Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2019

Doctoral Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences Information
More Information at: Link
Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Courses
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
851-0587-00LCIS Colloquium Restricted registration - show details
This seminar is open for staff members based at the Center for Comparative and International Studies, CIS.
E-2 credits2KF. Schimmelfennig
AbstractIn this seminar staff members of the Center for Comparative and International Studies (CIS) and external guests present and discuss their research.
ObjectiveIn this seminar staff members of the Center for Comparative and International Studies (CIS) and external guests present and discuss their research.
ContentPresentation and discussion of current research.
Lecture notesDistributed electronically.
LiteratureDistributed electronically.
851-0587-01LCIS Doctoral Colloquium Restricted registration - show details W2 credits1KUniversity lecturers
AbstractIn this internal colloquium doctoral students present their work after about 12 months of research.
ObjectiveThe aim of this colloquium is that the presenters receive feedback on their research at an important stage (a stage at which significant changes of direction, methodology, etc, may still be undertaken) in the PhD process.
ContentPresentation of doctoral research.
Lecture notesDistributed electronically.
LiteratureDistributed electronically.
Prerequisites / NoticeDates: See Link
851-0549-00LWebClass Introductory Course History of Technology 3.0 Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 50

Registration in the introductory session on 23.9.2019. In addition, registration at Link as well as on the Moodle server is required. Late registrations cannot be considered

Particularly suitable for students of D-BAUG, D-INFK, D-ITET, D-MATL, D-MAVT.
W3 credits2VG. Hürlimann
AbstractTechnology stands for innovation and catastrophes; it works as a dream machine and is associated with the most diverse ways of utilization. In WebClass Introductory Course History of Technology 3.0 students become familiar with explanations for how technology works within complex economic, political and cultural contexts, by interpreting and researching texts and authoring a student manual.
ObjectiveStudents are introduced into how technological innovations take place within complex economic, political and cultural contexts. They get to know basic theories and practices of the field by acquiring the skills to interpret texts, to compare arguments, to research additional sources and complementary material and to author a common essay. All of this will yield into a student manual on the four core topics: technology and innovation, technology and catastrophes, technology as a dream machine and technology and association. The course language is German, and even if many texts will be in English, the ability to read and understand German is mandatory.
ContentTechnik steht für Innovation und Katastrophen, sie dient als Wunschmaschine und ist mit unterschiedlichsten Nutzungsformen assoziiert. Die WebClass Technikgeschichte 3.0 ist ein webgestützter Einführungskurs, der um diese technikhistorischen Grundthemen kreist. Technikgeschichte untersucht Angebote technischer Entwicklungen, die in bestimmten historischen Kontexten entstanden und von sozialen Gruppen oder ganzen Gesellschaften als Möglichkeit sozialen Wandels wahrgenommen, ausgehandelt und schliesslich genutzt oder vergessen wurden. Die Studierenden lernen, sich in jene Aushandlungsprozesse einzudenken, die soziotechnische Veränderungen stets begleiten. Sie interpretieren Texte, vergleichen Argumente, recherchieren alte und neue Darstellungen und verfassen in Gruppen einen Beitrag zu ihrem eigenen Manual der Technikgeschichte. Der Onlinekurs wird von zwei obligatorischen Präsenzveranstaltungen – einer Einführungssitzung und einem Redaktionsmeeting – begleitet. Die aktive Teilnahme und das erfolgreiche Bearbeiten von Onlineaufgaben (Verfassen von Texten) werden vorausgesetzt.
Lecture notesInformationen zur Arbeit mit der WebClass Technikgeschichte finden Sie unter Link. Sobald Sie eingeschrieben sind, haben Sie Zugang zum Online-Kurs auf Moodle mit den Aufgaben und den weiterführenden Materialien.
LiteratureLink
Prerequisites / NoticeOnlinekurs mit 2 oblig. Präsenzsitzungen
Einführungssitzung: Montag 23.9.2019, 17:15-19:00
Redaktionssitzung: Montag 11.11.2019, 17:15-19:00
Ambulatorium (Sprechstunde) nach Gruppen: Montag 25.11.2019, 17:15-19:00

