Teaching

We register disruptions as a deviation from our expectations. We often experience this as a moment of uncertainty or as frustrated expectations. Does this mean that disruptions are always a bad thing? The philosophical essay explores these questions.

This year’s Specialized Master’s Days marked the occasion to introduce EPFL’s new joint Master’s in Sustainable Management and Technology, a degree that will prepare our next generation to spearhead the transition towards a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive economy and which is hosted by the multi-institutional initiative Enterprise for Society Center (E4S).

International Women’s Day Series – Through education and science outreach initiatives, EPFL is stepping up its efforts to dispel cultural misconceptions about the engineering profession.

International Women’s Day Series – Like EPFL’s other branches of engineering, its civil engineering program struggles to attract female students, who account for approximately 25% of total enrollment. Nonetheless, the department is determined to boost the appeal of this discipline and the wide range of professions for which it prepares graduates. We interviewed women in Bachelor’s and Master’s programs about why they chose civil engineering and how to bring more women on board.

Around 30 students took part in the pilot version of EPFL’s Climate and Sustainability Action Week, working in cross-disciplinary groups to outline circular economy solutions. It was an intense five days of teamwork to build a brighter future.

NotifyMe is a new app that alerts people who attended an event where there was a risk of COVID-19 infection. The app, using technology developed in part at EPFL, in no way compromises users’ personal data. NotifyMe works well in conjunction with SwissCovid and is currently being pilot-tested at EPFL.

There is plenty of space for energy generation on building envelopes. However, photovoltaic façades are still rare, even though technology and aesthetics can be combined. As part of a competition, students at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) therefore designed photovoltaic modules as design objects for a façade of NEST on the Empa campus. The winning projects were selected on February 19, 2021.

An independent report commissioned by EPFL’s upper management recommends drastic measures and more comprehensive carbon accounting in order to reduce the substantial environmental impact caused by the use of digital technology at the School.

The EPFL Spacecraft Team has set itself the ambitious goal of launching two satellites by 2023. With this bold initiative, this student team hopes to gain further insight into the chemical composition of the outermost layers of our atmosphere.

Students at ETH Zurich used innovative technology to create an extremely lightweight and filigree pavilion using bamboo. The project demonstrates the possibilities of digital fabrication combined with natural construction materials.

ETH Zurich and the University of St.Gallen (HSG) are launching a joint Executive MBA programme, the emba X. The two universities are combining their know-how in technology and management as well as their networks for this innovative programme.

In addition to her master's degree in mechanical engineering, Nathalie Nick, 23, is managing a major project: Swissloop pods, machines that accelerate to hundreds of km/h in a vacuum to test a new concept in freight transport.

EPFL has a strategy to encourage creativity during studies. It is based on interdisciplinary projects, dedicated infrastructures and professional support teams, explains its head, Pascal Vuilliomenet.

She will send six amateur astronauts into an underground tunnel under the Alps to simulate a space mission. A student at the EPFL, Chloé Carrière lives her passion for astronomy alongside her classes.

Since spring 2020, EPFL teachers have had to make remote teaching a part of their daily job. This has given rise to major challenges – but also led to new, effective teaching practices and enhanced collaboration. We took a look at how teachers are adapting to the novel approach.