Search result: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2021

Environmental Sciences Master Information
Minors
Minor in Sustainable Energy Use
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
052-0610-00LEnergy and Climate Systems II Information W2 credits2GA. Schlüter
AbstractThe second semester of the annual course focuses on physical principles, component and systems for the efficient and sustainable supply with electricity, daylight and artificial light. This includes concepts of on-site generation of energy, building systems controls and human-building interaction. Additionally, larger scale building energy systems for districts are discussed.
ObjectiveThe lecture series focuses on the physical principles and technical components of relevant systems for an efficient and sustainable climatisation and energy supply of buildings. A special focus is on the interrelation of supply systems and architectural design and construction. Learning and practicing methods of quantifying demand and supply allows identifying parameters relevant for design.
ContentEfficient buildings and integrated design
Renewable, on-site energy generation
Daylight and artificial light
Intelligent buildings: automation and user
Urban energy systems
Lecture notesThe slides of the lecture serve as lecture notes and are available as download.
LiteratureA list of relevant literature is available at the chair.
151-0206-00LEnergy Systems and Power EngineeringW4 credits2V + 2UR. S. Abhari, A. Steinfeld
AbstractIntroductory first course for the specialization in ENERGY. The course provides an overall view of the energy field and pertinent global problems, reviews some of the thermodynamic basics in energy conversion, and presents the state-of-the-art technology for power generation and fuel processing.
ObjectiveIntroductory first course for the specialization in ENERGY. The course provides an overall view of the energy field and pertinent global problems, reviews some of the thermodynamic basics in energy conversion, and presents the state-of-the-art technology for power generation and fuel processing.
ContentWorld primary energy resources and use: fossil fuels, renewable energies, nuclear energy; present situation, trends, and future developments. Sustainable energy system and environmental impact of energy conversion and use: energy, economy and society. Electric power and the electricity economy worldwide and in Switzerland; production, consumption, alternatives. The electric power distribution system. Renewable energy and power: available techniques and their potential. Cost of electricity. Conventional power plants and their cycles; state-of-the-art and advanced cycles. Combined cycles and cogeneration; environmental benefits. Solar thermal; concentrated solar power; solar photovoltaics. Fuel cells: characteristics, fuel reforming and combined cycles.
Lecture notesVorlesungsunterlagen werden verteilt
151-0928-00LCO2 Capture and Storage and the Industry of Carbon-Based ResourcesW4 credits3GM. Mazzotti, A. Bardow, P. Eckle, N. Gruber, M. Repmann, T. Schmidt, D. Sutter
AbstractCarbon-based resources (coal, oil, gas): origin, production, processing, resource economics. Climate change: science, policies. CCS systems: CO2 capture in power/industrial plants, CO2 transport and storage. Besides technical details, economical, legal and societal aspects are considered (e.g. electricity markets, barriers to deployment).
ObjectiveThe goal of the lecture is to introduce carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) systems, the technical solutions developed so far and the current research questions. This is done in the context of the origin, production, processing and economics of carbon-based resources, and of climate change issues. After this course, students are familiar with important technical and non-technical issues related to use of carbon resources, climate change, and CCS as a transitional mitigation measure.

The class will be structured in 2 hours of lecture and one hour of exercises/discussion. At the end of the semester a group project is planned.
ContentBoth the Swiss and the European energy system face a number of significant challenges over the coming decades. The major concerns are the security and economy of energy supply and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuels will continue to satisfy the largest part of the energy demand in the medium term for Europe, and they could become part of the Swiss energy portfolio due to the planned phase out of nuclear power. Carbon capture and storage is considered an important option for the decarbonization of the power sector and it is the only way to reduce emissions in CO2 intensive industrial plants (e.g. cement- and steel production).
Building on the previously offered class "Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS)", we have added two specific topics: 1) the industry of carbon-based resources, i.e. what is upstream of the CCS value chain, and 2) the science of climate change, i.e. why and how CO2 emissions are a problem.
The course is devided into four parts:
I) The first part will be dedicated to the origin, production, and processing of conventional as well as of unconventional carbon-based resources.
II) The second part will comprise two lectures from experts in the field of climate change sciences and resource economics.
III) The third part will explain the technical details of CO2 capture (current and future options) as well as of CO2 storage and utilization options, taking again also economical, legal, and sociatel aspects into consideration.
IV) The fourth part will comprise two lectures from industry experts, one with focus on electricity markets, the other on the experiences made with CCS technologies in the industry.
Throughout the class, time will be allocated to work on a number of tasks related to the theory, individually, in groups, or in plenum. Moreover, the students will apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the course in a case study covering all the topics.
Lecture notesPower Point slides and distributed handouts
LiteratureIPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, 2018.
Link

