News & Events

A new study analyzes the relationship between socioeconomic inequalities and local crimes rates in South Africa. It finds a particularly strong association of higher income inequality and racial heterogeneity with increased rates of violent crime. 

Apply now until 21 March 2025!

The ISTP is looking for a new team member for its Communication Activities!

In this newly published book, negotiators and scholars join forces to identify how ceasefires and political negotiations intersect and when and how ceasefires work to promote peace. Case studies cover conflicts in Bosnia, Burundi, Colombia, Darfur, El Salvador, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sudan North/South, and Syria.

Congratulations to both Erwin Lefoll and Leopold Peiseler on successfully defending their PhD theses!

Switzerland has been actively involved in military peace support in the Western Balkans since the 1990s. It has gradually taken on more responsibility and is now respected, both locally and internationally, as a security producer. Despite the improved security situation, geopolitics and poor governance make political solutions difficult to achieve. A continued presence remains in Switzerland’s interests.

Europe faces geopolitical challenges and economic difficulties. Drawing inspiration from three influential reports, the EU has put science, technology, and innovation (STI) at the forefront of its plans to drive growth and advance strategic autonomy. This promises significant changes to the continent’s STI sector.

 STS Colloquium, co-organized by the Professorship for Ethics, Technology and Society (Prof. Dr. Margarita Boenig-Liptsin) and the Chair of History and Philosophy of Mathematical Sciences (Prof. Dr Roy Wagner) at D-GESS.
The colloquium starts on February 19, 2025.

Leopold Peiseler has successfully defended his PhD thesis.

André Hemmelder is visiting EPG from the University of Münster, Germany.

Join experts Ellie Geranmayeh and Michael Singh for an ETH CSS Evening Talk on February 24 on the evolving dynamics in the Middle East, fifteen months after the outbreak of conflict. They will explore the prospects for peace, U.S. policy shifts, and the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran.

Distinguishing between electronic and cyber operations is crucial for understanding threats to space systems. This Policy Perspective lays out the differences and suggests policy responses to mitigate these threats.

Working on a development project or initiative? Join ETH NADEL’s course, The Basics of Development and Cooperation, from 19–21 June 2025 to gain practical tools, insights, and expert guidance in sustainable development.

Gerhard Schratt received a grant over 93'900 CHF from the Dr. Wilhelm Hurka Stiftung for projects on Parkinson’s Disease and related Neurodegenerative Disorders. This project will explore the potential of antisense oligonucleotides targeting microRNAs to prevent synapse loss, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in a human neuron culture model of Parkinson’s Disease. This represents a first step towards the development of antisense oligonucleotide therapies for Parkinson’s Disease.

Farah Al Toukhi from WIRED discusses work by Andrea Musso and Dirk Helbing about how to decentralize social networks and preserve minority voices.

Blackouts, which are large-scale and long-lasting power outages, can significantly impact society. Planning for their consequences requires continuous attention from the state, its citizens, and the private sector. Due to the catastrophic potential of a blackout and the expected extent of its damage, unpreparedness can be extremely costly.

The term “hybrid threat” is ubiquitous in current security policy debates, as it encapsulates an elusive range of different types of attack. This analysis argues that constructively engaging with a hybrid threat scenario initially requires a clear understanding of the underlying forms of hybrid warfare.

Verurteilung der Störung beim Podium «Wann ist ‹Israelkritik› antisemitisch?»

The Chair of Philosophy has moved from Clausiusstrasse to Leonhardshalde

Doctoral student Matteo Pinna from the ETH Center for Law & Economics (CLE) has won a BRIDGE grant of 130'000 CHF by the SNSF and Innosuisse for the development of Safespace Research, a project to provide mental health support.

Tobias Schmidt, the Director of the ISTP, has recently been promoted to Full Professor of Energy and Technology Policy at ETH Zurich. 

In NADEL's latest "100 Seconds" video, Medinat Malefakis reflects on the relationship between poverty and happiness, sharing insights from her "recent trip to Africa". 

