Research Collection Report ETH Zurich Annual Report 2011 Author(s): ETH Zurich Publication Date: 2012-04 Permanent Link: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000299466 Rights / License: In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection. For more information please consult the Terms of use. ETH Library ETH Zurich Annual report 2011 Annual report 2011 report Annual ETH Zurich ETH 20 10 0 10 707385_ETHZ_JB11_EN_UG.indd 1 20 27.03.12 11:17 Imprint Publisher: ETH Zurich, Corporate Communications Project manager: Karin Köchle Editors: Roland Baumann, Beat Gerber, Christine Heidemann, “ETH Zurich can provide important, relevant know- Martina Maerki, Peter Rüegg, Felix Würsten Layout: formerei gmbh, Sergeant AG ledge – based on fundamental research – to inform Picture series (pictures on cover and on pages 8/9, 24/25, 34/35, contemporary debates in society.” 42/43): Alexander Sauer/Scanderbeg Sauer Photography Pictures: Nathan Beck, Yakoov Benenson/Ron Weiss, Katharina Ralph Eichler, President of ETH Zurich Bohm/Felix Voigts-Hoffmann, Boltshauser Architekten, Frank Brüderli, Martin Bürge, Marco Carocari, Monika Estermann, Fotalia, Gramazio & Kohler/Architektur und Städtebau Zürich, gta Ausstellungen, Heidi Hofstettler, Lucio Isa, iStockphoto, Tom Kawara, Thomas Langholz, François Lauginie, Michael Lowry/IBM Research, Giulia Marthaler, Max Frisch-Archiv/Zürich, Nicola Pitaro/Tages-Anzeiger, Peter Rüegg, Scanderbeg Sauer Photography, Rafael Spöri, Roland Tännler ETH Zurich has come to symbolise excellent education, groundbreaking basic Translation: Syntax Übersetzungen AG, Zurich research and applied results that are beneficial for society as a whole. Founded in Printing: Neidhart + Schön AG 1855, it today offers researchers an inspiring environment and students a compre- Circulation: 3000 hensive education as one of the leading international universities for technology and the natural sciences. © ETH Zurich, April 2012 ETH Zurich has more than 17,000 students from approximately 80 countries, 3,700 of whom are doctoral students. More than 450 professors teach and The Annual report can be obtained in German or English from: conduct research in the areas of engineering, architecture, mathematics, natural ETH Zurich, Mailing Department sciences, system-oriented sciences, and management and social sciences. [email protected] www.ethz.ch ETH Zurich regularly appears at the top of international rankings as one of the best universities in the world. 21 Nobel Laureates have studied, taught or conduc- ted research at ETH Zurich, underlining the excellent reputation of the institute. Contact ETH Zurich Corporate Communications Transferring its knowledge to the private sector and society at large is one of ETH Tel. +41 (0) 44 632 42 44 Zurich’s primary concerns. It has succeeded in this, as borne out by the 80 new [email protected] patent applications each year and some 240 spin-off companies that were created out of the institute between 1996 and 2011. ETH Zurich helps to find sustainable solutions to global challenges. The focal points of its research include energy supply, risk management, developing the cities of the future, global food security and human health. Y www.ethz.ch 707385_ETHZ_JB11_EN_UG.indd 2 26.03.12 09:47 Contents Foreword from the President 3 Highlights 2011 4 Core duties of ETH Zurich 8 Education – Quality takes priority 10 Research – Targeted expansion of research 14 Knowledge and technology transfer – Successful partnerships with industry 22 ETH Zurich as an enterprise 24 Infrastructure and staff – Creating more space on the main campuses 26 Finance and controlling – Securing funding sustainably 30 Responsible use of resources – Sustainability has taken root 32 Social commitment of ETH Zurich 34 Services and cultural facilities – Expert opinions on current issues 36 Dialogue with the general public – The fascination of science 40 ETH Zurich – names and facts 42 ETH Zurich in figures 44 Honours and prizes 58 Honours at the ETH Day 64 New professors 66 Donations 68 Organisation 70 Comments on the picture series 72 707385_ETHZ_JB11_EN_IH.indd 1 22.03.12 10:10 707385_ETHZ_JB11_EN_IH.indd 2 22.03.12 10:10 Foreword from the President 3 Providing society with the relevant knowledge The general population expects that a university which is funded mainly from the public purse will in fact serve society. Opinions vary about how this expectation should be met. Should a university make a contribution on current concerns in its own country? Or should it concentrate on the challenges facing global society? Or should its primary aim be to explore new scientific territory and in this way secure a competitive advantage for Switzerland in the long term? No matter how we set our priorities, we certainly need outstanding employees to work on education, research and administration, and also committed and talented students. An attractive university like ETH Zurich is able to attract such people. This is reflected in our excellent positions in international university ranking lists, where ETH