Change the World

The magazine for EPFL graduates December 2015 No. 3 DRIVERLESS VEHICLES, ROBOTICS, NUTRIGENOMICS... TEN TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD The Microengineering section p. 21 Alumni at Google p. 12 Vos idées vous appartiennent Nous vous aidons à les protéger Brevets Marques Designs Veille technologique P&TS SA / Av. Jean-Jacques Rousseau 4 / Case postale 2848 / 2001 Neuchâtel 2 Tél. + 41 - 032 - 7271427 / Fax + 41 - 032 - 7271424 / [email protected] / www.patentattorneys.ch Alumnist Intro “EPFL follows its your commitment and get involved in the school’s own path” development in the manner that best suits you. Support extends beyond personal Dear Alumni, and financial contributions. There are many other ways you can demonstrate EPFL’s international visibility continues your attachment to EPFL. You can to grow. Recently, this recognition was volunteer for one of the EPFL Alumni displayed again in the QS World University programmes, either by working with a Ranking. Our school ranked 14th in the local chapter or by mentoring a student world’s top universities and reaches in or a start-up founded at the school. the top 10 in science and technology. You can simply be an EPFL ambassador EPFL is rising, now closer than ever to every day, by proudly representing the most reputable U.S. universities. your school in your professional and personal lives. Attachment to one’s school and the notion of giving back are now common This attachment already shows for many in Europe. These values are firmly rooted alumni. We are truly grateful and hope in the culture of the leading universities, that it will be even stronger tomorrow, to with which EPFL now stands. This strengthen the ties that unite our school issue’s report on giving back will bring with its alumni. || you some insight into this tradition through the portrait of four of our donors. It is thanks to them and all of our donors that EPFL has undergone spectacular development. EPFL does not set out to imitate any pre- defined model. We are carving our own path, with the genius that sets us apart. That means if you want to contribute, you can show Patrick Aebischer, President of EPFL 3 Alumnist Editorial Contents Editorial Dear Alumni, Two years have gone by since EPFL Alumni became a department on its own. During these two years, we have worked to bring you a broad range of services that meet your expectations. Thanks to you, 75% of these efforts were funded internally through your donations. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude. As these two years come to a close, we are focusing more than ever on the future. Of course, we mean the future of EPFL Alumni, as we look for new ways to support the network of 30,000 graduates that you are a part of. That said, we also want to focus on the future of technology. In the context of a rapidly changing economy 10 where technological advances are revolutionising our daily life, this issue’s special report features / Keystone Bott Jean-Christophe ten developments that are starting to shape our world, our jobs, and our education, and will THE NETWORK OF OLIVIER FRANÇAIS continue to do so in the future. Connected objects, The politician from the Canton of Vaud and EPFL graduate from renewable energy, robotics, the sharing economy the class of 1982 discusses the various people who make up his and nutrigenomics are just a few of the types of professional network. technology you will discover and learn more about in this overview. We hope that this report and the many other articles, photos and stories that you will find in this third issue of Alumnist will keep you informed about the liveliness of your alma mater and provide you with an enjoyable read. || 24 DR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CLASS OF 1992 – WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Annelies Garcia, Former students share their very different career paths. head of EPFL Alumni 4 Alumnist Contents 12 Walter Bieri / Keystone Walter GOOGLE EMPLOYS EPFL ENGINEERS Four alumni describe their job at the American tech giant. 21 Thierry Parel Thierry Parel FOCUS ON MICROENGINEERING From student memories to their current work, four alumni talk about their career so far. REPORT: TEN TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD 28 Alumnist presents an overview of today’s most promising Murielle Gerber 30 technical and scientific breakthroughs. ALUMNI GOLD GARDEN PARTY 2015 Taking a look at the photographs from the first Garden Party, which brought together Patrick Aebischer and the Gold alumni contributors. 