2025

Metal corrosion has been a fact of human life for thousands of years – and still presents us with major challenges today. Ueli Angst researches how we can better understand and control this phenomenon. Two start-ups that emerged from his research group are already developing innovative solutions. On the occasion of his promotion to associate professor, we took the opportunity to ask him what currently drives him in research and teaching.

Storage hydropower plants in the Alps play a major role in the electricity supply. However, sedimentation reduces their storage capacity year after year, which can also lead to safety issues at dams. ETH researchers and power plant operators are examining the effects of diverting fine sediments via the turbines.

Due to global warming, ice sheets and glaciers are melting, which is also affecting the Earth's rotational axis. In the worst-case scenario, the geographic North Pole could shift as much as 27 metres to the west by 2100, according to a new study by Dr Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi and Professor Benedikt Soja published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. For their calculations, they analysed the movement of the Earth’s poles under different climate scenarios from 1900 to 2100.

Exercise contributes significantly to our health. Those who bike to work already complete a daily fitness programme - healthy, economical and environment-friendly. That's why ETH Zurich is taking part in the bike to work Challenge: strengthen team spirit, jump on your bike in May & June and win great prizes.

An innovative concrete formulation combined with novel reinforcement strategies and design methods, all developed by researchers at ETH Zurich, have paved the way for the large-scale 3D printing of load-bearing components. Starting in May, these can be admired as the building blocks of the world’s tallest 3D-printed tower.

ETH Zurich has fabricated the world’s tallest 3D-printed structure. With the construction of the White Tower in Mulegns, researchers hope to bring innovative technologies to commercial maturity.

From bridges and tunnels to railways, Switzerland has always invested heavily in the upkeep of its infrastructure. But how does it keep everything operating safely and smoothly while also instilling confidence that nothing will go wrong?

The «WaldLab Forest Experimental Site» on Hönggerberg in Zurich is a key site in the international EU Horizon project CryoSCOPE, which started in February 2025. CryoSCOPE investigates the interplay between atmospheric, cryospheric, and hydrologic systems across various landscapes, including the Swiss Alps, Finnish Lapland, Svalbard, and the Himalayas. A key focus is on quantifying hydrologic partitioning, so how precipitation is distributed into streamflow, groundwater, and evapotranspiration.

João P. Leitão develops innovative urban water management solutions to help cities tackle the challenges posed by climate change. Increasing temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events present major challenges to urban infrastructure. On the occasion of his appointment as Adjunct Professor, we asked what currently drives him in research and teaching.

The ETH Spin-off DuraMon has raised 1.6 million francs in a seed round extension to advance its cutting-edge sensor technology for corrosion monitoring in concrete infrastructure. Backed by key investors such as QBIT Capital and Sika, the company plans to streamline operations, scale its technology, and expand across Europe – setting the stage for its next growth phase.