In-depth stories: 2023

Raphael Steiner received his doctorate in mathematics at the age of 21. Now the Swiss National Science Foundation is funding his research at the ETH Institute of Theoretical Computer Science in the field of graph theory. Among other things, this involves proving a conjecture that is over 80 years old.

Lindt & Sprüngli, a global leader in the premium chocolate sector, has partnered with EthonAI. The company is a spin-off from the Department of Management, Technology, and Economics and has Bernhard Kratzwald, an alumnus from the Department of Computer Science on board as a co-founder. Lindt & Sprüngli is leveraging EthonAI's tools to perfect the production of their chocolate and achieve best-in-class performance.

Studying Data Science at ETH Zurich means being part of one of the most exciting driving forces of today’s Information Age. To gain deeper insights into the field, we have talked to various students, professors, and an alumna. In these video conversations, the interviewees elaborate on the growing need and importance of data science – both now and in the future.

For a two-​part interview, we visit our alumnus Tobias Nägeli. In this second part, Tobias gives us an insight into his former student days and tells us how he met his three co-founders. Additionally, we learn more about the skills from his studies that benefit him today as CEO.

In this interview, Professor Wang offers a brief insight into her research interests and explains why she decided to pursue an academic career. She also shares her advice for computer science students and discusses the three pedagogical principles that guide her teaching and mentoring.

Warfare is increasingly spreading to the realm of cyberspace. In response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) wants to protect its digital infrastructure and that of humanitarian organisations with a digital emblem. The Information Security Group from the Department of Computer Science has developed a standard for this along with initial pilots.

For a two-part interview, we visit our alumnus Tobias Nägeli. In this first part, we learn more about the turbulent times of founding the spin-off Tinamu and how Tobias and his three co-founders managed to find the right market for their technology. We also discover the connection between starting a business and his two hobbies, marathon running and paragliding, and how a tragic accident influenced his willingness to take risks.

The Erstsemestrigen weekend (ESW) is traditionally the first event many computer science students attend. Since 2016, the Association of Computer Science Students (VIS) has been organizing this gathering to facilitate connections among first-year students, so-called "Erstis". The weekend trip has proven helpful since getting to know people in a new environment can be daunting.

Experts from ETH Zurich including Professor Gunnar Rätsch, the University of Zurich, and the University Hospital Zurich have used machine learning to jointly create an innovative method. This new approach can predict how individual cells react to specific treatments, offering hope for more accurate diagnoses and therapeutics.