5 Alumnist News OUR NETWORK IN NEW YORK MANHATTAN OCTOBER 2 2 0 1 5 Following the great success of the previous edition, the 2015 edition of the «Swiss Alumni Event in New York» took place on October 2nd at the Royal- ton Hotel, in the heart of Manhattan, and was another hit. This year’s event featured distinguished guest speaker Carine McCandless and gathered many alumni from EPFL and ETHZ. Chris Isherwood 6 Alumnist News IN A CITY NEAR YOU… SAN FRANCISCO AUGUST 18 20 1 5 The Inside Real Virtuality exhibit is a multi-user immersive platform combining a 3D environment seen through a virtual reality headset, with a real-life stage set. Users are tracked by a motion capture system, allowing them to physically move through a virtual environment. 30 alumni from EPFL and other Swiss universities joined at swissnex San Francisco to discover and enjoy this incredible technology. TUNISIA AUGUST 6 20 1 5 A new chapter of the EPFL Alumni association was set up in Tunisia over the summer. The association teamed up with TUNES (the Tunisian university students’ association in Switzerland) to organise its first event, a reception for Her Excel- lency Rita Adam, Swiss Ambassador to Tunisia, 2015 FREITAG lab. ag lab. 2015 FREITAG at the Mövenpick Hotel in Gammarth. Rita Adam’s ZURICH speech was followed SEPTEMBER 2 2 0 1 5 by a cocktail party. The The EPFL Alumni Associa- gathering offered alumni tion of Eastern Switzerland from EPFL and other invited its members to tour Swiss universities who the Freitag bag factory in are living in Tunisia the Zurich-Oerlikon on Septem- chance to get together ber 2nd. About 20 alumni for the first time. gathered to visit the Swiss company, which produces about 350,000 accessories per year by recycling old lorry tarpaulins, bicycle inner tubes and used seat belts. The event provided 2015 FREITAG lab. ag lab. 2015 FREITAG the perfect opportunity to learn more about those leg- endary bags hanging from everyone’s shoulder these days. The tour was followed by a cocktail buffet. 7 Alumnist Path Keeping it in the family Being EPFL alumni from generation to generation means sharing a rich history and a myriad of memories. Three families talk about their experience Text: Arnaud Aubelle passing down the EPFL spirit. ittorio Rossati is a third-year civil engineering student. Growing up V around his father Stefano and his brother Marco, both EPFL alumni, his history with the school goes back much further. Did family background play a role in choosing his path? “Undeniably,” replies the young man without a mo- ment’s hesitation. “When time came to choose between different universities, my father’s and brother’s experience convinced me to get my training at EPFL.” His father Stefano confirms: “The excel- lent education I got at EPFL more than 30 years ago remained embedded in my mind. I made that resonate with my sons.” The situation is similar with the Meylans. Edouard grew up in the watchmaking world, a field in which his father Georges- Henri is one of the leading figures. “My father’s experience showed me that EPFL could help me live my passion with RINALDI FAMILY a 360-degree view, so I didn’t hesitate.” A 1971 graduate, James Rinaldi sent his James Rinaldi, now retired, daughter Tania and his son Nils to the graduated in 1971 with a school a few decades later. He says that degree in electrical engineer- he did not try to influence their choices, ing. He was formerly an IT but he admits to sharing with them his consultant at the company wonderful memories as a student. “I don’t TI Informatique. His daugh- know if my father’s and brother’s experi- ter Tania is a professor of ence was the deciding factor,” says Tania neurophysiology at the Rinaldi, “but their enthusiasm for EPFL University of Basel, and his DR definitely had a positive impact.” son Nils is Project Manager at the Balelec festival, Vivapoly comedy club EPFL. Tania’s husband, Hadi PASSING THE TORCH and the Challenge,” say Tania Rinaldi Barkat, got his post-graduate Getting the same education as other and her husband Hadi Barkat, who met degree in Management of members of one’s family often means as students at EPFL. The couple feels that Technology in 2002. He is now enjoying the same memories of campus the main events that take place over the founder and CEO of Helve- life. “When we reminisce about our time academic year at EPFL are the highlights tiq, which publishes games, there, we always remember the social that stay with people long afterwards. books and design gifts. aspect most. The Satellite student bar, Vittorio Rossati recalls “discovering 8 Alumnist Path new cultures, football matches at the on an entrepreneurial role on top of Satellite bar and the quality education.” research and teaching: “I hope that an Magistrale, or Graduation Day, is the even greater number of robust start-ups other main occasion when people come will develop in the years to come.” Nils together at EPFL; as his father Stefano Rinaldi, who now works at EPFL, notices remembers, “Our last memory that we that every day.

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