Having moderated a few events for us since we connected with her in the days of the ETH Pavilion in Davos, it was high time to put Magdalena Skipper in the limelight as our special guest in the ETH Global Lectures Series. The Editor-in-Chief of Nature joined Nicolas Gruber, Head of the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zurich, to explore how an ecosystem perspective can strengthen research in our times of geopolitical uncertainty, growing complexity and the advent of AI.

Drawing on her experience as one of the most influential voices in scientific publishing, Magdalena offered a compelling analogy. Just as healthy natural ecosystems depend on diversity and interaction, so too does science:

“There is no healthy ecosystem out there that is not diverse.”

Thus, diversity goes far beyond demographics. Universities, industry, funders, publishers, policymakers and civil society all play distinct but interconnected roles. Nicolas, whose own work focuses on ocean ecosystems and the climate, immediately connected with the idea:

“It’s the interaction between the elements where the resilience comes from.”

That interaction was a recurring theme throughout the evening. Both speakers stressed that the major challenges facing society, from climate change to health and technology, cannot be solved in isolation. Collaboration across disciplines, institutions and borders remains essential.

Trust in a Fragmented World

A particularly thought-provoking part of the discussion focused on trust. As Magdalena noted, we live at a time when misinformation is increasing and confidence in institutions is being challenged. Yet scientific advances continue to shape almost every aspect of our lives. How do we maintain trust in science? Part of the answer, she argued, lies in engagement. Rather than communicating from an “ivory tower”, researchers must bring society into the conversation and explain not only what science discovers, but how it works. One of my favourite moments came when the discussion turned to curiosity. Reflecting on ETH Zurich’s recent Scientifica festival, Nicolas spoke about watching children delight in scientific discovery:

“We have a deeply intrinsic level of curiosity in us.”

To which Magdalena responded:

“We’re all born as scientists.”

Keeping Humans in the Loop

It would not be a Global Lecture in 2026 without talking about AI… Nicolas expressed concern that if researchers increasingly turn to AI for answers, they may lose some of the conversations and collaborations that often spark new ideas.

Magdalena shared an example from the world of scientific publishing. When researchers were surveyed about AI-assisted peer review, some early-career scientists said they would welcome AI-generated feedback because it felt kinder than comments from human reviewers. The comment sparked a wider reflection on research culture and professionalism. For Magdalena, the key challenge is ensuring that researchers remain in control:

“Let’s engage with it and make it into a tool that will be useful to us, but we continue to be in the driving seat.”

“Most of the time, things fail.”

The final part of the conversation focused on a topic that clearly resonated with the audience, judging by the number of question cards submitted. Magdalena argued that failure is not an exception in research: it is how research works. Experiments lead to dead ends. Hypotheses prove wrong. Papers are corrected. Yet these experiences are rarely discussed openly. Nicolas echoed this point from the perspective of research integrity, arguing that acknowledging mistakes should be recognised as a sign of strength rather than weakness. If researchers become too afraid of failure, they stop taking risks. And without risk-taking, truly transformative discoveries become less likely.

As the discussion drew to a close, I was struck by how relevant Magdalena’s ecosystem analogy felt. Diversity creates resilience. Collaboration strengthens discovery. Trust enables progress. And failure, uncomfortable as it may be, is often the path to innovation.

The future of science will depend not only on individual breakthroughs, but on the strength of the ecosystem that makes those breakthroughs possible.

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

And see the recording below:

I hope this glimpse encourages you to come to 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! The next event will be on 12 November on the Future of Universities, with WEF Founder Klaus Schwab and ETH Zurich’s Stefano Brusoni.

As part of my journey at ETH, I had the joy of going to Tanzania with ETH4D and Helvetas for six months, where I was lucky to collaborate with a team comprising only local Tanzanians, working on a biochar project. The goal of the project was to reduce deforestation through mobilisation of untapped agricultural waste. As around 80% of the national energy demand is met with biomass, one can imagine that deforestation is a huge topic affecting water cycles and local biodiversity. To support me through this, Helvetas and ETH4D organizsed a so-called “tandem” – a local partner I worked closely with – which helped me a lot throughout my journey.