IPCC AR5 Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report, 2014. Link

IPCC Special Report on Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage, 2005. Link

The Global Status of CCS: 2014. Published by the Global CCS Institute, Nov 2014.
Link
Prerequisites / NoticeExternal lecturers from the industry and other institutes will contribute with specialized lectures according to the schedule distributed at the beginning of the semester.
227-0664-00LTechnology and Policy of Electrical Energy StorageW3 credits2GV. Wood, T. Schmidt
AbstractWith the global emphasis on decreasing CO2 emissions, achieving fossil fuel independence and growing the use of renewables, developing & implementing energy storage solutions for electric mobility & grid stabilization represent a key technology & policy challenge. This course uses lithium ion batteries as a case study to understand the interplay between technology, economics, and policy.
ObjectiveThe students will learn of the complexity involved in battery research, design, production, as well as in investment, economics and policy making around batteries. Students from technical disciplines will gain insights into policy, while students from social science backgrounds will gain insights into technology.
ContentWith the global emphasis on decreasing CO2 emissions, achieving fossil fuel independence, and integrating renewables on the electric grid, developing and implementing energy storage solutions for electric mobility and grid stabilization represent a key technology and policy challenge. The class will focus on lithium ion batteries since they are poised to enter a variety of markets where policy decisions will affect their production, adoption, and usage scenarios. The course considers the interplay between technology, economics, and policy.

* intro to energy storage for electric mobility and grid-stabilization
* basics of battery operation, manufacturing, and integration
* intro to the role of policy for energy storage innovation & diffusion
* discussion of complexities involved in policy and politics of energy storage
Lecture notesMaterials will be made available on the website.
LiteratureMaterials will be made available on the website.
Prerequisites / NoticeStrong interest in energy and technology policy.
227-0730-00LPower Market II - Modeling and Strategic PositioningW6 credits4GD. Reichelt, G. A. Koeppel
AbstractOptions in the electricity business
Portfolio and risk management: valuation of hedging strategies, risk assessment
Hydropower optimization and hedging
Valuation of power plants with real options
Capacity markets and quota Systems
Complex energy contracts with embedded options
Strategy and positioning for utilities
ObjectiveThe students know the main derivatives applied in the electricity business. They are able to est up hedging strategies and can evaluate them. They habe a basic understanding of the optimization of large, complex hydro power plants, of capacity markets and of quota systems. They know the discounted cash-flow method and real options to assess the value of power plants. The students are able to identify the components of complex energy supply contracts and to assess the risk.
ContentOptions in the electricity business: option valuation with binominal trees, Black-Scholes formula, sensitivities (Greeks), implied volatility
Portfolio and risk management: delta- and gamma-neutral hedging, valuation of hedging strategies, risk assessment (case study)
Hydropower optimization and hedging
Valuation of assets (power plants, grids), DCF method, real options
Strategy and Positioning: Mini cases (group work)
Capacity markets and Quota Systems
Application of derivatives: complex energy contracts with embedded options, development of sales-oriented products
Credit Risk Management
Electricity marketing
Lecture notesHandouts - all material in English
Prerequisites / Notice2 day excursion, presentations of invited speakers from the industry

Moodle: Link
363-0514-00LEnergy Economics and Policy
It is recommended for students to have taken a course in introductory microeconomics. If not, they should be familiar with microeconomics as in, for example,"Microeconomics" by Mankiw & Taylor and the appendices 4 and 7 of the book "Microeconomics" by Pindyck & Rubinfeld.
W3 credits2GM. Filippini, S. Srinivasan
AbstractAn introduction to energy economics and policy that covers the following topics: energy demand, investment in energy efficiency, investment in renewables, energy markets, market failures and behavioral anomalies, market-based and non-market based energy and climate policy instruments in industrialized and developing countries.
ObjectiveThe students will develop an understanding of economic principles and tools necessary to analyze energy issues and to understand energy and climate policy instruments. Emphasis will be put on empirical analysis of energy demand and supply, market failures, behavioral anomalies, energy and climate policy instruments in industrialized and developing countries, and investments in renewables and in energy-efficient technologies.
ContentThe course provides an introduction to energy economics principles and policy applications. The first part of the course will introduce the microeconomic foundation of energy demand and supply as well as market failures and behavioral anomalies. In a second part, we introduce the concept of investment analysis (such as the NPV) in the context of renewable and energy-efficient technologies. In the last part, we use the previously introduced concepts to analyze energy policies: from a government perspective, we discuss the mechanisms and implications of market oriented and non-market oriented policy instruments as well as applications in developing countries.