Zurich is the leading university outside the Anglo-Saxon system. On this planet, food, water and energy are the essentials for maintaining a worthwhile life. ETH Zurich is committed to carrying out interdisciplinary work on all three. In Switzerland, the current debate is focusing especially on restructuring the energy system. Energy con- sumption in our country has increased steadily over the last 50 years and is three times as high today as it was in 1960. With the economic growth that we hope for, and immigra- tion, it will increase yet more. The public and politicians would like it if the link between energy consumption and eco- nomic growth could be broken. At the same time, they want to find a different source for 40 percent of the electricity production from nuclear power stations, and CO2 emissions to be massively reduced – and all this while maintaining the same living standard. These tasks will take generations to accomplish and raise many technological, economic, political and social questions which must be answered in a democratic process. ETH Zurich can provide important, relevant knowledge to inform this debate, because it is researching efficient en- ergy conversion technologies and implementing innovative processes on its own campus. What is critical for the future success of ETH Zurich is stable financing. The biggest con- tributor is the federal government, whose basic funding covers 76 percent of the budget. However, this core funding also has to cover the indirect costs of secondary funding and the additional costs arising from rapidly increasing student numbers, and this sets a limit on third-party funding. Nevertheless, it continues to give us an important competitive ad- vantage: it is thanks to this solid funding that researchers are also able to follow up ideas which may be outside the academic mainstream – a stimulating prospect for science! Ralph Eichler, President of ETH Zurich 707385_ETHZ_JB11_EN_IH.indd 3 22.03.12 10:10 4 Highlights 2011 01 02 03 01 – Contributing to the energy debate: in the Energy Talks, 04 – The fascination of research: on the weekend of 27/28 ETH researchers talk to well-known personalities from the August 2011, over 15,000 visitors stream into the main build- worlds of business and politics, in the presence of Federal ings of ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich and discover Councillor Doris Leuthard, about a sustainable future for the fascination of science for themselves at the “Scientifica” energy. Y Page 36 event. Y Page 40 02 – Distinguished expertise in quantum science: the 2011 05 – Integrated risk research: in the newly opened “Risk Max Rössler Prize, which is worth 200,000 Swiss francs, is Center”, researchers from ETH Zurich are working with presented to the young professor Andreas Wallraff for his business to develop integrated approaches to research- outstanding research at the interface between information ing and assessing the systemic global risks of the future. technology and quantum physics. Y Page 58 ff Y Page 14 03 – Progress in cancer research: a biological computer net- 06 – DEZA anniversary: the Swiss Agency for Development work that is built into human cells can recognise and de- and Cooperation (DEZA) celebrated its 50th anniversary in stroy cancerous cells. A new and highly accurate method 2011. At ETH Zurich, the President of the Swiss Confedera- of diagnosing prostate cancer also looks very promising. tion Micheline Calmy-Rey highlights the long-standing close Y Pages 19 and 20 links between the university and DEZA. Y Page 39 707385_ETHZ_JB11_EN_IH.indd 4 22.03.12 10:11 5 04 05 06 707385_ETHZ_JB11_EN_IH.indd 5 22.03.12 10:11 6 Highlights 2011 08 07 09 07 – Flying builders: in Orléans (F), an ETH team is demon- 10 – The perfect partnership: ETH Zurich and the IBM Zurich strating the world’s first architectural installation to be built Research Laboratory open a joint nanotechnology centre in by flying robots: a six metre high model of a futuristic tower Rüschlikon. The infrastructure here, which is unique in the block. The show is attracting a great deal of international world, includes a 950 m2 cleanroom for micro- and nano- attention. Y Page 21 production. Y Page 22 08 – Successful spin-offs: in 2011, members of ETH found 11 – Focus on global food supplies: with the founding of the 22 new companies, thereby putting a great deal of exper- new competence centre World Food System, ETH Zurich is tise into practice. In the summer, the ETH spin-off Dacuda, setting a new focus for research. From l. to r.: Nina Buch- one of the world’s most innovative companies, success- mann, World Food System, Albert Kesseli, Mercator Schweiz fully launches its scanner mouse on the market. Y Page 23 Foundation, and ETH President Ralph Eichler. Y Page 14 09 – Theory and practice: focus projects offer budding en- 12 – Open Days in Basel: scientists at the Department of gineers the opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge Biosystems Science and Engineering at the ETH campus to practical use in a project of their own.