Before I left, I carried with me the idea that I was attending one of the finest universities in the world, and I went to Tanzania somewhat as a kind of Swiss knowledge producer, there to help. Looking back, I can only smile at how quickly life had other plans for that identity.

To be honest, when I first stepped out to see Morogoro, the place I would be living for the next six months, I thought to myself: What have I done? Although I had travelled to quite a few countries before, my new surroundings felt foreign to everything else I had perceived in my life; I felt completely lost and overwhelmed. There is just a completely different “rhythm” to life compared to what I’m used to be. But see for yourself in the following images:

This rhythm wasn’t chaos, as I first assumed, it was simply a different way of keeping time. Things moved in response to what was needed, emerging out of the collective rather than out of a plan. Growing up in a German-speaking country, this was a huge culture shock.

But it wasn’t just this social rhythm, the aesthetics and the environment are strikingly different too. It’s vivid, colorful and powerful. If it rains, it really rains; there’s no such thing as “Nieselregen”.

Luckily, I soon got in touch with the incredibly kind and helpful Tanzanian culture, and with my local partner, Theresia. Through her and others, I connected deeply with a mindset of collaboration in the face of real material constraints. I was really touched by this generosity and was curious about its source. Perhaps a history of socialism, the sheer year-round yield of nature, or as one friend of mine put it: “We know that here everybody is on the ground, so we just help each other.” Whatever the source was, I am not fully aware of, but what I am certain of is how this mindset made me feel at home very quickly. It also shaped my way of thinking, showing me that real problems can never be solved through fear of scarcity, egoism, and pure efficiency, but rather through a spirit of collaboration and trust.

The Swiss knowledge bringer I thought I’d be, quietly gave way to someone who had simply come to learn and to build things together with others. Going through this process was a huge gift to me, and I’m deeply convinced that there is no way forward but collaboration and shared curiosity. Perhaps that’s the real homage: not to help given, but to two sides who simply worked alongside one another, each bringing what the other lacked.

What are we looking for in space, and what can it teach us about life on Earth?

In May, wow² Space launched visitors on a journey through research, technology and imagination. This autumn, the journey continues. On 31 October and 1 November, wow² Space returns to ETH Zurich with new perspectives, new experiences and new opportunities to explore some of humanity’s biggest questions.

Across two days, visitors can follow their curiosity through exhibitions, talks, tours, workshops and performances that explore not only the universe around us, but also what it means to be human within it.

Starting with a Big Question

If you’re wondering where to begin, start with the question at the heart of this year’s event. In his opening keynote, Professor Thomas Zurbuchen invites us to reflect on a deceptively simple idea: Why space?

It is a question that echoes throughout the weekend, whether the topic is astronomy, robotics, climate research or the search for life beyond Earth. Rather than offering a single answer, wow² Space invites visitors to explore the many ways in which space shapes science, society and our understanding of ourselves.

Looking Beyond Earth

From there, the programme branches out in many directions.

You might find yourself gazing towards distant planets and wondering whether life exists elsewhere in the universe. Or perhaps you’ll step inside the historic Semper Observatory, where generations of researchers have studied the night sky, before continuing your journey through the Solar System in one of the immersive planetarium shows.

For those fascinated by the cosmos, wow² Space offers countless opportunities to look beyond Earth and explore some of the biggest mysteries still facing science today.

Imagining Humanity’s Next Steps

What comes after exploration?

For those interested in humanity’s future beyond Earth, there is plenty to discover. Meet LunarLeaper, a robot designed to tackle some of the Moon’s most challenging terrain, learn how students are developing Mars rovers, and hear from analogue astronauts who prepare for future missions by testing space-like conditions here on Earth.

