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.