From Student to Professor
Stephan Pfister has been at ETH Zurich for more than 20 years – first as a student and then as an expert in environmental engineering. On the occasion of his promotion to titular professor at D-BAUG, we asked him what currently drives him in research and teaching.
Professor Pfister, congratulations on your promotion at ETH Zurich! What are your current research interests?
Thank you very much – it is a great honour for me as ETH is definitely one of the best universities in the world, but at the same time it is my home university! In general, my research is in the field of quantitative sustainability assessment, so it is quite broad and interdisciplinary. Many projects are still in the area of sustainable food production and supply chains, which I started during my PhD and postdoc. Current projects focus mainly on (1) improving biodiversity assessment of global land use (with a focus on forestry, agriculture and mining), (2) nutrient cycling in crop production, (3) detailed impact assessment of current and future lithium production from brines, (4) improved methods for assessing impacts along value chains, and (5) coupling life cycle assessment (LCA) methods with system dynamics and integrated assessment models. I am also excited about the start of three new interdisciplinary projects on combining LCA with research on extreme events in urban water systems, agent-based models for land use planning, and sustainable photonic devices.
What can you tell us about the impact of your research on society?
My research on water footprints and food LCA has been widely adopted by the food industry and the ISO standard on water footprints. The research has been used in several reports by the Federal Office for the Environment and by companies. By contributing to UNEP, FAO and IPBES reports, the knowledge is disseminated to society. However, I am aware that as a scientist I only develop knowledge, but society is influenced by many other factors such as economics, culture and beliefs.
Where were you working before you came to ETH?
Technically, I have been working at ETH for almost 20 years (with some breaks in between). After graduating from high school and working for six months to save money for my environmental engineering studies at D-BAUG, I came to ETH in September 2000. I started working as a student assistant during the second part of my studies. After graduation, I did my civil service in a research project in Hanoi, Vietnam, before starting a position as a research assistant at Professor Hellweg's chair of Ecological Systems Design Group (ESD). Shortly after I started my PhD on developing the concept of Water Footprint including water scarcity considerations. In 2011, I went to UC Santa Barbara for a one-year post-doc, where I extended my research to multi-regional input-output assessment, before coming back to the ESD group, where I worked as a post-doc and senior research associate, and was privileged to get a permanent position in 2017.
What courses are you most excited about teaching at ETH?
I really enjoy all of my teaching and tutoring and think it is a great part of my job. In terms of specific courses, I am most excited about the “Environmental Computer Lab I and II”, which require students to apply their knowledge from the “Advanced Environmental Assessments” course to practical exercises and assignments that challenge them to think critically and independently.
What do you do if you have a few minutes to spare?
I love spending time with my family and friends, and definitely more than a few minutes a day! I love playing and discussing with my children and watching them grow up. If I have more than just a few minutes, I like to do sports and coach the junior handball team in my hometown.
Do you have a general philosophy or motto you try to live by?
In general, I would say that a problem is just the spark to find a solution. While it is important to look at problems or mistakes, I am convinced that we need to try to find solutions rather than complain about the problems. This is also at the heart of engineering, where the goal is to find solutions to a problem. In my research, this means focusing on finding, combining and advancing the best available knowledge to inform decision-makers and practitioners.
Beyond engineering and my research, I think this motto is at least as important in social interactions. If there are problems, I try to address them in a constructive and solution-oriented way. I try to be fair, respectful, open and empathetic. In particular, I try to stand up against unethical and discriminatory behaviour.
“There is a lot of freedom as a student, which implies a lot of responsibility for your life and your education.”Stephan Pfister
What advice would you give to students who are just starting out in environmental engineering?
Be curious and take it seriously. As one of our students, you have the privilege of receiving an almost free education in a very interesting field. You can choose your major or individual courses from a wide range of disciplines. At the beginning it makes sense to get an overview and realise what your main interests are. You can invest in them and start your career path. There is a lot of freedom as a student, which means you also have a lot of responsibility – it is your life and your education. Take the opportunity to talk to older students, both within and outside of your degree programme, and explore other options, such as those offered by the Student Project House or in exchange programmes.
What book, podcast or movie related to your research field would you recommend to students and colleagues?
"More Than Honey" by Markus Imhoof is a great film about environmental issues and the case of honeybees. It combines global and local concerns and is visually stunning. Another powerful film (but a bit older and more depressing) is "We feed the world" by Erwin Wagenhofer.
Prof. Dr. Stephan Pfister (*1980), Adjunct Professor at D-BAUG at ETH Zurich. Stephan Pfister's main area of interest is the impact assessment of water consumption and land use in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with applications in agriculture and power production. His research is acknowledged not only by the scientific community but also by political decision-makers, and is finding practical applications.