Throughout the entire course, we combine the material with insights from current research in energy economics. This combination will enable students to understand standard scientific literature in the field of energy economics and policy. Moreover, the class aims to show students how to relate current issues in the energy and climate spheres that influence industrialized and developing countries to insights from energy economics and policy.

Course evaluation: at the end of the course, there will be a written exam covering the topics of the course.
Prerequisites / NoticeIt is recommended for students to have taken a course in introductory microeconomics. If not, they should be familiar with microeconomics as in, for example, "Microeconomics" by Mankiw & Taylor and the appendices 4 and 7 of the book "Microeconomics" by Pindyck & Rubinfeld.
529-0191-01LElectrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage TechnologiesW4 credits3GL. Gubler, E. Fabbri, J. Herranz Salañer
AbstractThe course provides an introduction to the principles and applications of electrochemical energy conversion (e.g. fuel cells) and storage (e.g. batteries) technologies in the broader context of a renewable energy system.
ObjectiveStudents will discover the importance of electrochemical energy conversion and storage in energy systems of today and the future, specifically in the framework of renewable energy scenarios. Basics and key features of electrochemical devices will be discussed, and applications in the context of the overall energy system will be highlighted with focus on future mobility technologies and grid-scale energy storage. Finally, the role of (electro)chemical processes in power-to-X and deep decarbonization concepts will be elaborated.
ContentOverview of energy utilization: past, present and future, globally and locally; today’s and future challenges for the energy system; climate changes; renewable energy scenarios; introduction to electrochemistry; electrochemical devices, basics and their applications: batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, flow batteries, supercapacitors, chemical energy carriers: hydrogen & synthetic natural gas; electromobility; grid-scale energy storage, power-to-gas, power-to-X and deep decarbonization, techno-economics and life cycle analysis.
Lecture notesall lecture materials will be available for download on the course website.
Literature- M. Sterner, I. Stadler (Eds.): Handbook of Energy Storage (Springer, 2019).
- C.H. Hamann, A. Hamnett, W. Vielstich; Electrochemistry, Wiley-VCH (2007).
- T.F. Fuller, J.N. Harb: Electrochemical Engineering, Wiley (2018)
Prerequisites / NoticeBasic physical chemistry background required, prior knowledge of electrochemistry basics desired.
Minor in Global Change and Sustainability
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
701-1653-00LPolicy and Economics of Ecosystem Services Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 50.
W3 credits2GR. Garrett, A. Müller
AbstractThe course addresses ecosystem services, their value for society, the causes of their degradation, the stakeholders involved in their provision and use, and policies to reduce their degradation. One focus is on environmental economics approaches, highlighting their potential and limitations. During the spring of 2021 this course will focus on these issues through the case of the Brazilian Amazon.
ObjectiveStudents can describe, analyse and explain
• the basic concepts used to describe ecosystem services provision and management;
• the basic social and natural science theory underlying ecosystem service degradation,
• the role and characteristics of different key stakeholders involved in ecosystem services management, including their different value systems;
• the different types of policy instruments and institutional arrangements that can be used for improved ecosystem services management and provision; and
• empirical tools to assess the performance of various policy instruments and management systems for ecosystem services provision, and to investigate the factors of success or failure of different policy instruments
ContentMany of the world's ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably, which has considerable impacts on human well-being. Various aspects need to be taken into account to change this development, to work towards improved ecosystem services management and to design appropriate policy instruments and institutional contexts. First, the societal value of different ecosystem services and the trade-offs between them needs to be assessed. Second, an assessment of the causes of excessive ecosystem services degradation is needed. Potential causes include the presence of externalities and public goods, improperly designed property rights systems, divergence of private and social discount rates, and lack of information and knowledge. Third, we need to understand the drivers of human decision-making in relation to ecosystem services use. Fourth, choosing an appropriate policy instrument (or a combination thereof) requires an understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of different instruments, their preconditions for success and the political economy of their implementation.
Finally, it is important to assess the actual impacts of different policy and management options. This requires a careful assessment of appropriate baselines, of the situation after a policy or management change, and of the various stakeholder groups involved, etc. To address all these issues, we will first work with some broad conceptual issues and theories relevant to this field and then deepen our understanding through reading, presentations, and assignments focused on the case of the Brazilian Amazon.
Lecture notesLecture notes, homework exercises and readings will be made available on Moodle.
LiteratureThere is no single textbook for this class. Instead, a number of texts will be distributed and used during the lecture, and some texts for further reading will be indicated.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course consists of a combination of lectures, homework assignments and discussions in small groups. The final grade will be based on the homework assignments, class participation, and a group project.
A prerequisite for this course is a bachelor-level course in Environmental Economics (e.g. 363-0537-00L Resource and Environmental Economics) or Quantitative Policy Analysis and Management. In particular, students are expected to be familiar with basic environmental economics' concepts such as externality, public good, market failure, opportunity cost, social optimum and market equilibrium, the basic types of policy instruments, and methods of policy analysis. Students with no background in environmental economics or policy analysis will be expected to come up to the required standards on their own, prior to starting the class.
751-5118-00LGlobal Change BiologyW2 credits2GH. Bugmann, O. Díaz Yáñez, M. Gharun, B. Stocker
AbstractThis course focuses on the impacts of global change on forests and agro-ecosystems that will strongly affect sustainable resource use across the 21st century.
ObjectiveStudents will understand how global change, ecosystem processes, land use practices, politics, and society interact, and that it is critical to act responsibly and work as an agricultural or environmental scientist in the future.

