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.

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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.

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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/