In der Webclass werden die Studierenden mit technikhistorischen Perspektiven bekannt gemacht. Sie lernen, solche Perspektiven zu erfassen, zwischen ihnen zu differenzieren und sich selbst zu positionieren nach dem Dreischritt behaupten - begründen - belegen. Zudem entwickeln sie ein Sensorium für die Arbeit mit historischen Quellen.
Der Kurs besteht aus fünf Online-Phasen, zwei Präsenzsitzungen und einer Sprechstunde. In den Online-Phasen werden Aufsätze und Quellen schriftlich in Blog-Foren bearbeitet und diskutiert. Die Präsenzsitzungen dienen der gemeinsamen Vorbereitung und Reflexion. Der Leistungsnachweis erfolgt in der Teilnahme an den Präsenzsitzungen und durch die Blogbeiträge, die alle Teilnehmenden gemäss klar definierten Rollen und Aufgaben verfassen.
851-0626-02LPhD Colloquium in Development Economics Restricted registration - show details W1 credit1KI. Günther, K. Harttgen
AbstractPhD students working in empirical development economics will present their ongoing work, with a particular focus on the methods (to be) used and challenges faced. Participants are expected to read the drafts/papers/presentations beforehand and give constructive feedback to the PhD student presenting.
ObjectivePhD students learn how to present and discuss their own research questions, methods, results and problems. PhD students get familiar with the challenges of empirical research in low income countries.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis is a two days course.
851-0735-10LBusiness Law Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 100

Particularly suitable for students of D-ITET, D-MAVT
W2 credits2VP. Peyrot
AbstractThe students shall obtain a basic knowledge about business law. They shall be able to recognize and evaluate issues in the area of business law and suggest possible solutions.
ObjectiveThe students shall obtain the following competence:
- They shall obtain a working knowledge on the legal aspects involved in setting up and managing an enterprize.
- They shall be acquainted with corporate functions as contracting, negotiation, claims management and dispute resolution
- They shall be familiar with the issues of corporate compliance, i.e. the system to ascertain that all legal and ethical rules are observed.
- They shall be able to contribute to the legal management of the company and to discuss legal issues.
- They shall have an understanding of the law as a part of the corporate strategy and as a valuable ressource of the company.
Lecture notesA comprehensive script will be made available online on the moodle platform.
851-0735-09LWorkshop & Lecture Series on the Law & Economics of Innovation Information W2 credits2SS. Bechtold, H. Gersbach, A. Heinemann
AbstractThis series is a joint project by ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. It provides an overview of interdisciplinary research on intellectual property, innovation, antitrust and technology policy. Scholars from law, economics, management and related fields give a lecture and/or present their current research. All speakers are internationally well-known experts from Europe, the U.S. and beyond.
ObjectiveAfter the workshop and lecture series, participants should be acquainted with interdisciplinary approaches towards intellectual property, innovation, antitrust and technology policy research. They should also have an overview of current topics of international research in these areas.
ContentThe workshop and lecture series will present a mix of speakers who represent the wide range of current social science research methods applied to intellectual property, innovation, antitrust policy and technology policy issues. In particular, theoretical models, empirical and experimental research as well as legal research methods will be represented.
Lecture notesPapers discussed in the workshop and lecture series are posted in advance on the course web page.
LiteratureWilliam Landes / Richard Posner, The Economic Structure of Intellectual Property Law, 2003
Suzanne Scotchmer, Innovation and Incentives, 2004
Peter Menell / Suzanne Scotchmer: Intellectual Property Law, in: Polinsky / Shavell (eds.), Handbook of Law and Economics, Volume 2, Amsterdam 2007, pp. 1471-1570
Bronwyn Hall / Nathan Rosenberg (eds.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, 2 volumes, Amsterdam 2010
Bronwyn Hall / Dietmar Harhoff, Recent Research on the Economics of Patents, 2011
Paul Belleflamme / Martin Peitz, Industrial Organization: Markets and Strategies, Cambridge, 2nd edition 2015
Robert Merges, Economics of Intellectual Property Law, in Parisi (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Law & Economics, Volume 2, 2017
851-0240-16LColloquium on the Science of Learning and Instruction Information W1 credit1KE. Stern, P. Greutmann, further lecturers
AbstractIn the colloquium we discuss scientific projects concerning the teaching in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (STEM). The colloquium is conducted by the professorships participating in the Competence Center EducETH (ETH) and in the Institute for Educational Sciences (UZH).
ObjectiveParticipants are exemplarily introduced to different research methods used in research on learning and instruction and learn to weigh advantages and disadvantages of these approaches.
851-0738-00LIntellectual Property: Introduction
Particularly suitable for students of D-CHAB, D-INFK, D-ITET, D-MAVT, D- MATL, D-MTEC
W+2 credits2VM. Schweizer
AbstractThe course provides an introduction to Swiss and European intellectual property law (trademarks, copyright, patent and design rights). Aspects of competition law are treated insofar as they are relevant for the protection of intellectual creations and source designations. The legal principles are developed based on current cases.
ObjectiveThe aim of this course is to enable students at ETH Zurich to recognize which rights may protect their creations, and which rights may be infringed as a result of their activities. Students should learn to assess the risks and opportunities of intellectual property rights in the development and marketing of new products. To put them in this position, they need to know the prerequisites and scope of protection afforded by the various intellectual property rights as well as the practical difficulties involved in the enforcement of intellectual property rights. This knowledge is imparted based on current rulings and cases.