Students will better understand the impacts of global change on ecosystems at a range of spatial and temporal scales, be able to synthesize knowledge from various disciplines in the context of global change issues, and be able to evaluate management options for sustainable resource use, climate mitigation and adaptation options.

Students will learn to present scientific information to a scientific audience by preparing an executive summary and an oral presentation to answer a specific scientific question. Students will get extensive feedback from teachers and peers. Thereby, students will also learn how to give constructive feedback to peers.
ContentChanges in climate and land use are major issues that students will be faced with during their working life, independently of where they will work. Thus, an advanced understanding on how global change, ecosystem processes, land use practices, politics, and society interact and that it is critical to act responsibly and work as an agricultural or environmental scientist in the future.

Thus, during this course, the effects of global change on forests and agro-ecosystems as well as their feedbacks to the climate system will be presented and discussed. Effects on ecosystem structure, composition, productivity and biogeochemical cycling, but also on the stability of production systems against disturbances will be addressed.

Up-to-date scenarios and models for coupled human-environmental systems will be discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of different management options will be evaluated, including sustainable resource use and climate mitigation as well as adaptation.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is based on fundamental knowledge about plant ecophysiology, soil science, and ecology in general.
860-0012-00LCooperation and Conflict Over International Water Resources Restricted registration - show details
Does not take place this semester.
Number of participants limited to 40.
Priority for Science, Technology, and Policy MSc.

This is a research seminar at the Master level. PhD students are also welcome.
W3 credits2SB. Wehrli
AbstractThis seminar focuses on the technical, economic, and political challenges of dealing with water allocation and pollution problems in large international river systems. It examines ways and means through which such challenges are addressed, and when and why international efforts in this respect succeed or fail.
ObjectiveAbility to (1) understand the causes and consequences of water scarcity and water pollution problems in large international river systems; (2) understand ways and means of addressing such water challenges; and (3) analyse when and why international efforts in this respect succeed or fail.
ContentBased on lectures and discussion of scientific papers and reports, students acquire basic knowledge on contentious issues in managing international water resources, on the determinants of cooperation and conflict over international water issues, and on ways and means of mitigating conflict and promoting cooperation. Students will then, in small teams coached by the instructors, carry out research on a case of their choice (i.e. an international river basin where riparian countries are trying to find solutions to water allocation and/or water quality problems associated with a large dam project). They will write a brief paper and present their findings towards the end of the semester.
Lecture notesSlides and reading materials will be distributed electronically.
LiteratureThe UN World Water Development Reports provide a broad overview of the topic: Link
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course is open to Master and PhD students from any area of ETH.

