News

SENSE Lab Hosts Collaboration Meeting with Eawag and UNIL

Published:28.12.25 — On December 12, the SENSE laboratory at ALPOLE, Sion, welcomed colleagues from Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) and the University of Lausanne (UNIL) for a day of scientific exchange and collaboration. The meeting brought together leading experts in lake biogeochemistry, aquatic ecology, and environmental sensing to discuss ongoing research and explore future collaborative opportunities.

Elodea Recommissioned for SENSE Research on Swiss Lakes

Published:23.12.25 — After years of inactivity, Elodea has returned to service. On December 17, EPFL's SENSE team in the Valais, successfully completed the first test drive of the research vessel on Lake Geneva near Bouveret, marking the beginning of a new chapter for aquatic research at the school.

Better climate understanding can improve energy planning

Published:23.10.25 — A new master’s-level class that explores key issues related to energy planning debuted this past spring. It’s called Sustainability, Climate, Energy, and it’s given by EPFL’s Environmental Sciences and Engineering department. How did the class go? We spoke with some of the participants.

The Glacier Stewardship Program's major step forward in Bhutan

Published:18.10.25 — Less than a year after its launch in Sion, the Glacier Stewardship Program has reached a key milestone with its first workshop held in Thimphu, Bhutan. The event brought together Swiss and Bhutanese experts to define a joint roadmap for understanding and managing cryospheric risks.

SENSE Lab at the heart of the Scientastic event at Sion

Published:18.10.25 — The ALPOLE building at EPFL Valais Wallis became a hub of scientific discovery in July as the Scientastic festival 2025 welcomed nearly 5,000 visitors eager to explore the world of research and innovation.

Sustainability Research Featured at 'Meet the Presidents" event

Published:18.10.25 — During EPFL's "Meet the Presidents" philanthropic event, Professor Jérôme Chappellaz participated in a roundtable on engineering and sustainability, presenting innovative research approaches to approximately 80 Swiss philanthropy leaders. The event, organized by EPFL's philanthropy team, brought together previous President Martin Vetterli and current President Anna Fontcuberta-Morral with prominent figures from Switzerland's philanthropic community, highlighting the university's strong foundation partnerships.

BASAL-CH4 : Methane fluxes study at the glacier-ocean interface

Published:21.10.25 — In May 2025, the EPFL SENSE group led by Professor Jérôme Chappellaz launched the project BASAL-CH4 funded by SPI Forel Grants program with the goal to investigate a potentially overlooked contributor to greenhouse gas emissions: methane trapped beneath Greenland's massive ice sheet.

From Glaciers to the Alps: Decades of Climate and Glaciology Research

Published:02.11.25 — Jérôme Chappellaz has spent decades drilling into some of the world's most extreme environments, from the depths of Antarctica to the heights of the Bolivian Andes. Now, as Academic Director of ALPOLE (Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center) and EPFL professor, he's bringing that expertise to the Swiss Alps. This article is a re-transcription of the 2024 “Fil Rouge” interview of Jérôme Chappellaz.

From Svalbard to Antarctica: Preserving the World's Climate Memory

Published:15.11.25 — Professor Jérôme Chappellaz, glaciologist and climatologist at EPFL’s School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), is at the forefront of efforts to safeguard the planet’s climate memory through the Ice Memory initiative. His work has recently been featured in several major French media outlets, including Les Echos, La Croix, and Le Temps, underlining both the scientific and societal importance of preserving glaciers worldwide.

2024 Edition of the Artic Circle Assembly – Reykjavik

Published:18.10.25 — The 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik brought together over 2,000 participants from 60 countries to address critical challenges facing Earth's polar and high-mountain regions. Scientists, diplomats, government officials, entrepreneurs, and NGOs convened to discuss the future of the Arctic, Antarctic, and mountain cryosphere in the context of climate change.

Antarctica: Challenges and the Future of the Continent

Published:16.11.25 — Professor Jérôme Chappellaz, glaciologist and climatologist at EPFL’s School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), joined TV5MONDE journalist Guénola Fourel and RTBF journalist François Mazure to discuss the future of Antarctica and its critical role in the global climate system on the program Objectif Monde: L’Hebdo.

Preserving the Planet's Frozen Archives

Published:10.11.25 — EPFL glaciologist Jérôme Chappellaz highlights the Ice Memory initiative at the launch of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.

Low-tech innovation at SENSE EPFL

Published:25.11.25 — In 2024, EPFL students were embarking on a new Sailowtech scientific expedition along the coasts of Brittany and the United Kingdom. On board: robust, accessible “low-tech” oceanographic instruments developed in collaboration with EPFL’s SENSE laboratory.

Advancing International Collaboration for Polar Science

Published:06.11.25 — The second edition of the Polar Symposium (Monaco, February 22-23, 2024), titled “The Cold is Getting Hot! From Arctic to Antarctic,” brought together over 120 scientists, policymakers, and representatives from major polar institutions to discuss the urgent challenges facing the Earth’s polar regions. Among the speakers was Professor Jérôme Chappellaz from EPFL, representing the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI).

Glacier Preservation Mission at Washington D.C. Diplomatic Event

Published:30.11.25 — The Ice Memory Foundation presented its essential work to preserve the planet's climate history during a high-level event hosted by the Embassy of France in the United States, in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland and the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco.

Exploring the Poles: Science, Geopolitics and Climate at Stake

Published:25.11.25 — EPFL glaciologist Jérôme Chappellaz participated in 2024 in a public debate at the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) alongside jurist Anne Choquet and astrophysicist Jean Duprat to discuss polar exploration and its crucial importance for science and society.

Third Pole environment – A symposium on durability and sustainability

Published:02.11.25 — EPFL’s professor Jérôme Chappellaz participated in 2024 in his quality of Chairman of the Ice Memory Foundation (July 2021 – March 2025) in the International Symposium on the Third Pole Environment (ISTPE). The Symposium was held in Chongqing and discussions featured climate and environmental change as well as developmental plans for the future.

Prof. Chappellaz at the "Sailing for Science" Workshop

Published:18.10.25 — From July 19-20, Professor Jérôme Chappellaz participated in a workshop on "Floating Platforms / Sailing for Science" in Waalem (Föhr, Germany), representing the Forel Heritage Association as Chairman of its Scientific Committee. This workshop brought together scientists, engineers, and sailing vessel operators to explore how sailing and drifting platforms can advance polar science.

Developing Sustainable solution for Alpine Glacier melt-down

Published:18.10.25 — EPFL professor Jérôme Chappellaz recently appeared on Swiss Radio and Television (RTS) to discuss new research on protecting Alpine glaciers. Speaking from the Rhône Glacier near the Furka Pass, he explained how current methods work, and why they need improvement.

Challenging measurement conditions on Lake Geneva this week

Published:07.09.25 — Researchers from the SENSE unit continued their comprehensive methane profiling campaign on Lake Geneva this week, despite challenging weather conditions that disrupted planned measurements. The fieldwork represents the second phase of a seasonal monitoring program that began in February 2025. Led by Dr. Santona Khatun, a postdoctoral researcher who has been conducting greenhouse gas research on Lake Geneva since 2022, the team is working to understand the biogeochemical processes governing methane and nitrous oxide production, distribution, and release in Swiss lakes.