Another goal is to enable the students to participate in the current debate over the goals and desirability of protecting intellectual creations, particularly in the areas of copyright (keywords: fair use, Creative Commons, Copyleft) and patent law (software patents, patent trolls, patent thickets).
851-0738-01LThe Role of Intellectual Property in the Engineering and Technical Sector
Particularly suitable for students of D-BAUG, D-BIOL, D-BSSE, D-CHAB, D-ITET, D-MAVT
W2 credits2VK. Houshang Pour Islam
AbstractThe lecture gives an overview of the fundamental aspects of intellectual property, which plays an important role in the daily routine of engineers and scientists. The lecture aims to make participants aware of the various methods of protection and to put them in a position to use this knowledge in the workplace.
ObjectiveIn recent years, knowledge about intellectual property has become increasingly important for engineers and scientists. Both in production and distribution and in research and development, they are increasingly being confronted with questions concerning the patenting of technical inventions and the use of patent information.

The lecture will acquaint participants with practical aspects of intellectual property and enable them to use the acquired knowledge in their future professional life.

Topics covered during the lecture will include:
- The importance of innovation in industrialised countries
- An overview of the different forms of intellectual property
- The protection of technical inventions and how to safeguard their commercialisation
- Patents as a source of technical and business information
- Practical aspects of intellectual property in day-to-day research, at the workplace and for the formation of start-ups.

Case studies will illustrate and deepen the topics addressed during the lecture.

