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On 1 August, Paolo Ermanni handed over the office of Vice Rector for Continuing Education to Stefano Brusoni. In this interview, the two of them discuss how to measure success in continuing education and how research can benefit from it.

Three polymechanics apprentices at ETH Zurich have manufactured appliances for physics research equipment as part of their final project, gaining them full marks. Their custom-made apparatus help improve the measurement of magnetic fields.

Gerhard Tröster, a retired professor of electronics, served as an ombudsperson at ETH for the past four years. His term of office came to an end in March. In this interview we learned about his reflections on his time in office, what memories will stick with him and where he sees room for improvement.

We received a whole host of deliciousness in response to our appeal for your favourite baking recipes from countries across the globe. Below you will find the recipes submitted by Kristýna Kantnerová, Nicholas Cardo and Silvana Albert, along with more about the traditions and some anecdotes surrounding their delicious baked goods.

Two ETH researchers argue whether researchers should get involved in political discussions.

Two ETH employees argue for and against the concept of flexible workplaces.

More and more companies and institutions are adopting a more informal internal culture. Should ETH follow suit? Christine Bratrich and Robert Schikowski, employees of ETH Zurich, stand up for their position.

Opinions differ on the question of whether the German language needs gender-appropriate formulations. Franziska Schmid and Rudolf Friederich, employees of ETH Zurich, stand up for their position.

Football or tennis? Planning or implementing? Trust or monitoring? Julia Dannath took up her role as ETH Vice President for Personnel Development and Leadership in November. Now she’s introducing herself to the ETH community by answering a few “this or that” questions in a video interview.

Dieter Schorno has been Head of Vocational Education and Training for 18 years, and will be retiring at the end of June. Fabienne Jaquet took over his role on 1 June 2016.

On 27 April 2016 the KITE Award for “Key Innovation in Teaching at ETH” will be presented for the first time. KdL-President Felicitas Pauss has written a column about the significance of the new award in the latest issue of “life” magazine.

Analysis is key to every area of science – and architecture students are now learning this through a very hands-on approach.

In January, various ETH staff members have celebrated their anniversary at ETH Zurich.

Nobody knows the gardens and green spaces on the Hönggerberg campus better than Jörg Brenn: this dedicated member of the ETH gardening team has been taking care of the university’s green lungs for more than 35 years.

63 newly qualified apprentices successfully completed their apprenticeship at ETH Zurich in 2015. Half of them gained a vocational matriculation certificate.

Walter Kaufmann, Full Professor of Structural Engineering since 2014, talks about why he came back to ETH Zurich and the fascination that bridges still hold for him. He will be giving his inaugural lecture at 5.15 p.m. on 21 May in the Audimax hall.

ETH Zurich says farewell to Franz Schmithüsen. The emeritus professor for forestry policy and forestry economy formed an entire generation of forestry experts. He died on 14 April 2015 at the age of 75.

For 35 years, Alain Geiger has been dedicating his efforts to measuring the Earth and its atmosphere at the Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry. He has discovered that Switzerland is gradually growing in height.

ETH Zurich bids farewell to Computer Science professor Jiří Matoušek. A leading light in discrete and algorithmic geometry, he died on 9 March 2015, a day before his 52nd birthday.

Walter Karlen has been professor for mobile health systems since October 2014. In a short interview he explains why he chose his field of research and what it has in common with the Starship Enterprise.

The former Rector of ETH Zurich died at his home in Zollikon ZH on 25 January. He was in office from 1983 to 1995.

My colleague Harald Bugmann raises an important issue in his critique of university rankings. I believe we must approach these rankings pragmatically. But we must also ensure that ETH Zurich maintains its high profile.

We are all proud of ETH. And rightly so. Nevertheless I have come to suspect over the last years that ETH is making more and more decisions which may seem correct from a specific point of view but which do not take into account the bigger picture and ultimately contribute towards undesired developments.

Susanne Schawalder joined the Corporate Communications team at ETH Zurich twelve years ago. She took a career break when she became pregnant, and when she returned to work she remained loyal to ETH.

Nicole Kubli is flexible. Twice already she has chosen to find a new job because her boss was retiring. Now after 30 years at ETH Zurich, the horse-lover is preparing for another change of direction.

The Executive Board has chosen Lukas Vonesch to be the new Head of HR. He will start work on 1 April 2015, taking over from former Head of HR Piero Cereghetti and the current interim Head, Cuno Künzler.

Doodle, MRI and the Mach number are the brainchilds of some of ETH’s brightest minds, who feature alongside other pioneers in the book "Zürcher Pioniergeist". We have three copies to give away.

Thomas Hofmann is professor in the Department of Computer Science since April 2014. On Tuesday, 23 September he holds his introductory lecture.

Anyone entering the realm of Thomas Jaggi at the Institute of Structural Engineering will find heavy test equipment and massive building components. He has been working at ETH Zurich for 25 years.

At 29 years old, Sereina Riniker is currently the youngest professor at ETH Zurich. In an interview, the chemist tells how she experienced her start and how she wants to motivate her students.

As Head of the Department of Materials Science Office, Claudia Sigel has survived quite a few crises. This has been thanks in part to the network that she has built up over 15 years at ETH Zurich.

Marta H. Wisniewska will soon leave FCL in Singapore to come to Zurich. The new challenge will be to translate her research into teaching material.

