The ETH Domain is presenting highlights from its current research to mark WEF 2024.
To coincide with the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the ETH Domain invited 50 dignitaries from the political, research and business spheres, including Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, President of the National Council Eric Nussbaumer, State Secretary Martina Hirayama and many rectors of Swiss universities, to the Davos-based WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF. Host and head of the Institute Jürg Schweizer was delighted at the interest the event attracted: "It's wonderful to be able to showcase here, at the ETH Domain's highest-altitude research institute, what the Domain's researchers are achieving, both for the scientific community and for society." Researchers from ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) as well as the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), which together form the ETH Domain, provided insights into their work.
Christoph Hegg, Acting Director of WSL, explained: "It's important to demonstrate to political decision-makers that innovations are a force driving forward not only the economy but also society." He also referred to the many cases, such as the rockslide in the village of Brienz in the Swiss canton of Grisons, where ETH Domain researchers have supported the public authorities with the latest findings.
The fact that the scientists look beyond their own backyard is also crucial. "International collaborations with researchers around the world, from which Switzerland also benefits, are a pillar of our success," said Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board.
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SLF researcher Andrea Marconi explains to Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council, how the findings from Brienz and modern remote sensing with drones, aeroplanes and satellites will help to predict natural events such as rockfalls in the future - worldwide. (Photo: Luzia Schär)
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Marc Böhler from EAWAG explains how ozone removes micropollutants in wastewater. (Photo: Luzia Schär)
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SUPSI President Giovanni Merlini and mathematician and former head of the COVID task force Tanja Stadler listen intently to EMPA researcher Nathalie Casas explain how she intends to extract CO2 from the atmosphere as the raw material of the future. (Photo: Luzia Schär)
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Word play from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI): Marco Ranocchiari are looking for Synfuel, the greenest of all green, synthetic fuels. (Photo: Luzia Schär)
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EPFL researcher Sabine Süsstrunk introduces Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin to how he can use deep fakes to experience perspectives and objects in a new way using advanced computer technologies. (Photo: Luzia Schär)
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National Council President Eric Nussbaumer takes a seat in the self-built electric racing car "mythen" from ETH Zurich. (Photo: Luzia Schär)
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