ISTP students who take this course should also register for the course 860-0012-01L - Cooperation and conflict over international water resources; In-depth case study.
Minor in Transdisciplinarity for Sustainable Development
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
701-0998-00LEnvironmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of ChemicalsW3 credits2GM. Scheringer, B. Escher
AbstractApplication of methods for chemical risk assessment for human health and the environmental according to European and Swiss regulation; hazard and risk; exposure and effect analysis for different types of chemicals. Estimation of missing chemical properties (QSAR methods); critical evaluation of risk assessment methods, presentation of alternative assessment methods.
ObjectiveThe students are familiar with regulatory approaches to human and environmental risk assessment of chemicals and can perform the main steps of a regulatory risk assessment for an industrial chemical. They are aware of pitfalls and challenges and know about new approaches to risk assessment.
ContentRegulatory methods for environmental risk assessment of chemicals (industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals), European regulation REACH, Swiss regulations, international approaches
- Human vs. environmental risk assessment
- Classification and labelling of chemicals
- PBT assessment (persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity)
- Exposure analysis: emission patterns, multimedia fate and transport models for quantifying environmental exposure, Long range transport and persistence, predicted and measured exposure concentration for the environment and humans
- Effect analysis: estimation of hazard potential for ecotoxicity and human health, extrapolation methods, classification of chemicals according to modes of toxic action, predictive models (QSAR)
- Risk assessment methods (deterministic vs. probabilistic), risk assessment vs. hazard assessment, risk management
- uncertainty and sensitivity analyses, precautionary principle
- Environmental Quality Assessment (water, sediment, biota), Water Framework Directive)
- New methods in environmental risk assessment: mixtures, temporally and spatially explicit risk assessment
Lecture notesSlides of lectures, lecture notes for selected chapters and additional reading material will be made available via ILIAS. Also templates for the exercises and the report will be made available via ILIAS.
Literature- Van Leeuwen, C.J., Vermeire, T. (Eds.) Risk Assessment of Chemicals: An Introduction. Springer, 2007 (als e-book in der ETH-Bibliothek verfügbar).
- Scheringer, M., Persistence and Spatial Range of Environmental Chemicals. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2002.
Prerequisites / NoticeBlock course: Lecture and accompanying exercise where students conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for one selected chemical each according to the European regulation for industrial chemicals. The risk assessment will be presented in class and has to be compiled in a written technical report (Chemical dossier) that will be graded.

The overall work load is 90 hours with 30 hours contact time (block course) and 60 hours self-study.
701-1502-00LTransdisciplinary Case Study Information Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 25.

Students have to apply for this course by sending a two-page motivation letter (why are you interested? what do you want to learn? what can you contribute?) to Link and Link (latest by December 31, 2020).

Important: for students in Agricultural Sciences, the case study can replace the compulsory course 751-1000-00L Interdisciplinary Project Work!
W7 credits15PM. Stauffacher, P. Krütli
AbstractThis course is a project-oriented and research based teaching activity organized in a real-world setting. Students work on societally relevant problems. Sustainability issues and collaboration between science and society are key.
In 2021, the case area are the Seychelles, a small developing island state (SIDS) in the Indian ocean.
ObjectiveStudents learn how to plan and implement their research work in interdisciplinary and intercultural teams of students. This includes: structure ill defined problems; derive research questions; design research plans; apply qualitative and quantitative methods; work in interdisciplinary and inter-cultural teams; organise transdisciplinary collaboration between research and people from outside academia.
ContentThe Seychelles are a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Indian Ocean comprising some 115 islands spread over a sea area of 1.4 million km2. SIDS share some common characteristics. They are: small in size and economy; are remote and isolated from international markets; are vulnerable against external disturbances and climate change effects. The Seychelles are highly dependent on intact nature. Tourism and fishery are major economic pillars. The Seychelles are in a transformation process from a developing to a developed country.

Between 2012-2015 ARUP, an international consulting company, developed the Strategy Plan Seychelles 2040. The Seychelles Planning Authority (SPA) is currently working on the implementation of the strategy plan. Land use planning is currently major activity.

The preparation of the case study happens in close collaboration with the SPA. SPA is major partner of the case study in order to secure that the research is relevant for the local context. TdLab and SPA agreed on Sustainable Land Use as umbrella theme. Topics to look at may include transport infrastructure, tourism, conservation, housing, agriculture, etc. all of them relevant for sustainable land use.

This is the third time that the transdisciplinary case study is organized in the Seychelles. In 2016 and 2018 we were working on solid waste management. See: Link
Link

There is a video which explains the core elements of the transdisciplinary case study. See: Link
Prerequisites / NoticeThe case study 2020 had to be discontinued due to Corona and postponed to 2021.

The number of participants is limited. Students have to apply for this course by sending a two-page motivation letter. The letter should refer to: Why are you interested? What do you want to learn? What can you contribute to? The latter may include particular skills you have the case study could benefit from. Please send the letter to Link and Link (latest by December 31, 2020).

Important: for students in Agricultural Sciences, the case study can replace the compulsory course 751-1000-00L Interdisciplinary Project Work!
Minor in Life Cycle Assessment
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
101-0588-01LRe-/Source the Built EnvironmentW3 credits2SG. Habert
AbstractThe course focuses on material choice and energy strategies to limit the environmental impact of construction sector. During the course, specific topics will be presented (construction technologies, environmental policies, social consequences of material use, etc.). The course aims to present sustainable options to tackle the global challenge we are facing and show that "it is not too late".
ObjectiveAfter the lecture series, the students are aware of the main challenges for the production and use of building materials.