Columnist Ursula Keller recommends adopting the American Physical Society’s «Best Practices for Female Faculty» as a key component of good governance.

Just because we have energy and resources at our disposal anytime and anywhere, we should not use them mindlessly, writes guest author Monika Hardmeier. On the contrary, a clever use of these commodities is the alpha and omega for a sustainable lifestyle.

Urs Hugentobler has been working for ETH Zurich for 25 years. The 59-year-old has never regretted switching from the world of science to university management.

Master's ceremonies are high points in students' lives. That's why VSETH (Student Union) President Julia Wysling is pleading in her column for Master's ceremonies that really fill students with pride.

Anyone working or studying tends to spend a large part of the day away from home. This is no reason for an unbalanced or environmentally damaging diet, writes guest author Monika Hardmeier.

In her column, Director of focusTerra Ulrike Kastrup explores the question of how geothermal energy and fracking can contribute to the energy transition.

We travel to the most remote corners of our planet. For the sake of the climate, the environment and ourselves, sustainable mobility is desirable, writes guest author Monika Hardmeir, in her attempt to promote a playful rethinking.

The CREATE Tower in Singapore sets the scene for vertical networking among its various institutions. Marta H. Wisniewska sees this as a strength.

The name Peter Frischknecht is synonymous with the Department of Environmental Systems Science. He has been in charge of coordinating the department and its study course for 25 years – with great success.

For Columnist Ursula Keller, a dual career means neither partner has to give up their dream. Paternity policies and dual career hiring protocol would promote equal opportunity.

The variety of nationalities at ETH is a major gain in both the social and scientific contexts. That is why it is necessary to fight for the variety at ETH to be maintained, writes VSETH President Julia Wysling.

Together with industry, politics and legislation, we need to find a route towards a healthy environment and a more considerate use of our raw materials, writes columnist Ulrike Kastrup.

Sustainability is a hot topic of our time. Despite dedicated people and good approaches, making the switch is difficult. Long-term changes in behaviour can be best achieved by using gamification, writes guest author Monika Hardmeier.

The physiologist Susanne Ulbrich started at ETH Zurich in September 2013. She explains what fascinates her about her research field and why she really appreciates her way to and from work.

In academia success is highly dependent on peer recognition. Recognition, however, is not entirely free from gender bias. Columnist Ursula Keller sheds light on the issue.

What we throw away may be a valuable renewable resource for building materials. Marta H. Wisniewska explains the future destiny of refuse.

The referendum on limiting immigration abruptly added a new item to the political agenda of Swiss students. VSETH President Julia Wysling has seen the effects first hand.

Anthony Patt has been professor of Human Environment Systems at the Institute for Environmental Decisions since August 2013. He has degrees from Harvard and Yale, but at heart he is a craftsman.

Columnist Ursula Keller calls our attention to a very important day. On 8 May, members of the ETH community will cast their votes for a new Rector, selecting from a diverse pool of candidates.

Agnes Rupacher is 28 years old but she has already been working as an assistant at ETH Zurich for 10 years. She still sees many different opportunities for her to develop her career.

Stanford does things differently: it tests on a small scale and sees how things develop instead of conducting lengthy evaluations. ETH can learn a lot from this approach, thinks columnist Julia Wysling.

By celebrating Chinese New Year in Singapore, columnist Marta Heisel-Wisniewska learns valuable cultural lessons applicable to her private and professional life.

Constance Ciaudo, French native and Professor at the Department of Biology since April 2013, explains how she found her way to science and what fascinates her in her field.

What's it like when, after years of preparation, a satellite lifts off into space? Columnist Ulrike Kastrup was there to find out.

Since January 2013, Tapio Schneider is professor of climate dynamics at the Department of Earth Sciences. The 41-year-old once contemplated becoming a journalist.

Going from Ethopia to Singapore is a 180-degree turn. Marta Heisel-Wisniewska shares her rich multicultural experiences in an insightful column.

How should new students get to know the ETH? Is one welcome event enough? Not at all, thinks columnist Julia Wysling and explains why.

The “white fever” exists for more than 100 years. Ulrike Kastrup explains in her first column, where it comes from and how contagious it is.

Martin Mächler has worked at the Seminar for Statistics for 30 years. During this time, he has conducted pioneering work: Mächler is the co-inventor of the R statistics programming language.

In the coming months four authors will write about what moves and inspires them – from satellite launches to life on campus in Singapore. Meet the new columnists here.

Ueli Merz is one of world's leading plant pathologists in the area of powdery scab. ETH made this possible, he says. He has been conducting research here in the same field for 25 years.

Uriel Gast has devoted himself to Jewish contemporary history in Switzerland for 25 years. As the head of that department at AfZ, he has contributed much to historical analysis in this field.

Jörn Piel, Professor for Microbial Interactions joined ETH Zurich in February 2013. Here he gives his first impressions and tells us what else he interested in besides science.

Johan Six recently joined the World Food System Center in March. The 40-year-old Belgian reveals why he feels ETH Zurich is the ideal location for him.

Columnist Arnaud Monnard sees the new Swiss national law for joining universities as something positive.

India is a complex and multifaceted society. In the megacities, you can find sacred cows, packs of street dogs, and a host of invisible human helpers, as columnist Margrit Leuthold tells us.