Together, these projects offer a glimpse into how exploration begins long before anyone leaves the ground.

Choose Your Own Journey

What makes wow² Space stand out is the variety of ways to engage.

You can listen, watch, discuss, experiment, build, play or simply explore. One moment might find you examining meteorites or experiencing an earthquake simulator; the next you may be listening to a live podcast recording, joining a workshop about the future of the Solar System, or laughing along at a science comedy show.

For younger explorers, the weekend offers plenty of opportunities to create, code and experiment. From rockets and robotics to hands-on science activities, the emphasis is not on providing answers, but on encouraging questions.

There is no single route through the programme. Whether you spend an hour or an entire weekend exploring, the experience is ultimately shaped by your own curiosity.

And perhaps that’s exactly the point…

Explore the full programme and plan your visit here: https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/meet-eth/wowhochzwei.html

Further information

If you have any questions or feedback, the meet ETH team is happy to assist via email: meet.eth@sl.ethz.ch

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As the summer draws to a close, we bring you five stories from the Connecting & Exploring section of the ETH Ambassadors Blog. Together, they show how the ETH Zurich community, including students, staff and researchers, extends far beyond campus. From Singapore to New York, Houston to Tokyo, these stories explore how international experiences broaden horizons, spark new ideas, forge lasting connections and open doors to unexpected opportunities around the world.

Here’s your curated selection of inspiring reads illustrating that ETH truly has a global reach. Happy reading!

1. Finding My Way to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

By Chloé Pilloud

What happens when you choose the road less travelled? 

Chloé Pilloud’s journey to Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is a story of curiosity, resilience and finding confidence in unfamiliar surroundings, proving that some of the most rewarding paths are the ones you create yourself.

Read more…

2. CERAWeek 2026: Shaping the Energy Future during a Global Energy Crisis

By Benedikt Buhk, Florian Mozina and Vivian Chen

Can the energy transition stay on track when the world is focused on energy security? 

Three ETH students travelled to CERAWeek, the world’s largest energy conference, to explore how industry, policy and academia are responding to a global energy crisis, and why academic voices remain essential in shaping a sustainable energy future.

Read more…

3. From Seeds to Success: Being ETH’s Gardener at the ENHANCE Alliance

By Philipp Bieri

How do international university partnerships grow from ambitious ideas into lasting impact? 

This story takes readers inside ETH Zurich’s role in the ENHANCE Alliance, showing how collaboration, student mobility and shared innovation are helping cultivate a more connected European higher education landscape.

Read more…

4. Global Young Scientists Summit 2026: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

By Lucas Gobatti, Tatiana Akhmetshina, Kostiantyn Sakhatskyi, Mitchell Taylor, Eliane Ballmer, Jan Meissner

What happens when the next generation of scientists meets the people who have changed the world? 

At the Global Young Scientists Summit in Singapore, six ETH researchers exchanged ideas with Nobel laureates and leading innovators, returning with fresh inspiration, new connections and a renewed sense of purpose in their own scientific journeys.

Read more…

5. At the Other End of the World: from ETH to New York

By Defne Çetinkaya and Michelle Reinschmidt

Can a student project spark conversations far beyond the classroom? 

Two ETH architecture students travelled to New York to present their work alongside Professor Mariam Issoufou, discovering how ideas developed at ETH can inspire dialogue on architecture, culture and the futures we choose to imagine.

Read more…

Sharing Your ETH Stories

Do you have a story to tell about your role as an ETH Ambassador at home or abroad? Contact the editorial team with your idea: https://ethambassadors.ethz.ch/submit/

On 2 July 2026, ETH Zurich celebrated an important milestone: the official inauguration of the ETH Zurich Campus Heilbronn, marking a new chapter in cross-border collaboration in research, education and innovation.