They know the different technologies/propositions available, and environmental consequence of a choice.

They understand in which conditions/context one resource/technology will be more appropriate than another
ContentA general presentation of the global context allows to identify the objectives that as engineer, material scientist or architect needs to achieve to create a sustainable built environment.

The course is then conducted as a serie of guest lectures focusing on one specific aspect to tackle this global challenge and show that "it is not too late".

The lecture series is divided as follows:
- General presentation
- Notion of resource depletion, resilience, criticality, decoupling, etc.
- Guest lectures covering different resources and proposing different option to build or maintain a sustainable built environment.
Lecture notesFor each lecture slides will be provided.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe lecture series will be conducted in English and is aimed at students of master's programs, particularly the departments ARCH, BAUG, ITET, MAVT, MTEC and USYS.

No lecture will be given during Seminar week.
102-0338-01LWaste Management and Circular EconomyW3 credits2GM. Haupt, U. Baier
AbstractUnderstanding the fundamental concepts of advanced waste management and circular economy and, in more detail, on biological processes for waste treatment. Application of concepts on various waste streams, including household and industrial waste streams. Insights into environmental aspects of different waste treatment technologies and waste economy.
ObjectiveThe purpose of this course is to study the fundamental concepts of waste management in Switzerland and globally and learn about new concepts such as Circular Economy. In-depth knowledge on biological processes for waste treatments should be acquired and applied in case studies. Based on this course, you should be able to understand national waste management strategies and related treatment technologies. Treatment plants and valorization concepts for biomass and organic waste should be understood. Furthermore, future designs of waste treatment processes can be evaluated using basic process understanding and knowledge obtained from the current literature.
ContentNational waste management
Waste as a resource
Circular Economy
Assessment tools for waste management strategies
Plastic recycling
Thermal waste treatment
Emerging technologies
Organic Wastes in Switzerland
Anaerobic Digestion & Biogas
Composting process technologies
Organic Waste Hygiene
Product Quality & Use
Waste Economy and environmental aspects
Lecture notesHandouts
Exercises based on literature
LiteratureDeublein, D. and Steinhauser, A. (2011): Biogas from Waste and Renewable Resources: An Introduction. 2nd Edition, Wiley VCH, Weinheim. --> One of the leading books on the subject of anaerobic digestion and biogas, covering all aspects from biochemical and microbial basics to planning and running of biogas plants as well as different technology concepts and biogas upgrade & utilization. We will be using selected chapters only in this course.

Lohri, C.R., S. Diener, I. Zabaleta, A. Mertenat, and C. Zurbrügg. 2017. Treatment technologies for urban solid biowaste to create value products: a review with focus on low- and middle-income settings. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology 16(1): 81–130.

Haupt, M., C. Vadenbo, and S. Hellweg. 2017. Do We Have the Right Performance Indicators for the Circular Economy?: Insight into the Swiss Waste Management System. Journal of Industrial Ecology 21(3): 615–627.

