ETH Podcast COVID-19 special series

The coronavirus pandemic forced ETH Zurich to suspend almost all its experimental research in mid-March. This was a major challenge, especially for Detlef Günther, ETH’s Vice President for Research. "But now I see a little more light at the end of the tunnel," he says in the podcast. After all, experimental research is now being stepped up again, albeit with restrictions, as the strict rules on physical distancing and hygiene still apply. Full occupancy is therefore not possible in many laboratories. Despite the adverse circumstances, Günther also sees some positive consequences of the pandemic: it has brought together many disciplines that were previously not connected with each other. His hope is "If we preserve just 20 percent of this mentality, we will definitely bring ETH much further forward in solving future challenges".

Various contact-tracing apps are currently being developed worldwide to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Apps are seen as a necessary tool in the battle to contain coronavirus infections, but they also raise many ethical questions – not least of which is how to implement digital contact tracing in accordance with data protection. Effy Vayena, Professor of Bioethics, nevertheless remains optimistic that digital technologies can help reduce the speed at which the virus spreads. "We are currently dealing with a variety of technologies that are able to protect our privacy while still serving their purpose," she says.

Tanja Stadler has been in the Swiss media quite a lot lately. As an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, she knows how to interpret data regarding the spread of the virus. On the ETH Podcast she explains how characterising the genomes of virus samples taken from different infected patients gives her insight into how fast the virus spreads. The data she is using comes from many nations around the globe. “It is remarkable how willingly researchers and authorities are sharing their data during this crisis,” she says.

The current situation presents an enormous challenge for economists like Jan-Egbert Sturm. The director of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute and his counterparts around the world are shifting from economic forecasting to scenario planning in a time of unprecedented change. “We are confronted with a situation where we can’t wait for a quarter to end. We have to work with weekly or even daily data,” says Sturm.

Singapore is situated in Southeast Asia and has a strong connection to China. Nevertheless, the coronavirus epidemic in Singapore has been much weaker than in Europe so far. Gerhard Schmitt, Professor of Information Architecture and Director of the Singapore–ETH Centre, tells the ETH Podcast how the strong measures against COVID-19 have changed the city, which usually suffers under self-generated heat. Right now, air and street traffic have almost disappeared: “It’s as if a simulation has become reality.” This situation offers unique opportunities for Schmitt’s research.

For most people, staying at home right now means a lot of sitting and staring at screens. Katrien de Bock, Professor of Exercise and Health, tries to stay active together with her family. Because every movement counts – especially for older people. This can also be a waltz in the living room. Studies clearly show that exercise not only strengthens the immune system, it also builds healthy muscle mass, which in turn helps us in case of illness. Unfortunately, you lose muscle mass much faster than you build it up!

Petra Schmid, an Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour, is currently planning a new study on how feedback affects the motivation and focus of people working remotely. With a background in psychology, she recommends a strict routine: getting up at the same time every day, getting dressed, taking breaks and making a to-do list every day to stay focused and efficient. In addition, she adds: “You should basically stop working in the evening, and make a new list of tasks you want to accomplish the next day.”

Andreas Wallraff is currently running the Quantum Device Lab from home. The Professor of Solid State Physics has a lot to organise and coordinate, now that his group is not allowed to enter the university buildings. “We’re working on results that we acquired earlier and writing up some papers. And we are planning for the future after this is resolved – hopefully soon,” he says. Even though his team has organised itself well, they are all looking forward to the day they can return to the labs.

Viola Vogel, Professor at the Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, talks to the ETH Podcast about how soap, ginger, rinsing our mouths and gargling can make us more resistant against viruses – and reduce the risk of infection with the coronavirus. And she also has one urgent request: “To everyone out there who is smoking right now, take this crisis seriously and stop smoking. It might be the thing that helps you to survive.”

We kick off our series with ETH President Joël Mesot, who talks about how he is personally dealing with this unique challenge, why it is so important that ETH leads by example as a scientific institution – and why he also sees a great opportunity for teaching and research in this highly unusual situation.