The new campus will focus on artificial intelligence, data science and responsible digitalisation, strengthening connections between Switzerland, Germany and the wider European research and innovation ecosystem. The inauguration brought together Swiss Federal Councillor Albert Rösti, Germany’s State Secretary Martina Hirayama, Federal Minister Katherina Reiche and Minister Petra Olschowski, as well as ETH President Joël Mesot and Reinhold R. Geilsdörfer of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation.

But the ceremony also featured a rather extraordinary guest: Digital Einstein. Joining the inauguration via video, ETH Zurich’s digital version of its most famous alumnus had the special honour of performing the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

The moment brought together tradition and innovation in a uniquely ETH Zurich way. Albert Einstein once walked the corridors of ETH Zurich; more than a century later, his digital counterpart helped open the doors to a new campus dedicated to shaping the future of digital transformation.

Watch the Digital Einstein ribbon-cutting:

Read Jürg Brunnschweiler’s personal reflection on the opening of the ETH Zurich Campus Heilbronn and the journey behind this historic milestone.

Find out more about the Digital Einstein here.

Get a glimpse into the Campus Heilbronn through the eyes of its general manager, Michele De Lorenzi (in German).

ETH Zurich is known around the world for groundbreaking research and innovation. But behind every discovery are fascinating places, remarkable collections, inspiring architecture, and stories waiting to be told. Through the meet ETH Tours, visitors have the opportunity to step behind the scenes and experience ETH Zurich from entirely new perspectives.

Whether you are visiting Zurich for the first time, have walked past the iconic Main Building countless times, or are simply curious about what happens inside one of the world’s leading universities, these public tours open doors that are usually closed to everyday visitors.

Led by knowledgeable guides and experts, each tour offers a unique glimpse into the people, places, and ideas that shape life at ETH Zurich. One week you might find yourself exploring the university’s rich history through original archive documents. The next, you could be discovering innovative materials that promote healthier buildings, learning how priceless collections are digitised for future generations, or standing beneath the historic dome of the Semper Observatory where scientists once studied the Sun and stars.

There is no single way to experience ETH Zurich—and that is exactly what makes these tours so special. History, science, architecture, innovation, art, sustainability, and technology all come together to create experiences for curious minds of every background.

Upcoming Guided Tours

Women in Science – Women in the History of ETH

18 August 2026 | German

Travel through 170 years of ETH Zurich’s history and discover the remarkable women who helped shape the university. Original documents from the University Archives reveal inspiring stories of pioneers, challenges, and progress towards equality.

Registration here.

Main Building Tour

7 September 2026 | English

Walk in the footsteps of Albert Einstein while exploring ETH Zurich’s iconic Main Building. Discover its impressive architecture, hidden corridors, magnificent Semper Aula, and enjoy panoramic views over Zurich from the famous roof terrace.

Registration here.

Healthy Materials

15 September 2026 | German

Can building materials contribute to our wellbeing? Visit the ETH Material Hub and discover how innovative materials influence the air we breathe, the spaces we inhabit, and the future of sustainable construction.

Registration here.

From Analog to Digital

29 September 2026 | German

Step inside the futuristic DigiCenter of the ETH Library and experience how centuries-old books, photographs, and historical treasures are transformed into digital knowledge accessible around the world.

Registration here.

Exploring the Sky

6 October 2026 | German

Discover the beautifully restored Semper Observatory, where generations of researchers once observed the heavens. Learn how scientists studied sunspots and the universe from this architectural jewel in the heart of Zurich.

Registration here.

An Experience for Everyone

All public tours are open to individuals and groups and cost CHF 10 per person. Tours are offered in German or English, with several accessibility options available to ensure as many visitors as possible can enjoy the experience.

Whether your passion is science, architecture, history, sustainability, or simply discovering places that are usually hidden from view, there is a meet ETH Tour waiting for you.

