ETH News

Researchers at ETH Zurich have been working with researchers from Ukraine and Germany to investigate how to rebuild Ukraine¡¯s destroyed energy infrastructure based on renewable energy. They have determined that solar and wind energy would quickly deliver a distributed power supply system and prevent corruption.

To make informed decisions, governments and international organisations need data. The United Nations has been analysing the global availability of such data together with ETH Zurich. This has brought to light some surprising insights.

Why do civilians take the law into their own hands? Using Mexico as an example, ETH researcher Enzo Nussio shows how it¡¯s a combination of a weak state and strong local communities.

An international research group with ETH professor Dominik Hangartner has found that solidarity with refugees in Europe has remained stable, despite repeated refugee crises. While there is a tendency to view refugees from Ukraine more positively, this does not come at the expense of other groups.

Europe¡¯s energy transition will not succeed without access to essential metals like rare earths, says security researcher Julian Kamasa. Responsible mining and recycling of critical raw materials could help Europe reduce dependence on imports and meet its climate targets. ?

The path to peace usually leads through a ceasefire. In an international project, ETH Zurich researchers have shown the conditions under which parties to civil wars are willing to stop fighting ¨C and why they decide to do so.

Linda Maduz has great faith in people¡¯s ¨C and society¡¯s ¨C resilience and in their capacity for positive development, even in politically turbulent times.

If nations are separated by national borders, the risk of civil war and interstate conflicts increases ¨C as in the case of Ukraine. For this reason, Lars-Erik Cederman believes that sanctions should also be designed to have a deterrent effect on other nationalists.

Switzerland's former ambassador to the US Martin Dahinden made many exciting encounters during his diplomatic career, and ETH Zurich played a key role throughout.

In an interview with ETH News, ETH Professor Emeritus and former State secretary Michael Amb¨¹hl outlines possible cornerstones of a diplomatic solution for the war in Ukraine.

Russia attacked Ukraine on Thursday night. ETH researcher Benno Zogg from the Center for Security Studies on President Putin¡¯s goals, the effectiveness of sanctions and the consequences of the invasion for European security.

Following the termination of negotiations for a framework agreement, ETH researchers outline a three-stage plan for the further development of a constructive partnership between Switzerland and the European Union.

The participation of ethnic minorities in the government can decide between war and peace. ETH postdoc Andreas Juon researches how different forms of power-sharing affect the stability and quality of political systems.

A recent study in South Africa and Ghana shows people support government steps to combat Covid-19 but lack the infrastructure and financial security required to maintain social distancing.

Protecting citizens in the face of disaster often requires far-reaching decisions to be made. Any assistance is welcome ¨C including from AI.

Working from home, distance learning, online shopping ¨C many African countries cannot easily adopt rich nations¡¯ measures against the coronavirus. Isabel G¨¹nther calls for international solidarity in the pandemic.

When making decisions, we¡¯re often influenced by our social environment. This can be used in a targeted way to encourage people to adopt a healthier, cleaner lifestyle, writes Suchita Srinivasan.

The political leeway for carbon taxes is greater than commonly assumed. Political scientists at ETH have shown how carbon taxes could find acceptance in Germany and the US. What matters most is the intended use of the tax revenues and that all industrialised nations implement the taxes.

ETH researchers are involved in the development and implementation of a method to efficiently breed for disease-resistant beans in different regions of the world. Their work will help to improve the livelihood and food security of smallholders in developing countries.

What is the public¡¯s opinion when it comes to the responsibility of Swiss companies abroad? ETH researchers have investigated this question and are able to show that there is a great deal of support for the so-called Responsible Business Initiative.

The Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich has examined the key trends in world affairs.

Many small, local steps may lead more sustainably to peace than big dreams of the perfect state. This principle lies at the heart of an innovative approach to conflict mediation developed by a Kenyan mediator and an ETH researcher.

Is China about to catch up with the US, the world¡¯s leading military and geopolitical power? Researchers at ETH¡¯s Center for Security Studies and NATO¡¯s Defense College say no. The growing complexity of military technology makes it difficult for modern weapon systems to be imitated.

ETH Zurich peace and conflict researcher Lars-Erik Cederman has won Switzerland¡¯s biggest science award for 2018, the Marcel Benoist Prize. In his research he studies how the fair distribution of power and resources can reduce the risk of ethnic conflicts. As both a person and researcher, a balanced nature is one of his defining features.

Humans need water. If it is in short supply, conflicts can arise. Contrary to popular belief, however, these almost never lead to war, but rather to cooperation, writes Thomas Bernauer.

Strategic Trends 2018: ETH Zurich¡¯s Center for Security Studies has published its annual analysis of key trends in world politics, such as the roles of the US, China and Russia as superpowers.

Will climate change, as often claimed, indeed result in large-scale human migration, notably from poor to rich countries? Vally Koubi and Thomas Bernauer answer.

ETH Zurich researchers developed a feasible approach for the migration issue in post-Brexit negotiations between the UK and EU. An existing mechanism in Switzerland¡¯s bilateral treaties served as inspiration.

Modern data science techniques can also be useful in conflict research. However, in an essay published in the journal Science, Lars-Erik Cederman, Professor of International Conflict Research at ETH Zurich, suggests that certain expectations regarding the predictability of armed conflict are unrealistic. ETH News caught up with him for a chat.

¡®Science in Perspective¡¯ is the name of a new study programme at ETH Zurich that will teach students of natural sciences and engineering the overarching normative, historical and cultural perspectives of their subject.

ETH Zurich is establishing a new centre specialising in public governance. The intention is to fill the gap in the educational programmes currently on offer, and to bolster ETH¡¯s research activity in this sphere.