Research Collection Report ETH Zurich Annual Report 2006 Author(s): ETH Zurich Publication Date: 2007 Permanent Link: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000299445 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 www.ethz.ch ETH Zurich Annual report 2006 Annual report 2006 Contents ETH Zurich 3 Highlights 5 Foreword from the President 6 What motivates us 8 Research and Teaching 14 Corporate Communications In Focus: 25 Systems biology 26 Vision and reality Energy science 33 Environmentally conscious and capable Information technology 38 intelligent and networked Renata Cosby, Andreas Fiersbach, Katrin la Roi, Arturo La Science City 45 Vecchia, Martina Märki, Dr. Verena Schmid Bagdasarjanz High-tech with a thinker’s culture Figures and Facts 48 Design and layout: Inform. Agentur für visuelle Kommunikation AG, Zürich Photos, illustrations: Daniel Boschung; Ruth Erdt; Nathalie Guinard; Maurice Haas; Prof. Gramazio / Prof. Kohler, DFAB, D-ARCH, ETH Zürich; J. P. Li, CCA California College of the Arts, San Francisco; and others Print: NZZ Fretz AG Circulation: 1200 Cover photo: A research team led by Dr. Christian Baerlocher and Dr. Lynne McCusker from the Laboratory of Crystallography at ETH Zurich has succeeded in solving the structure of the zeolite IM-5. The Annual report can be obtained from: Though IM-5 was first synthesized ten years ago, its complex structure remained unclear until now. ETH Zurich, Mailing Department, [email protected] ETH Zurich ETH Zurich stands for world-class scientific expertise, research that improves industry and society, and the education of highly-qualified specialists. As a globally-leading natural science and engineering university, it opens a wide horizon of study to students. Top research opportunities shape ETH Zurich as a leading “International Research University”. Twenty-one Nobel prize laureates who have studied, taught or conducted research at ETH Zurich confirm its reputation. Now, with its Science City Campus, ETH Zurich has created a living center of science for the city of Zurich and the world beyond. Tried and tested cooperation with industry, its location in the heart of Europe and strong relationships with other world-class universities and research institutions have helped ETH Zurich forge a unique regional and international knowledge environment that draws strength from the multi-lingual and rich cultural tradition of Switzerland. Y Inhalt Highlights Since it was founded, ETH Zurich has been inseparably linked with the economic success of Switzerland. ETH Zurich provides a unique setting for the country’s most valuable commodities, namely education, research, and innovation. ó Around 90 percent of ETH Zurich graduates find a professional post within three months of having completed their studies. ó ETH Zurich graduates occupy 30 percent of the leading positions in business in the country. ó ETH Zurich’s world-class pure research has underpinned three new competence centers in the past year alone, further strengthening its cross-disciplinary research. ó Around a quarter of professors appointed to positions at ETH Zurich in 2006 were drawn from leading American universities. Foreword from the President Dear Reader tegration of the universities into the Swiss school system is In today’s times of rapid change, most essentials can of major significance. We have enjoyed solid partnerships be obtained anywhere and you can shop around for the with the secondary schools for years. As a further measure, lowest price of everything you need – or so it seems; you we launched several initiatives last year in collaboration can outsource whatever you manufacture to a place with Zurich university, for instance, the harmonisation of where products can be processed and finished at the least the curriculum and strategies to facilitate the transition cost. The spatial dimension is shrinking to an ever greater from secondary school to university. Here, one central focus extent, and the time dimension (and thus the historical is on in-depth advice for those people who are interested in awareness) seems to be constantly decreasing. This is an going to university before they commence their studies. opinion which nowadays many people casually put forward and they are likely also to meet with agreement. At the same time, it is also a question of attracting students from abroad and enabling our own graduates to experience However, experience often sets us right. Of course, it is another culture. In order to provide better and closer links necessary to be as well informed as possible about global between teaching and research, we opened up the way for events, to adopt a global perspective and to ensure that you the formation of Graduate Schools. Master and doctoral are at the very forefront, where it is, for instance, a matter of programs are looked at together, and a dedicated doctoral globally competitive education or research projects. On the program is being developed specially for doctoral