We look forward to welcoming you to ETH Zurich and showing you the university from a perspective few visitors ever experience. Check out other interesting tours from meet ETH: https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/meet-eth/tours.html

My name is Balázs, but everyone just calls me Balu. I am a Master Student in Statistics at ETH Zurich, interested broadly in Data Science, Machine Learning and AI, with a particular focus on Reinforcement Learning and Large Language Models.

The incredible odyssey I am about to tell you about all started one day back in the spring of 2025, when I saw on the Instagram story of ETH that UNDRR (United Nations Office for Disaster and Risk Reduction) was looking for Data Science and AI Interns in Bangkok. I immediately knew that I had to apply. While traveling around in Southeast Asia for two months two years ago, I fell in love with Asian culture. Considering that in my studies I put a strong focus on Data Science and AI, I thought this is the perfect opportunity for me!

Fast forward 6 months, I am standing at the gates of ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) in Bangkok, ready to be picked up and start my internship. I quickly got to know my team and all the other interns. I was surprised to see how many other interns there were across all the UN agencies in Bangkok. This made it very easy to find friends and build a social circle right from the beginning. What I valued right from the getgo, was the diverse background of all the people around me, be it culturally or academically. Most of the other interns were in the same phase of life as me, hovering somewhere around finishing their Master’s Degree. The majority had a background in social sciences, such as economics or law. At ETH we sometimes forget that there is also a world out there that does not care about math as much we do! It was very nice to be surrounded by people that look at the world from another angle compared to most STEM students. This helped me broaden my horizons in many aspects of life.

The start of my internship was fairly slow. Because the other two interns (Bilal, also an applied maths student from ETH, and Siwei, studying in Stockholm) and I were the first three AI interns ever at UNDRR, it was a lot of figuring out on both ends. As per usual, the first few weeks I was busy clicking through all the online onboardings. Who knew that as an intern in the IT team, I needed to know how to behave in case I am trapped in a mine field in the desert. But I soon got introduced to my main project: DATUM, UNDRRs RAG-based LLM. In a nutshell, this is a language model like ChatGPT, that builds on internal data at UNDRR. The language model can retrieve information from documents from the database of UNDRR that is relevant for the question a user may ask.

To my big surprise, after some weeks I was named the Project Manager. It felt quite surreal being given this responsibility as an intern. But I quickly realised that this internship would not be like any other internship. I doubt that there are many other internships that give you the same amount of responsibility right from the start as we have been given. This was both, challenging and also rewarding, at the same time. Considering the fact that AI was not the main focus of our team and something most members were not deeply familiar with, we interns were the ones with the most expertise and hence we were the ones who built the foundation for future interns or even full time employees. This is one of the things that I am most proud of: setting something in motion that will hopefully live on way beyond the end of my internship. To educate the other members of our team on topics revolving around AI, we held bi-weekly AI-talks, where we interns gave presentations about AI-related topics that we deemed interesting and relevant.

One of my proudest moments was when Jeanette Elsworth (Chief of the Communication, Advocacy and Knowledge Management Section of UNDRR) came to visit us in Bangkok and I had the opportunity to present to her the progress of our work. Within the three to four months that I have been there at that point, we had a prototype running of our RAG-based LLM. It was really rewarding to see the engagement and excitement of the whole team. For the remaining part of my internship, we further improved our model and developed an interface for it for internal use.

Another thing that I appreciated and made use of, was, that I could attend most of the conferences held at ESCAP. One of these conferences was the “AI for Developing Countries Forum” (https://af.net/bangkok/). By attending this conference, I learned a lot about the human aspect of artificial intelligence, and the imbalance in power in the AI race that is ongoing worldwide. The two most striking learnings for me were:

1) 60% of web content is written in English, whereas only around 16% of the world population speaks English (https://pollicy.medium.com/the-digital-divide-extends-to-language-what-now-919da821389e). This leads to an immense bias towards the English language when training LLMs on all of the data available on the web.

