounds funny now, and in some way it was, but in that moment I realised how many simple things become difficult when you are far away from home.

My commute to JAXA/ISAS in Sagamihara became a daily lesson in humility, from taking the wrong train between local, (semi) express and rapid express lines to navigating Shinjuku Station like an escape room until, after two weeks, I finally found my way to work.

At JAXA/ISAS, I was welcomed with so much kindness, but being a student surrounded by experienced researchers and scientists can still feel intimidating. In my thesis meetings, several supervisors, postdocs and senior scientists join to discuss my progress, and although I am grateful for their support, I sometimes feel a quiet pressure to prove that I belong there. After one of my first meetings, I felt completely overwhelmed and out of place, unsure of my results, my words and whether I belonged in science at all. I wanted to talk to someone, but with the language barrier and my lab friends speaking Japanese, even sharing that frustration felt difficult. That day, I went home angry at myself, lay in bed and seriously wondered whether I should return to Switzerland.

I think this is one of the most honest parts of my journey here. I am still learning how to take up space in the space world. Not as someone who already knows everything. Not as someone who is always confident. But as someone who is curious, hardworking, sometimes overwhelmed, and still trying.

And then there are the small moments that make everything feel warmer. Every morning, a Japanese student in my lab teaches me a little kanji. We talk about our days, our weekends, our favourite things, and slowly I learn more than just characters. I learn small pieces of language, culture and friendship. In the afternoon, we often have oyatsu, a snack time where people gather, share sweets and talk. Sometimes I learn a new phrase. Sometimes I try to guess the meaning of a kanji. Sometimes I just listen and enjoy being part of it.

My lab also has a tradition of bringing souvenir snacks from trips. Each snack is recorded in a book with its origin and taste. I really love this. It is such a small thing, but it says so much about the group. These small rituals have helped me feel less like a visitor and more like someone who is slowly becoming part of a place.

Not every day feels easy. Even after three months, the language barrier still makes me feel lost, and I still doubt myself sometimes. But almost halfway through my stay, I also see myself changing: finding my way, asking more questions, and learning that feeling unsure does not mean failing.

This journey is about more than my master’s thesis at JAXA/ISAS. It is about finding courage in small moments, following a path that was not clearly laid out for me, and slowly making it mine.

In my role as Chief of Staff to the President, I have had the privilege of observing how ETH Zurich’s president, Joël Mesot, builds on and further develops the institution’s existing strengths. Step by step, this approach is helping to shape strategic directions that transform the university into a future-ready and resilient institution—one that is increasingly able to serve society in a world defined by growing complexity and uncertainty.

One illustrative example is ETH Zurich’s investment in the thematic area of space. At first glance, this may appear as a highly specialized scientific domain. Yet, on closer inspection, it becomes clear that space is not just a field of research — it is a strategic lens through which many of ETH Zurich’s ambitions come together.

There are four key reasons why this focus makes strategic sense:

• First, space is an environment where boundaries are continuously tested and extended. Each technological or scientific advance opens up new frontiers, while simultaneously deepening our understanding of Earth itself, from climate dynamics to planetary systems.

• Second, from an economic perspective, space stands out as a rapidly growing sector expected to sustain strong expansion over the coming decades. This growth is driven by innovation in satellite technology, the rise of data-driven applications, exploration, and emerging commercial models that increasingly position space as critical infrastructure for the global economy.

• Third, space missions and technologies demand an exceptional level of precision, reliability, and long-term robustness. While costs are undeniably significant, the real challenge lies elsewhere: in building systems that function flawlessly under extreme conditions over long periods of time. This engineering mindset closely aligns with Switzerland’s broader strengths in precision, quality, and reliability.

• Fourth, by developing strong capabilities in the space domain, ETH Zurich positions itself as an even more attractive destination for outstanding talent, from students to early-career researchers and established professors alike.

To translate this ambition into action, ETH Space serves as the key vehicle for implementation. It can be understood as a cross-cutting strategic platform that brings together research, education, entrepreneurship, industry collaboration, and science diplomacy. In doing so, it is closely aligned with ETH Zurich’s broader strategic framework and institutional priorities, and it enables their coordinated implementation in practice.