We are happy to announce that Nathanael Schmidt-Ott has recently joined the ETH Development Economics Group (DEC) as a doctoral student.

Last night, NADEL celebrated the MAS graduates of 2020-2022 and 2022-2024 in a ceremony at ETH Zurich, highlighting their achievements and honoring ETH Medalist Mischa Weber for his outstanding thesis on the climate-conflict nexus in Ethiopia.

The Cyberdefense Project Team from the Center for Security Studies (CSS) was honored with the "Excellence in Cybersecurity Research Award" at the Global Cyber Conference in Zurich.

At its meeting on December 5, 2024, the ETH Board appointed nine professors at the request of ETH President Joël Mesot. In addition, the title "Professor" was awarded twice.

Check out Dr Jan Freihardt's short documentary that traces the story behind a research project on climate migration in Bangladesh.

Dr. Jana Lipps has been honoured with this year's Golden Owl award. Presented by the student association VSETH, the Golden Owl recognises outstanding teaching and encourages continued excellence. Each year, one lecturer from each department is chosen to receive this prestigious award.

Parliament's proposed budget cuts for international cooperation risk deepening global poverty and defy public priorities.

Meet Yilin Huang, a recent graduate of the STP MSc program. Learn more about her internship experience at the United Nations office for disarmament affiars and how she is contributing to global solutions for peace and security.

Over the past weekend, ETH Zurich hosted 40 talented students from universities around Europe as part of the IDEA League Challenge Programme. This year's cohort engaged in an in-depth exploration of digitalization and healthcare, with a focus on data security and integrity as part of ETH's module.

On November 25, the 2024 Bulletin on Swiss Security Policy was published. It addresses current issues in Swiss foreign and security policy and provides guidance for Switzerland's security policy in the context of a turning point in history.

On Wednesday, November 27, Martin Herrnstadt (Universität Bremen) will give the talk "Struggling for the Real: Towards a political Epistemology of the monographic movement ca. 1850-1950".

The latest episode of our podcast "1.90 pro Tag" features NADEL alumnus Patrick Elmer, founder of impact investment company iGravity.

On Wednesday, November 20, Yi-Tang Lin (University of Zurich) will give the talk "Mixing Repertoires of the Cold War: Taiwanese and Chinese Rice Farming Techniques in Sierra Leone".

This report explores the significance of drought hazards for civil protection organizations in Switzerland, both at the local and national levels.

Smart homes are intended to make life easier, but logging into individual devices is often still an onerous task. Researchers from ETH Zurich have investigated how everyday routines could be used for secure and user-friendly authentication – with no need for cumbersome passwords.

On Wednesday, November 13, Magnus Rust (University of Bern) will give the talk "Education on the Charles. A Different History of AI Criticism".

Alvaro Uzaheta Berduga successfully defended his dissertation Modeling Heterogeneity in the Dynamics of Relational Events: Extensions of the Dynamic Network Actor Models

mit Dietmar Dath: „Unwirtschaftliches Vorauswissen. Die Sorgen der Science Fiction im Jahr 2024“ am 27. November 2024, 18:15 Uhr

International crises are a stress test for governments, offering opportunities to rally citizens but also risking dissatisfaction with tough policy choices. While trust in government has fluctuated in many European countries during recent times of uncertainty, the Swiss government has benefited from a reservoir of trust providing a buffer against dissatisfaction.

A new article explores public support for public transport expansion in Switzerland.

With Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, moderated by Professor Margarita Boenig-Liptsin

Talk by Dr. Kebene Wodajo on November 20, 2024 at Sciences Po Law & Technology

Climate Protection, Democracy and Science Can democracies prevent the climate catastrophe? 

November 14 & 15, 2024

The board will advise the German government on policy priorities to accelerate innovative solutions for the energy transition.

In a recent feature on SRF, Dr Kenneth Harttgen from ETH NADEL sheds light on the multifaceted impacts of a significant decline in global population. 

In NADEL's latest "100 Seconds" video, Jasmine Neve explores the critical question, "Won’t reducing poverty threaten climate goals?"