2) The CLOUD Act: a law that allows American federal law enforcement agencies to access data stored on servers from US-based tech companies (Meta, Google, Amazon, etc.) regardless of the location of the datacenter, be it in the US or abroad (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CLOUD_Act, https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4943, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-115publ141/pdf/PLAW-115publ141.pdf). Learning about this law made me question all the privacy claims that these big tech giants make. Attending this conference really broadened my horizons and gave me a new perspective on AI and data sovereignty. 

Outside of work, I had the opportunity to make Bangkok, the concrete jungle of Thailand, my home and engage in all the craziness and chaos it has to offer. I also had the privilege to travel around the country and explore it’s beautiful beaches, its underwater world while scuba diving, its majestic temples and most importantly, get to know the immense kindness of the Thai people. Many weekends and long evenings well spent that I will keep in good memory for the rest of my life.

At this point, I want to say a big thank you to all the people that have made this experience so amazing and unforgettable. Some people I want to mention explicitly include my direct supervisors, Anders Hansen and Revati Mani, my coworkers with whom I worked together on DATUM: Ryan Sandigan, Bilal Bounajma and Siwei Zhang and Camilla Andreozzi; and all the other interns that I’ve met along the way.

Lastly, none of this would have been possible without the support of ETH Studios. I am immensely grateful to have been given the financial support necessary to embark on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Summer is a season for exploration. Some of us set off for distant destinations, others head into the mountains, discover new ideas from a deck chair, or simply take the time to reflect and recharge.

At ETH Zurich, exploration takes many forms. Through ETH Studios, students step beyond the lecture hall and into real-world environments where they tackle challenges that matter, collaborate across disciplines and cultures, and gain experiences that shape both their careers and perspectives.

This summer, travel with our ETH Ambassadors from the snowy peaks of Davos to the bustling streets of Bangkok, from Mars mission laboratories in California to hidden corners of Japan. Along the way, you will encounter scientific discovery, technological innovation, cultural exchange and personal growth.

Here are five inspiring stories to accompany your summer adventures.

1. Building a Protein Database at SIAF Davos

What happens when a computational biologist swaps the ETH campus for an alpine research institute?

Laura Nieba spent three months at the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) in Davos, building an isoform-specific database of the human proteome. Alongside her research, she attended her first international scientific conference, learned new technical skills and watched the Alps transform from winter snow to vibrant spring landscapes.

A perfect read for anyone who loves science, mountains and discovering new paths. Read the article.

2. From River Droughts to Data Clusters: Internship at SLF

Following the hidden patterns of water. Why do rivers run dry?

During her internship at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Lydia Seebauer explored this question using decades of hydrometeorological data. Her journey reveals how researchers use data science to better understand droughts and the growing challenges posed by climate change.

If your summer plans include lakes, rivers or mountain hikes, this story offers a fascinating perspective on the forces shaping the landscapes around us. Read the article.

3. Behind the Next Mars Helicopter

From ETH Zurich to the future of planetary exploration. Few internships begin with testing drones in Mars-like deserts.

Benjamin Dupont spent six months at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, helping develop autonomy software for a future Mars rotorcraft. His story provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at cutting-edge robotics, space exploration and the teams working to push the boundaries of what is possible.

A must-read for anyone dreaming of space, engineering and innovation. Read the article.

4. 6 Months in Bangkok to Launch AI at UNDRR

Can artificial intelligence help reduce disaster risks around the world?

At the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangkok, Bilal Bounajma became the organisation’s first data science and AI intern. Working at the intersection of technology, policy and humanitarian action, he helped lay the groundwork for future AI applications in disaster risk reduction.

This story highlights how knowledge developed at ETH can contribute to addressing global challenges. Read the article.

5. Discovering Hidden Japan

Some journeys begin with an internship and end with a completely new perspective.

Through a collaboration between ETH Zurich and the Marui Group, four students travelled across Japan, exploring how technology, sustainability and storytelling can create meaningful impact. From tea ceremonies and artisan workshops to executive presentations in Tokyo, their experience demonstrates the value of curiosity, openness and intercultural exchange.