The seminar will include practical exercises on how to use and search patent information. Basic knowledge of how to read and evaluate patent documents as well as how to use publicly available patent databases to obtain the required patent information will also be provided.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe lecture addresses students in the fields of engineering, science and other related technical fields.
851-0252-04LBehavioral Studies ColloquiumZ0 credits2KC. Stadtfeld, U. Brandes, H.‑D. Daniel, T. Elmer, C. Hölscher, M. Kapur, H. Nax, R. Schubert, E. Stern
AbstractThis colloquium is about recent and ongoing research and scientific ideas in the behavioral sciences, both at the micro- and macro-levels of cognitive, behavioral and social science. It features invited presentations from internal and external researchers as well as presentations of doctoral students close to submitting their dissertation research plan.
ObjectiveParticipants are informed about recent and ongoing research in the field. Presenting doctoral students obtain feedback on their dissertation research plan.
ContentThe covers the broadly understood field of behavioral science, including theoretical as well as empirical research in Social Psychology and Research on Higher Education, Sociology, Modeling and Simulation in Sociology, Decision Theory and Behavioral Game Theory, Economics, Research on Learning and Instruction, Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Science.
Prerequisites / NoticeDoctoral students in D-GESS can obtain 2 credits for presenting their dissertation research plan.
851-0252-01LHuman-Computer Interaction: Cognition and Usability Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 35.

Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH, D-INFK, D-ITET
W3 credits2SH. Zhao, C. Hölscher, S. Ognjanovic
AbstractThis seminar introduces theory and methods in human-computer interaction and usability. Cognitive Science provides a theoretical framework for designing user interfaces as well as a range of methods for assessing usability (user testing, cognitive walkthrough, GOMS). The seminar will provide an opportunity to experience some of the methods in applied group projects.
ObjectiveThis seminar will introduce key topics, theories and methodology in human-computer interaction (HCI) and usability. Presentations will cover basics of human-computer interaction and selected topics like mobile interaction, adaptive systems, human error and attention. A focus of the seminar will be on getting to know evaluation techniques in HCI. Students form work groups that first familiarize themselves with a select usability evaluation method (e.g. user testing, GOMS, task analysis, heuristic evaluation, questionnaires or Cognitive Walkthrough). They will then apply the methods to a human-computer interaction setting (e.g. an existing software or hardware interface) and present the method as well as their procedure and results to the plenary. Active participation is vital for the success of the seminar, and students are expected to contribute to presentations of foundational themes, methods and results of their chosen group project. In order to obtain course credit a written essay / report will be required (details to be specified in the introductory session of the course).
851-0252-03LDesign Studio in Spatial Cognition Restricted registration - show details
Does not take place this semester.
Number of participants limited to 50.

Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH
W3 credits2Snot available
AbstractHow can behavioral and cognitive science inform architecture? This project-oriented seminar investigates contributions of cognitive science to architectural design with an emphasis on orientation and navigation in complex buildings and urban settings. It includes theories on spatial memory and decision-making as well as hands-on observations of behavior in real and virtual reality.
ObjectiveTaking the perspectives of building users (occupants and visitors) is vital for a human-centered design approach. Students will learn about relevant theory and methods in cognitive science and environmental psychology that can be used to understand human behavior in built environments. The foundations of environmental psychology and human spatial cognition will be introduced. A focus of the seminar will be on how people perceive their surroundings, how they orient in a building, how they memorize the environment and how they find their way from A to B. Students will also learn about a range of methods including real-world observation, virtual reality experiments, eye-tracking and behavior simulation for design. Students will reflect on the roles of designers and other stakeholders with respect to human-centered design and an evidence-based design perspective. The seminar is geared towards a mix of students from architecture / planning, engineering, computer science and behavioral science as well as anybody interested in the relation between design and cognition. Architecture students can obtain course credit in "Vertiefungsfach" or "Wahlfach"
851-0252-05LResearch Seminar Cognitive Science Restricted registration - show details
Prerequisite: Participants should be involved in research in the cognitive science group.
W2 credits2SC. Hölscher, S. Andraszewicz, V. Schinazi
AbstractThe colloquium provides a forum for researchers and graduate students in cognitive science to present/discuss their ongoing projects as well as jointly discuss current publications in cognitive science and related fields. A subset of the sessions will include invited external visitors presenting their research. Participants of this colloquium are expected to be involved in active research group.
ObjectiveGraduate student train and improve their presentation skills based on their own project ideas, all participants stay informed on current trends in the field and have the opportunity for networking with invited scholars.
851-0585-41LComputational Social Science Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 50.
W3 credits2SH. Nax
AbstractThe seminar aims at three-fold integration: (1) bringing modeling and computer simulation of techno-socio-economic processes and phenomena together with related empirical, experimental, and data-driven work, (2) combining perspectives of different scientific disciplines (e.g. sociology, computer science, physics, complexity science, engineering), (3) bridging between fundamental and applied work.
ObjectiveParticipants of the seminar should understand how tightly connected systems lead to networked risks, and why this can imply systems we do not understand and cannot control well, thereby causing systemic risks and extreme events.