candida- other hand, much of what accounts for the great qualities tes which also includes modules far beyond their own fields. of ETH has local and historical roots. This has been apparent Among other things, this encourages rapid integration into from numerous encounters over the past year, but also from the scientific community. events during the anniversary year. The dialogue with business and the public has been given a Our concept of the future is based on promoting the quali- major boost through activities in the anniversary year. Over ty and efficiency of teaching to meet future requirements the past year, we have adopted and developed many of the by means of coherent strategies, aligning cutting-edge re- ideas and concepts which emerged at the time. search to both local and global demands, and at the same time, providing opportunities for development to undirect- Using the structure of the specialised departments, which ed research which is highly risky. will only change slowly over time, the promotion of cutting- edge research requires the setting up of a system which Appointing teaching staff and researchers from the world’s makes available a highly flexible grouping of experts from finest is at the core of this. We can make this task easier various specialist fields who are subject area driven. These if we provide a good working environment with ade- competence centres have generally proved themselves to quate equipment and if our students are motivated and be very efficient. enthusiastic. Indeed, this very aspect concerning the calibre of students highlights the fact that it is not just a matter International networking is an integral part of our aproach of worldwide competition. There is potential in our own and it plays an important role in our strategy to move country, as yet dormant, among young people who could forward. Our research is anchored worldwide through col- become excellent ETH students. Therefore the backward in- laboration projects. On top of the European IDEA League network, we were also involved in setting up IARU, a world- administrative personnel and ultimately the public, who in wide association of renowned universities whose primary, many ways generously support ETH. Many thanks to you but not sole, objective is an intensive exchange of students. all. We have instigated joint teaching programs with other uni- versities and thus paved the way for people to make joint use of large and expensive facilities. The well-being and success of ETH would not be possible wi- thout the selfless cooperation of a great number of people: Konrad Osterwalder teaching staff and researchers, students, the technical and President a.i. of ETH Zurich Y Inhalt What motivates us 2006 was once again a year of successful contacts and cooperation with industry. For instance, Ciba Specialty Chemicals in Basel holds an interest in research projects at the ETH Materials Research Center (MRC), with an annual contribution of 1 million Swiss francs, invested at present over three years. The collaboration over several years which has been set up between Roche and the Competence Center for Systems Physiology started in 2006. Two projects planned on the ETH anniversary were also brought to fruition: the ETH House of Science was handed over to Bamiyan University; ETH is on show in Zurich’s main railway station with Nova, an interactive, three-dimensional colour display. And there were numerous encounters with the public and within ETH: an array of important events and highlights at ETH Zurich. The ETH Materials Research Center and Ciba Specialty Chemicals are engaged jointly in research on materials of the future. What motivates us | 28 February 2006 | 1 March 2006 $AS-AGAZINDER%4(:~RICH .R-AI .EUER(ORIZONT 9"AUENIN#HINA 9&ORSCHENMIT#HINA 9#HINAS6IZEBILDUNGSMINISTERIN WILLANDIE7ELTSPITZE | | | | 16 May 2006 30 May 2006 June 2006 6 June 2006 | 28 February 2006 | 1 March 2006 | 11 April 2006 Collaboration between Roche and Life Science Zurich Learning Center Reception for the ETH Zurich “SystemsX” At the beginning of March, ETH Zurich Olympians On 28 February, representatives of and Zurich University opened the Life A first at ETH Zurich: on 11 April, the Roche and SystemsX celebrated, at the Science Zurich Learning Center. By university held a reception for all par- Hönggerberg campus, the inauguration strengthening the contact between ticipants of the Turin Winter Olympic of their new alliance. It was back in mid- research and secondary schools, the Games who are currently studying December 2005 that representatives Center effectively helps to bridge the or who have studied at ETH Zurich, from Roche and “SystemsX” signed a knowledge gap. including snowboarding gold medallist three-year collaborative agreement Daniela Meuli. that led to the current project. Now | 27 March 2006 scientists from the Basel pharmaceuti- ParisTech in IDEA League | 12–18 May 2006 cals company and the ETH Zurich Com- ParisTech has joined the IDEA League.