News

A scientific network around the Chamberonne river

Published:30.09.25 — Scientists from UNIL, EPFL, and other institutions have joined forces to create a network aimed at turning the Chamberonne river – which flows across their campus – into an open-air observatory. Motivated by the major renaturation works starting next year on campus, the initiative aims to foster research and teaching projects centered on the river. 

Living differently will help reducing your home's carbon footprint

Published:11.09.25 — An EPFL study measured the carbon footprint of 20’000 residential buildings in Vaud Canton. The authors’ findings show that a targeted approach will be key to lowering the emissions associated with residential real estate.

Scientists deployed an innovative fiber optics in Greenland

Published:13.08.25 — As part of the GreenFjord project led by EPFL, scientists have successfully tested a new fiber-optic technology to measure the dynamics of a glacier fjord in southern Greenland.

“I realized that, in Switzerland, you don't give students a zero!"

Published:17.07.25 — Alexis Berne, an expert in precipitation and weather radars, has no qualms about setting off on research expeditions to the Antarctic. And his extended absences don’t seem to bother his students either, as they named him best teacher for the environmental sciences and engineering section for 2024.

Appointments of ENAC professors

Published:11.07.25 — The Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology has appointed Daniel McCurry as Associate Professor of Water and Wastewater Chemistry and Aziza Chaouni as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Construction. Katrin Beyer, currently Associate Professor, was nominated as Full Professor of Civil Engineering. Congratulations to all!

City trees provide cooling even in extreme heat

Published:24.06.25 — Plane trees in cities have an important cooling effect even in extreme heat, according to a new study conducted by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) and EPFL. The next step is to identify which tree species are particularly effective at cooling.

AI monitors wildlife behavior in the Swiss Alps

Published:16.06.25 — Scientists at EPFL have created MammAlps, a multi-view, multi-modal video dataset that captures how wild mammals behave in the Swiss Alps. This new resource could be a game-changer for wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.

Tire additives found deposited on fruits and vegetables

Published:06.05.25 — A study by EPFL and the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) has found that tire additives enter into and pass through the food chain. Further research is needed to establish the implications for human health.

Biological particles may be crucial for inducing heavy rain

Published:05.05.25 — EPFL atmospheric and climate scientists show that biological particles may induce rain events that could contribute to flooding and snowstorms, owing to their ability to precipitate ice formation in clouds. They call for an update of meteorological and climate models.

Chemicals from climbing shoes cause trouble in indoor halls

Published:29.04.25 — A study led by researchers from EPFL and the University of Vienna shows that concentrations of concerning chemicals as high as those by a busy road can be found in the air of bouldering gyms.

Glacier melt puts unique microbial ecosystems under threat

Published:21.03.25 — A pioneering study has revealed how climate change is impacting glacier-fed streams and the essential microbiomes they contain – which could change radically by the end of this century.

New nominations and promotions at ENAC School

Published:11.03.25 — The Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology has announced new appointments and promotions of professors at ENAC: Alexandra Kushnir, Andreas Schüler, Peter Kummer, Dusan Licina, Priya Ramakrishna and Jan Skaloud. Congratulations to all of them!

New study improves the trustworthiness of wind power forecasts

Published:29.01.25 — By applying techniques from explainable artificial intelligence, engineers can improve users’ confidence in forecasts generated by artificial intelligence models. This approach was recently tested on wind power generation by a team that includes experts from EPFL.

A citizen-science initiative evaluates the impact of tire particles

Published:23.01.25 — Twenty volunteers spent six months learning about the scientific method through a citizen-science initiative led by EPFL. The initiative was part of a study to determine how the microplastic particles released by tire wear are affecting lakes and rivers in Vaud Canton.

Harnessing proteins to clean contaminated soil

Published:21.01.25 — Scientists from EPFL work on sustainable approaches to soil remediation, like the use of naturally occurring microorganisms that can “eat” pollutants found in soil and the water table.

How cryogenic microscopy could help strengthen food security

Published:15.01.25 — A joint EPFL and University of Lausanne research team reports on a novel observation of a plant protection mechanism in response to salt stress. The study opens new avenues of research to strengthen food security.

The protein that revolutionized DNA sequencing

Published:14.01.25 — DNA sequencing was revolutionized after scientists discovered a new bacterium in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park, and today it’s a common research technique.

Satoshi Takahama nominated as Adjunct Professor

Published:06.12.24 — Satoshi Takahama, currently Senior Scientist at EPFL, is nominated as Adjunct Professor in the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC).

In Antarctica to better understand the evolution of the ice cap

Published:02.12.24 — A team of scientists from EPFL, CNRS, CEA and École polytechnique de Paris will be in Antarctica from December 2024 to mid-January 2025. As part of the AWACA project, they are installing innovative observation systems designed to predict the evolution of the ice cap over the next 100 years. Associate Professor Alexis Berne, Director of the Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory at EPFL, is on site.

Scientists quantify aerosols based on sea state

Published:27.11.24 — A research team led by EPFL scientists has developed a system that provides key insight into the relationship between sea spray aerosols, sea state and atmospheric conditions. The system was mounted on an icebreaker and carried across vast regions of the Arctic to collect and analyze valuable data.