D-BAUG News
From 29 June onwards, Switzerland’s glaciers will have exhausted their snow reserves. Every litre of meltwater now causes them to lose mass – this is Glacier Loss Day. Between the extreme years of 2003 and 2022 alone, 200 square kilometres of ice – an area almost as large as the canton of Zug – have disappeared. This is reflected in the volume of meltwater, as analyses show: although ice loss was more severe in the summer of 2022 than in 2003, less water flowed off the glaciers.
By Stephanie Kusma
| 2026-06-25
Oil crops, such as oil palm, coconut and soybean, are responsible for more species extinction than previously assumed. A new study puts the figure at around 1.5 percent of worldwide biodiversity. This is primarily driven by the increase in both consumption and cultivation of these crops.
By Carmen Raggenbass
| 2026-06-18
With his appointment as a Professor of Practice, Philipp Häfliger is taking on a central role in the new CAS ETH in Infrastructure Construction Management. He brings 30 years of management experience on large infrastructure projects and currently works as a project manager at Frutiger AG and as CEO of a start-up. In this interview, he explains why the future of construction lies less in new builds than in the conversion of existing infrastructure – and why every construction project is unique.
By Iris Mickein
| 2026-06-10
At its meeting on 20 and 21 May 2026 and upon application of Joël Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board awarded several adjunct professorships, including one to Michael Plötze. He was promoted to Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Geotechnical Engineering in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, and conducts research in the fields of clay mineralogy and environmental geotechnics.
By Editorial Office
| 2026-05-31
With ten institutes, 600 dedicated employees and nearly a thousand publications each year, the ETH Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering contributes to addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time. This year's report presents selected highlights from 2025, offering insights into our research, teaching, innovation and knowledge transfer activities. We also provide information about our donors and partners, along with comprehensive facts and figures.
By Iris Mickein
| 2026-05-27