ETH Academy 2019 - The next phase of sustainable development
An interdisciplinary group of 19 researchers from 11 different nations spent 5 days in the Swiss Alps for the 12th annual ETH Academy on Sustainability and Technology, hosted by SusTec.
Guided by the title “The next phase of sustainable development: The interplay between organizations, entrepreneurs, and policymakers”, 14 early career researcher and 4 faculty members discussed the technological, organizational and institutional challenges of getting to the next phase of sustainable development. Kick-starting the five day journey with insightful talks on their individual academic pathways given by the faculties Kelly Sims Gallagher, Sally Russell, Thomas Dean, and Johannes Meuer, the interdisciplinary group continued to share and discuss their ideas in the midst of the Swiss Alps.
Early career researchers presented their current projects on topics ranging from hybrid organizations in Spain and the Netherlands, over energy-efficient vehicles in China, to power-to-gas in Switzerland. On top they engaged in discussions with faculties on promises and pitfalls in research, potential pathways for an academic career, and on how to create impact within academia and beyond.
As an additional highlight, the international group had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Swiss Alps during hikes and to get in touch with the local culture by exploring the town of Appenzell and enjoying fondue. We thank all participants for making the 12th ETH Academy such a success. We are already looking forward to next year!