An inspiring read for anyone planning a summer adventure abroad. Read the article.

Although these five journeys span different countries, disciplines and challenges, they share a common theme: learning happens when we step outside our comfort zones.

As you head into the summer months, we invite you to take these stories with you. They are reminders that curiosity can lead anywhere, that meaningful learning often happens far from familiar surroundings, and that the next great adventure may begin with a single opportunity.

Happy reading and enjoy your summer!

Looking for inspiring summer reads? Our ETH Ambassadors have spent the first half of 2026 exploring climate change from multiple perspectives, from global energy policy and planetary boundaries to Alpine hazards, drought research and institutional climate action.

This Summer Reading List brings together six stories that highlight how students, researchers and communities are responding to one of the greatest challenges of our time. Whether you are interested in science, policy, technology or human resilience, these articles offer fresh insights and personal perspectives from across the ETH community.

1. CERAWeek 2026: Shaping the Energy Future during a Global Energy Crisis

“Only strong and consistent policy frameworks will enable achieving climate targets.”

Three ETH students, Vivian Chen, Benedikt Buhk and Florian Marco Možina, travel to Houston to attend one of the world’s most influential energy conferences. Their reflections offer a behind-the-scenes look at global debates on energy security, climate policy and the role of academia in shaping the future of energy.

Read the article.

2. When Johan Speaks, You Listen

Are We Still Operating Within Earth’s Safe Limits?

In this article, Viktoria Österdahl reflects on a remarkable Global Lecture at ETH Zürich featuring leading climate scientist Johan Rockström and ETH Assistant Professor Millie Chapman, exploring one of the defining questions of our time: how do we keep humanity within a safe operating space on our planet?

Read the article.

3. EAGLE Hackathon at SLF: Mass Movement Detection in the Alps

What happens when students from different disciplines come together to tackle real-world challenges in the Alps?

In our latest ETH Ambassadors Blog, ETH Zürich students Bhawana Bhawana, Lilian Obrist and Sujani Mugunthan share their experience of detecting mass movements posing a risk for infrastructure and people living in alpine regions as part of the EAGLE Hackathon project at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL in Davos.

Read the article.

4. Net Zero Day: What Institutional Climate Action Looks Like from the Inside

What does climate action actually look like behind the scenes of a university?

Climate action is often discussed in abstract terms. In this article, Sebastian Kahlert shows what it looks like in practice at ETH Zürich, highlighting the people, projects and decisions that contribute to the university’s Net Zero ambitions.

Read the article.

5. From River Droughts to Data Clusters: Internship at SLF

What does it take to understand why rivers run dry?

In this article, ETH Zürich’s Lydia Seebauer shares how she explored the hidden patterns behind river droughts during her internship at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF.

By working with decades of hydrometeorological data and learning to apply clustering techniques, she uncovered how different processes shape drought events across time and regions. From uncertainty at the start to meaningful insights, her journey highlights what research really looks like.

Read the article. 

6. Brienz – A Village on the Verge of a New Beginning

What does a mayor do when his entire village must leave its homes?

In Brienz (GR), this question became reality. After more than a year of evacuation due to a moving mountainside, the village of Brienz is now entering a new chapter. In this article, Charles Bara recaps a talk by Daniel Albertin, Mayor of Albula/Alvra: a deeply personal account of leadership, uncertainty and responsibility, guiding a small Alpine community through an unprecedented natural hazard.

Read the article.

Together, these six stories demonstrate that climate change is more than an environmental issue. It is a challenge that touches energy systems, ecosystems, infrastructure, communities and policymaking. They also show that solutions emerge through collaboration between science, society and the next generation of researchers.

We hope these articles inspire you to explore new perspectives, ask critical questions and discover how research can help shape a more sustainable future.

“How often do we walk through a place without ever wondering what lies beneath it?”