In particular, ETH Space strongly reinforces the priority of «Advancing and promoting the fundamentals», as space research naturally brings together fundamental science, advanced engineering, long time horizons, and high technological ambition. It also closely reflects the priority of «Mastering the continuous blurring of boundaries»—between engineering and science, academia and industry, civilian and governmental actors, as well as national and international collaboration.

ETH Space plays an important role in strengthening ETH Zurich’s international visibility and strategic positioning. It reinforces the university’s role in frontier science, European research ecosystems, and high-impact technological innovation. In this sense, ETH Space is not only an organisational structure, but also a strategic narrative: it helps articulate ETH Zurich’s ambition to contribute to solving grand challenges at a planetary scale.

In the coming months, we will publish a series of stories from colleagues at ETH Space, opening up their work and the exciting questions they are pursuing. Together, these perspectives will show how ETH Space contributes to ETH Zurich and beyond.  

Space invites us to rethink and to wonder. It is a perfect topic for public engagement, dialogue, and science communication, helping to make complex developments accessible and relevant to a broader public. ETH Zurich is seizing these opportunities, for example by launching wow², a new event that brings ETH Zurich and its research to life, and creates opportunities for direct encounters and conversations between researchers and visitors.

On 30 May 2026, wow² Space invites you on a journey into space: from lava tubes on the Moon to distant galaxies where stars are born and fade away — and back again to our blue planet, where satellites help us detect forest fires early, measure movements in the ice of the Alps, and even find our way to the nearest café. You can take a look behind the scenes of the missions that expand our understanding of space — and sharpen our view of Earth.

We warmly invite you to join us and rethink living!

What does it take to explore the universe, understand our planet from above and imagine life beyond Earth?

At ETH Zurich, these questions are not confined to research papers or laboratories. They come to life through people, projects and conversations. wow² Space, taking place on 30 May 2026 at ETH Zurich Main Building, offers a unique opportunity to experience exactly that.

When we think about space, we often picture distant galaxies or future missions. At wow² it becomes tangible, relevant and connected to our everyday lives. The event brings together a wide range of perspectives, from environmental monitoring on Earth to the search for life beyond our solar system.

wow² Space is an open invitation to everyone to discover space research and science up close, get inspired, ask questions, and experience on 30 May at ETH Zurich how research is shaping our future view of space.

Science Through the People Behind It

Verena Griess explores how satellite data and artificial intelligence help us detect environmental changes, offering new ways to understand forests and ecosystems. Adrian Glauser takes audiences on a journey through the universe, explaining how modern telescopes reveal phenomena that remain invisible to the human eye.

Space exploration becomes more concrete through the work of Elena Krasnova, who works on robotic systems designed for lunar missions, and Simon Stähler, who provides insights into Mars exploration and the ongoing search for signs of life.

The programme also highlights how space is increasingly connected to global questions. In a live podcast session, David Vogel discusses the geopolitical dimensions of space together with Felix Seidel and Leonid Leiva Ariosa.

Experiencing the Universe

Beyond talks, wow² Space creates immersive experiences that make complex topics accessible. In the mobile planetarium, visitors are guided by Urs Scheifele and Matthias Hofer through the solar system and beyond. From the phases of the Moon to the structure of our solar system and the life cycles of stars, these shows bring astronomical phenomena vividly to life and make them accessible to all age groups.

From ideas to future scenarios

wow² Space also invites participants to actively engage with future possibilities.

Workshops led by the FUTURIUM explore questions such as how we might live on other planets or manage the increasing number of satellites in orbit. Through storytelling and hands-on prototyping, participants can develop their own visions of the future and make them tangible.

Inspiring curiosity across generations

The event places a strong emphasis on engaging younger audiences and families.

Guido Schwarz introduces children to the history of space exploration, while Lia Sartori explains how scientists search for life beyond Earth. Interactive workshops encourage creativity and experimentation, supported by contributors such as Hanna Sathiapal, André Csillaghy, Lukas Schmid and Muriel Stiefel.

Additional activities are offered by initiatives like mint & pepper and the Academic Spaceflight Initiative Switzerland, where participants can build rockets or explore robotics.

