“Computer science is a way of thinking”
Professor Ueli Maurer was Director of Studies at the Department of Computer Science (D-INFK) from January 2020 to December 2021. In his farewell interview, he looks back on an intense but rewarding time.
Professor Ueli Maurer, what does the Director of Studies do?
The Director of Studies is the rector at the department level, so to speak. I was responsible for the teaching and the doctorate, and I led the Study Administration team as well as the Senior Scientists Focus Education.
Which tasks did you enjoy most?
Managing the two teams, which are both highly professional and absolutely fantastic on a personal level. I also appreciated the collaboration with the Rectorate, and the collegial support from the department management. The daily flood of emails, on the other hand, was very stressful. Sometimes, it felt like I was drowning in them. But that goes hand in hand with such a complex management task.
What is your legacy after two years as Director of Studies?
In addition to ongoing teaching projects, I consolidated the team of Senior Scientists Focus Education created by my predecessor Peter Müller. I also endeavoured to provide them with career development opportunities. Furthermore, I am leaving behind a different leadership style. I tried not to lead in a top-down way, but to give more responsibility to each individual employee. In return, I was always available when a problem arose, or a decision had to be made.
What are you most proud of?
We were able to steer past disasters. That cannot be taken for granted, especially during a pandemic. This is not my achievement alone: the Study Administration team is remarkable; everyone puts in their best effort and takes initiative. What pleases me most is that I was able to express my appreciation and was appreciated in return. I believe I was able to give something back to the department for the fact that I received so much during my time at ETH Zurich.
If you had known what was coming, would you still have accepted the position at the beginning of 2020?
Yes, I would have. Had I known that the pandemic was coming, I probably would have worried more than necessary. I am pleasantly surprised at how well the department has mastered this challenge. It had a much greater impact on our students than on us. Nevertheless, I was glad that my co-lecturer Martin Hirt took over my lecture in the spring semester of 2020 and that I myself did not have to switch to online teaching.
Does computer science lend itself well to online teaching?
We will offer more online elements in the future, but face-to-face teaching will remain essential. In my opinion, a classroom lecture serves to motivate and inspire students, rather than just “plodding through” the material – the latter can also be done successfully with lecture notes or in an online format. Computer science is first and foremost a way of thinking. Thought processes and abstraction are not easily taught online.
"A classroom lecture serves to motivate and inspire students."Professor Ueli Maurer
What else will change in teaching at D-INFK in the future?
During my term of office, I helped the Rectorate launch a very important project that will transform teaching at ETH Zurich and play a central role in our department. The topic is Computational Competencies. Computer science has become a third pillar of education at ETH, an additional cornerstone alongside mathematics and physics. We as a department are faced with big questions: What formats can we offer the other departments? Do we have the resources to teach many more hours of lectures?
You studied electrical engineering at ETH Zurich, starting in 1979. What was teaching like back then?
To be honest, I don’t remember my studies very fondly. I often had the feeling that we simply had to learn what our professors were interested in at that time. I was missing the “why”: Why are we studying this? Why is this material important? It wasn’t until I had lectures with my future doctoral advisor, Professor Jim Massey, that I began to see the light. He taught very precisely, very clearly; it made a world of difference. I have to say, though, back then, ETH was still a good deal more provincial, and perhaps not one of the top universities in the world like it is today.
You are a popular lecturer yourself. Did you learn your methods from Jim Massey?
Among others, yes. When I asked him how he does it, he said, “I can only understand simple things”. What I want to teach, I must first abstract and break down into simple elements. One should also teach a way of thinking and not just facts. That’s what I learned from him. However, I made my first teaching experiences much earlier. As a middle school student, I ran a business tutoring my classmates. My maths teacher even asked me to tutor his daughter in physics. In the end, she made it from a failing grade to the highest possible grade.
You ended up having to teach online in the autumn of 2020. How was that for you?
The transition itself was relatively easy. However, you are talking into the void, because you have no feedback and do not see the students. There are also hardly any questions in large classes. Classroom teaching is much more satisfying.
You also had a furry teaching assistant, didn’t you?
Yes, my cat Janosch made an appearance in the Zoom classes at some point. The students really enjoyed that and would ask to see him after every lecture. That was good, because it injected a little humanity into the otherwise sterile online classes.
Have you had to put your research on hold for the last two years?
I had to cut back on it, but I couldn’t give it up completely. If a week or two went by where I didn't get around to it, I became insufferable. I needed the research, even though it meant working more than is healthy for me these past two years. My research doesn’t just consist of team projects; it also involves a lot of brainwork. That requires a certain amount of activation energy – I can’t simply say, “I’ve got half an hour of free time, I’ll do some thinking now”. But the euphoria when you’ve had a good idea is a great feeling. I’m looking forward to getting back into it full time!
