Encouraging more critical opinion

ETH Zurich celebrated this year’s traditional ETH Day with numerous guests. The retiring ETH President Ralph Eichler received special recognition. The speeches revolved around concerns that Switzerland is becoming increasingly isolated.

Enlarged view: Lino Guzzella
Rector Lino Guzzella speaking at ETH Day 2014. (Photo: ETH Zurich / Oliver Bartenschlager)

“A good university doesn’t just teach knowledge but the ability to think,” said ETH Rector Lino Guzzella in his speech at ETH Day 2014. He believes that scientists need to select their research approach carefully, continually adjust their direction and critically assess their results. Critical opinion should not simply be allowed, it should be encouraged. That is why ETH Zurich is working on a widely supported initiative to incorporate more independent thinking into the student curriculum.

However, dialogue with people outside the university environment is also important, added the ETH Rector. The relationship between research and the economy in particular has led to some debate in the recent past. ETH has a legal mandate to collaborate with industry, but partnerships between companies and universities need to be handled correctly. Guzzella believes that transparency and independence are among the core values of a university such as ETH. All donation agreements must be open and guarantee research and academic freedom, as well as the right to publish research results.

Rankings and voting results

The Rector voiced his concerns at the growing tendency towards ‘tabloidisation’ of university life, which is most apparent in the increasingly pervasive university rankings. “A good position in these rankings is the by-product of good university development, not the objective. Rankings are like share prices: although they should not be ignored, they should never be seen as the sole indicator of quality,” emphasised Guzzella.

The ETH Rector finished off by addressing the issue of openness and internationality. The result of the vote held on 9 February this year represents a democratic decision and should therefore be accepted by everyone, he said. However, as one of the university’s leaders, he must point out that ETH depends on unrestricted access to the global talent pool to fulfil its mandate. “One of the reasons why ETH is important for Switzerland is that it attracts brilliant minds from around the world and integrates them into the country,” he explained.

Swiss Innovation Valley

Enlarged view: Martin Vetterli, SNF
SNF President Martin Vetterli developed a vision of Switzerland’s research landscape in his speech. (Photo: ETH Zurich / Oliver Bartenschlager)

Martin Vetterli, President of the National Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), highlighted the number of links between Swiss and European research. Switzerland makes up 0.11% of the world’s population, but produces 1.2% of all scientific publications. The country is therefore in first place worldwide in terms of publications per capita. According to a recent study by Nature, more than two thirds of all Swiss publications have at least one foreign author.

In his speech, Vetterli made reference to the indomitable Gaulish village of Asterix and Obelix. The foreword by Asterix reminds him strongly of certain tendencies in contemporary Swiss politics, particularly in relation to Europe. However, what used to make him smile now makes him nervous, for unlike the Gauls in the comic strip, the Swiss do not have a magic potion. Vetterli made it clear: “Switzerland must have a long-term position in the European research arena. There is no other way. Otherwise, the current political isolation will diminish Switzerland’s scientific excellence – and our country will lose an important source of innovation and a key economic driver.”

The SNF President developed a vision for Switzerland’s research landscape, in which he compared the country with Silicon Valley. Vetterli highlighted some remarkable similarities between the two regions in terms of population, territory and the quality of their universities. However, although overall venture capital is substantially higher in Silicon Valley, Switzerland has a much better infrastructure. Vetterli concluded the following from his comparison: “Switzerland could play the same role in Europe that the Silicon Valley plays in the US.”

Special recognition for ETH President

Enlarged view: Ralph Eichler
The retiring ETH President Ralph Eichler says a few welcome words to guests. (Photo: ETH Zurich / Oliver Bartenschlager)

ETH President Ralph Eichler, who is handing over the reins to Lino Guzzella in 2015 after seven years in office, received special recognition at this year’s event. President of the ETH Board, Fritz Schiesser, praised the outstanding contribution of Eichler, not just as president of the university but as a long-standing member of the ETH Board, the strategic management and supervisory body of the ETH Domain. He also emphasised the importance of ETH Zurich in the areas of education, research and innovation as a whole and described the university as “a success story that Switzerland can be proud of”. In his welcome speech, Eichler cast one eye on the future and emphasised the importance of autonomy for all universities. “No federal official, no ETH President knows what the future holds. We must therefore have a broad basis in order to identify possible development paths,” he explained.

Two new honorary doctorates

Enlarged view: Ehrendoktoren 2014
The new honorary doctors Prof. Peter J. Bickel and Prof. Nick McKeown together with ETH Rector Lino Guzzella (centre) and department heads Prof. Peter Bühlmann (l.) and Prof. Bernhard Plattner (r.). (Photo: ETH Zurich / Oliver Bartenschlager)

ETH Zurich has awarded two researchers honorary doctorates in recognition of their outstanding achievements in science, teaching and practice. Peter J. Bickel, born in 1940, is the Professor of Statistics at the University of California, Berkeley. With his fundamental contributions in diverse fields, he has modernised mathematical statistics. He is also an excellent teacher: many of his former students hold important positions in statistics and economics. Nick McKeown is ETH Zurich’s second new honorary doctor. The Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University was born in the UK in 1963. He has made a name for himself with his pioneering work in the area of computer networks, most notably with his contributions to the architecture of internet routers and software-defined networking.

Rector-elect awarded Golden Owl

Enlarged view: Lino
Current ETH Rector Lino Guzzella congratulating Rector-elect Sarah Springman on her Golden Owl. (Photo: ETH Zurich / Oliver Bartenschlager)

Every ETH Day, students recognise the dedication and excellent work of their teachers, with one lecturer in each department receiving a Golden Owl from ETH Zurich’s student union (VSETH). In the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, students presented this year’s award to Professor Sarah Springman, who will start her role as the new ETH Rector on 1 January 2015. Candidates for a second teaching award are determined on the basis of the student survey for the Golden Owl award. The 2014 Credit Suisse Award for Best Teaching went to assistant professor Michael Eichmair from the Department of Mathematics.

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