Schweizerische Qualitätsrichtlinie 2010 der Branche für Kompost und Gärgut: Link

More information about biowaste treatment in Switzerland (Link) and Europe (www.compostnetwork.info and Link)
Prerequisites / NoticeThere will be complementary exercises going along with some of the lectures, which focus on real life aspects of waste management. Some of the exercises will be solved during lessons whereas others will have to be dealt with as homework.
To pass the course and to achieve credits it is required to pass the examination successfully (Mark 4 or higher). The written examination covers all topics of the course and is based on handouts and on selected literature
102-0348-00LProspective Environmental Assessments
Prerequisite for this lecture is basic knowledge of environmental assessment tools, such as material flow analysis, risk assessment and life cycle assessment.
Students without previous knowledge in these areas need to read according textbooks prior to or at the beginning of the lecture.
W3 credits2GA. Frömelt, N. Heeren, A. Spörri
AbstractThis lecture deals with prospective assessments of emerging technologies as well as with the assessment of long-term environmental impact caused by today's activities.
Objective- Understanding prospective environmental assessments, including scenario analysis techniques, prospective emission models, dynamic MFA and LCA.
- Ability to properly plan and conduct prospective environmental assessment studies, for example on emerging technologies or on technical processes that cause long-term environmental impacts.
- Being aware of the uncertainties involved in prospective studies.
- Getting to know measures to prevent long-term emissions or impact in case studies
- Knowing the arguments in favor and against a temporally differentiated weighting of environmental impacts (discounting)
Content- Scenario analysis
- Dynamic material flow analysis
- Temporal differentiation in LCA
- Systems dynamics tools
- Assessment of future and present environmental impact
- Case studies
Lecture notesLecture slides and further documents will be made available on Moodle.
Minor in Biogeochemistry
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
701-1310-00LEnvironmental MicrobiologyW3 credits2VM. H. Schroth, M. Lever
AbstractMicroorganisms catalyze a large number of reactions that are of great importance to terrestrial and aquatic environments. To improve our understanding of the dynamics of a specific environment, it is important to gain a better understanding of microbial structures and their functions under varying environmental conditions.
ObjectiveStudents will learn basic concepts in microbial ecology. Qualitative and quantitative concepts will be presented to assess microbial communities and associated processes in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Microbial diversity in such ecosystems will be illustrated in discussions of selected habitats.
ContentLectures will cover general concepts of environmental microbiology including (i) quantification of microbial processes, (ii) energy fluxes in microbial ecosystems, (iii) application of state-of-the-art microbiological and molecular tools, and (iv) use of isotope methods for identification of microbial structures and functions.
Topics to illustrate the microbial diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems will include (i) interactions between microbes and mineral/metallic solid phases, (ii) microbial carbon and nutrient cycling, (iii) microbial processes involved in the turnover of greenhouse gases, (iv) biofilms and microbial mats, (v) bioremediation, (vi) microorganisms in extreme habitats, and (vii) microbial evolution and astrobiology.
Lecture notesavailable at time of lecture - will be distributed electronically as pdf's
LiteratureBrock Biology of Microorganisms, Madigan M. et al., Pearson, 14th ed., 2015
701-1317-00LGlobal Biogeochemical Cycles and ClimateW3 credits3GN. Gruber, M. Vogt
AbstractThe human-induced emissions of carbon dioxide has led to atmospheric CO2 concentrations that Earth likely has no’t seen for the last 30 million years. This course aims to investigate and understand the impact of humans on Earth's biogeochemical cycles with a focus on the carbon cycle and its interaction with the physical climate system for the past, the present, and the future.
ObjectiveThis course aims to investigate the nature of the interaction between the carbon cycles on land and in the ocean with climate and how this interaction has evolved over time and will change in the future. Students are expected to participate actively in the course, which includes the critical reading of the pertinent literature.
ContentTopics discussed include: The anthropogenic perturbation of the global carbon cycle and climate. Response of land and oceanic ecosystems to past and future global changes; Interactions between biogeochemical cycles on land and in the ocean; Biogeochemical processes controlling carbon dioxide and oxygen in the ocean and atmosphere on time-scales from a few years to a few hundred thousand years.
Lecture notesSarmiento & Gruber (2006), Ocean Biogeochemical Dynamics, Princeton University Press.
Additional handouts will be provided as needed. see website: Link
LiteratureSarmiento & Gruber (2006), Ocean Biogeochemical Dynamics, Princeton University Press, 526pp.

Original literature.
Minor in Physical Glaciology
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
101-0288-00LSnow and Avalanches: Processes and Risk ManagementW3 credits2GJ. Schweizer, S. L. Margreth
AbstractThe lecture covers snow and avalanche processes as well as preventive protection measures in the context of integral risk management.
Objective- basics of snow and avalanche mechanics
- methods to model snow and avalanche processes
- interaction of snow and avalanches with structures and forest
- methods of stability evaluation and hazard assessment
- avalanche protection measures in the context of integral risk management
- basics on the design and effectiveness of protection measures
ContentIntroduction, snow precipitation, extreme events, snow loads; snow and snow cover properties; snow-atmosphere interaction; avalanche formation; stability evaluation, avalanche forecasting; avalanche dynamics; avalanche impact on structures; hazard mapping; protection measures (permanent and temporary); integral risk management.
LiteratureArmstrong, R.L. and Brun, E. (Editors), 2008. Snow and Climate - Physical processes, surface energy exchange and modeling. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., 222 pp.

BUWAL/SLF, 1984. Richtlinien zur Berücksichtigung der Lawinengefahr bei raumwirksamen Tätigkeiten. EDMZ, Bern.

Egli, T., 2005. Wegleitung Objektschutz gegen gravitative Naturgefahren, Vereinigung Kantonaler Feuerversicherungen (Hrsg.), Bern.

Fierz, C., Armstrong, R.L., Durand , Y., Etchevers, P., Greene, E., McClung, D.M., Nishimura, K., Satyawali, P.K. and Sokratov, S.A., 2009. The International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground. HP-VII Technical Documents in Hydrology, 83. UNESCO-IHP, Paris, France, 90 pp.