I’ve walked across Campus Hönggerberg many times. Like most people, I admired the architecture, hurried between buildings and associated innovation with laboratories, artificial intelligence and groundbreaking research. It never occurred to me that one of ETH Zurich’s most fascinating innovations wasn’t inside a laboratory at all. It was beneath my feet. When I joined the Anergy Grid Tour (German: Anergienetz), I expected to learn how buildings are heated and cooled. Instead, I left seeing the campus in a completely different way.

There is another ETH beneath the one we know

Walking through the underground technical corridors felt like entering a hidden city. Instead of lecture halls and cafés, I found pumps, pipes, heat exchangers and control systems quietly working behind the scenes. It was easy to forget that only a few metres above us, campus life continued as usual.

One sentence stayed with me throughout the tour:

“Above ground, people exchange ideas. Below ground, buildings exchange energy.”

Suddenly, the campus no longer felt like a collection of individual buildings. It felt like one connected organism.

More than engineering

As Philipp Heitmann, one of the driving forces behind ETH Zurich’s Anergy Grid and the leader of its tours, guided us through the facilities, I realised this wasn’t really a story about technology.

It was a story about thinking differently.

Since 2013, ETH Zurich’s Anergy Grid has connected buildings through an intelligent low-temperature energy network. Instead of wasting excess heat, it stores thermal energy underground and redistributes it whenever another building needs it.

The technology is impressive. The philosophy behind it impressed me even more. Before the tour, I thought sustainability was mainly about producing more renewable energy. The Anergy Grid introduced me to another perspective:

Maybe the future isn’t only about producing more. Maybe it’s about wasting less. That simple idea has stayed with me ever since.

Coffee with Philipp

Before leaving, I asked Philipp a few questions that I couldn’t stop thinking about.

What do visitors almost always overlook during the tour?

“Most people focus on the technology. I hope they also notice the way of thinking behind it. The real innovation isn’t just the infrastructure—it’s the idea that buildings can cooperate instead of working independently.”

What’s one question you wish people asked more often?

“Instead of asking how the system works, I’d love more people to ask how we can transfer this way of thinking to entire neighbourhoods and cities.

“Imagine we’re standing here again in 2050. What do you hope we’ll see beneath our cities?

“I hope connected energy systems have become completely normal. The less people notice them, the better they’re probably working.”

Facts That Surprised Me

First in the world:The Anergy Grid went into operation in 2010 as the world’s first low-temperature anergy network—a pioneering concept that continues to inspire similar projects around the globe.

The ground is a giant thermal battery: Thermal energy can be stored underground for months and recovered when it’s needed.

Heat gets a second life: Instead of being wasted, excess heat is captured, stored and reused elsewhere in the network.

One network. Two seasons: The same infrastructure heats buildings in winter and cools them in summer.

Buildings work together: Instead of operating independently, they exchange thermal energy through one connected system.

Open source: The concept is openly shared, allowing cities, universities and organizations worldwide to build on ETH Zurich’s experience.

Curious? Join one of Philipp Heitmann‘s Anergy Grid tours and discover the hidden world beneath Campus Hönggerberg.

Five Things I Took Home

• Innovation doesn’t always have to be visible.
• Great ideas often come from connecting existing systems rather than inventing new ones.
• Sustainability begins with systems thinking.
• Some of the smartest technologies quietly work in the background.
• Looking beneath the surface can completely change how we see the world above it.

Walking back across Campus Hönggerberg, nothing around me had changed. Students were still cycling between lectures. Researchers were still discussing ideas over coffee. The buildings looked exactly the same. Only my perspective had changed. Sometimes the most remarkable innovations aren’t the ones we immediately notice. Sometimes they’re quietly working beneath our feet. And perhaps that’s the most inspiring lesson I took home from the Anergy Grid Tour.

Visit ETH Zurich as part of a tour. Come along and discover what ETH Zurich has to offer, in ways that are as varied as our visitors themselves.