When Science Meets Entertainment

In the evening, wow² Space takes on a different tone.

The show BLACK BOX Space combines science with humour and performance. Hosted by Patrick “Karpi” Karpiczenko and Mirko Bischofberger, and featuring Sascha Quanz and Deborah Müller, it explores big questions about space in an engaging and entertaining format.

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Co‑moderating our Global Lecture last week on “The Search for Life in the Universe” felt a bit like opening a window onto the cosmos. Together with my colleague Chris Luebkeman, we had the pleasure of welcoming two exceptional guests: Sir Pete Worden, Executive Director of the Breakthrough Initiatives, and Professor Sascha Quanz of ETH Zurich, who leads the visionary LIFE Space Mission.

In an hour that passed at orbital velocity, we explored what may be the most compelling question of all: 

“Are we alone?“

Pete Worden’s Cosmic Perspective

Sir Pete brought the kind of perspective only a career spent at the frontiers of astronomy, space policy, and technological disruption can provide. With characteristic wit, he framed the central dilemma quoting Arthur C. Clarke:

“Either we’re alone in the universe, or we’re not, and both possibilities are equally terrifying.”

Pete walked us through why the coming decades may finally allow us to resolve this dilemma. His work with the Breakthrough Initiatives spans the search for technosignatures, the development of next‑generation telescopes, and even early concepts for interstellar probes. A few of his points stayed with me:

• The nearest stars matter most. Alpha Centauri remains a scientific and symbolic target, close enough that one day a probe might realistically get there.
• Not all signals are created equal. He told the story of a supposed detection from Proxima Centauri: champagne briefly opened, only for the signal to be revealed as interference. A reminder that discovery requires rigour, patience and humility.
• The technological landscape is shifting fast. Private investment, falling launch costs, and rapid iteration are transforming space science. As Pete put it, much of what once looked like science fiction “now simply looks like a very ambitious engineering project”.

He also emphasised the value of asking daring questions. Could we one day use the Sun itself as a gravitational lens to image a distant world in detail? The idea sounds wildly futuristic, yet it is grounded in real physics. Listening to him, one had the sense that the horizon of the possible is still expanding.

The LIFE Mission: Reading the Heat of Other Worlds

Professor Quanz introduced LIFE, ETH Zurich’s bold proposal for a space observatory designed to detect the heat signatures of exoplanets in the mid‑infrared.

This technique would allow scientists to probe atmospheric composition, surface temperature and pressure, and other factors essential for assessing habitability. As he explained:

“Thermal emission lets us look much deeper into an atmosphere than reflected light ever can.”

If even one planet shows the right combination of gases or thermal patterns, it could point to biological processes. This would be a milestone that could reshape science and society.

When Finding Nothing Still Teaches Us Everything

One of the most thought‑provoking themes came from Professor Quanz: the scientific value of a “null result”.

Searching dozens of planets and finding no biosignatures would still tell us something profound about Earth’s rarity, resilience, and fragility.

“If you look at enough planets and still find no signatures of life, at some point you are no longer just unlucky; you have learned something fundamental.”

Pete agreed, noting that truly alien life may be so different from anything we can currently detect that we will only recognise it in hindsight.

A Journey That Outlasts Us All

Both speakers insisted that the search for life is more than a scientific challenge; it is a civilisational one. It spans disciplines, cultures, and generations. Sir Pete phrased it simply:

“This is our future… and we need everyone’s help.”

Moderating this conversation was a reminder of how powerful curiosity can be. In looking outward to the stars, we inevitably reflect inward on our own place in the universe, and the responsibilities we carry here on Earth.

Whether Earth 2.0 turns out to be just next door, or impossibly rare, the search itself is a unifying journey. And it has only just begun.

Check out the pictures from the event here: Meet ETH Flickr

And in case you missed it, watch the talk here:

I hope this glimpse encourages you to join us at a future event. I find that with our Global Lecture Series, we begin a new journey every time, giving ourselves pause to reflect on key topics on the global agenda and learning from individuals with remarkable clarity and foresight. I invite you all to come and join us!