Furukawa, Y. and Wettlaufer, J.S., 2007. Snow and ice crystals. Physics Today, 60(12): 70-71.

Margreth, S., 2007. Technische Richtlinie für den Lawinenverbau im Anbruchgebiet. Bundesamt für Umwelt, Bern, WSL Eidg. Institut für Schnee- und Lawinenforschung Davos. 134 S.

McClung. D.M. and Schaerer, P. 2006. The Avalanche Handbook, 3rd ed., The Mountaineers, Seattle.

Mears, A.I., 1992. Snow-avalanche hazard analysis for land-use planning and engineering. 49, Colorado Geological Survey.

Schweizer, J., Bartelt, P. and van Herwijnen, A., 2015. Snow avalanches. In: W. Haeberli and C. Whiteman (Editors), Snow and Ice-Related Hazards, Risks and Disasters. Hazards and Disaster Series. Elsevier, pp. 395-436.

Schweizer, J., Jamieson, J.B. and Schneebeli, M., 2003. Snow avalanche formation. Reviews of Geophysics, 41(4): 1016, doi:10.1029/2002RG000123.

Shapiro, L.H., Johnson, J.B., Sturm, M. and Blaisdell, G.L., 1997. Snow mechanics - Review of the state of knowledge and applications. Report 97-3, US Army CRREL, Hanover, NH, U.S.A.
Prerequisites / NoticeFull-day excursion (not mandatory) to Davos, hands-on experience on selected topcis, visit at WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (early March)
651-1504-00LSnowcover: Physics and ModellingW4 credits3GM. Schneebeli, H. Löwe
AbstractSnow is a fascinating high-temperature material and relevant for applications in glaciology, hydrology, atmospheric sciences, polar climatology, remote sensing and natural hazards. This course introduces key concepts and underlying physical principles of snow, ranging from individual crystals to polar ice sheets.
ObjectiveThe course aims at a cross-disciplinary overview about the phenomenology of relevant processes in the snow cover, traditional and advanced experimental methods for snow measurements and theoretical foundations with key equations required for snow modeling. Tutorials and short presentations will also consider the bigger picture of snow physics with respect to climatology, hydrology and earth science.
ContentThe lectures will treat snow formation, crystal growth, snow microstructure, metamorphism, ice physics, snow mechanics, heat and mass transport in the snowcover, surface energy balance, snow models, wind transport, snow chemistry, electromagnetic properties, experimental techniques.

The tutorials include a demonstration/exercise part and a presentation part. The demonstration/exercise part consolidates key subjects of the lecture by means of small data sets, mathematical toy models, order of magnitude estimates, image analysis and visualization, small simulation examples, etc. The presentation part comprises short presentations (about 15 min) based on selected papers in the subject.

First practical experience with modern methods measuring snow properties can be acquired in a field excursion.
Lecture notesLecture notes and selected publications.
Prerequisites / NoticeWe strongly recommend the field excursion to Davos on Saturday, March 14, 2020, in Davos. We will demonstrate traditional and modern field-techniques (snow profile, Near-infrared photography, SnowMicroPen) and you will have the chance to use the instruments yourself. The excursion includes a visit of the SLF cold laboratories with the micro-tomography setup and the snowmaker.
651-4162-00LField Course Glaciology Information
Priority is given to ETHZ students. If space is available UZH Geography and Earth System Sciences students may attend this field course at full cost.

No registration through myStudies. The registration for excursions and field courses goes through Link only (registration opens end of January 2021).
W3 credits6PA. Bauder, D. Farinotti, M. Werder
AbstractIntroduction to investigation methods in glaciology with both theory and experimental application. The students design, plan, and evaluate their individual projects, and present the results to their colleagues and the instructors.
Objective- Introduction to measurement techniques in glaciology
- Experience with realisation of measurement and data analysis
- Interpretation and presentation of results
ContentThe course covers methodologies and techniques to analyse physical conditions of glaciers and their evolution. Basic measurement techniques of surveying, drilling as well as working with sensors and data loggers are introduced. Covered fields include topographical setting, mass balance, glacier fluctuations, ice flow and glacier hydrology.
The course starts with an introduction toward the end of the spring semester and is followd by 8 days in August/September including lectures at ETH and field work on Rhonegletscher.
Prerequisites / NoticeBasic knowledge in glaciology e.g. course 651-3561-00L Kryosphäre is recommended.
This field course is organized in collaboration with the University of Hokkaido in Sapporo.

Students registering for the course confirm having read and accepted the terms and conditions for excursions and field courses of D-ERDW Link
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