They should also be able to explain how systemic instabilities can be understood by changing the perspective from a component-oriented to an interaction- and network-oriented view, and what fundamental implications this has for the proper design and management of complex dynamical systems.

Computational Social Science and Global Systems Science serve to better understand the emerging digital society with its close co-evolution of information and communication technology (ICT) and society. They make current theories of crises and disasters applicable to the solution of global-scale problems, taking a data-based approach that builds on a serious collaboration between the natural, engineering, and social sciences, i.e. an interdisciplinary integration of knowledge.
851-0252-07LOpen Debates in Social Network Research Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 30
W2 credits2SC. Stadtfeld, T. Elmer, A. Vörös
AbstractSocial network research develops through contributions from many scientific disciplines. Among others, scholars of sociology, psychology, political science, computer science, physics, mathematics, and statistics have advanced theories and methods in this field - promoting multiple perspectives on important problems. We will put acclaimed (network) theories into perspective with current research.
ObjectiveResearch on social networks has developed as a highly interdisciplinary field. By the end of this seminar, students will be able to identify and compare different discipline- and subject-specific approaches to social network research (coming mostly from sociology and psychology). They will be familiar with recent publications in the field of social networks and be able to critically participate in a number of open debates in the field. Among others, these debates are centered around the types and measurement of social relations across different contexts, the importance of simple generative processes in shaping network structure, the role of social selection and influence mechanisms in promoting segregation and polarization.

Learning Objectives:
- Know the most relevant social network terminology and concepts
- Know the most relevant sociological and psychological social network theories
- Be able to develop meaningful social networks research questions
- Be able to design your own social networks study
- Critically examine empirical social networks research
ContentSocial network research develops through contributions from many scientific disciplines. Among others, scholars of sociology, psychology, political science, computer science, physics, mathematics, and statistics have advanced theories and methods in this field - promoting multiple perspectives on important problems. We will critically examine acclaimed (network) theories of sociology and psychology and put them into perspective with current research. This course aims to present and structure open debates in social network research with a focus on social network processes, individual outcomes, and emergent phenomena.
851-0609-06LGoverning the Energy Transition Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 25.

Primarily suited for Master and PhD level.
W3 credits2VT. Schmidt, S. Sewerin
AbstractThis course addresses the role of policy and its underlying politics in the transformation of the energy sector. It covers historical, socio-economic, and political perspectives and applies various theoretical concepts to specific aspects of governing the energy transition.
Objective- To gain an overview of the history of the transition of large technical systems
- To recognize current challenges in the energy system to understand the theoretical frameworks and concepts for studying transitions
- To demonstrate knowledge on the role of policy and politics in energy transitions
ContentClimate change, access to energy and other societal challenges are directly linked to the way we use and create energy. Both the recent United Nations Paris climate change agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals make a fast and extensive transition of the energy system necessary.
This course introduces the social and environmental challenges involved in the energy sector and discusses the implications of these challenges for the rate and direction of technical change in the energy sector. It compares the current situation with historical socio-technical transitions and derives the consequences for policy-making. It then introduces theoretical frameworks and concepts for studying innovation and transitions. It then focuses on the role of policy and policy change in governing the energy transition, considering the role of political actors, institutions and policy feedback.
The course has a highly interactive (seminar-like) character. Students are expected to actively engage in the weekly discussions and to give a presentation (15-20 minutes) on one of the weekly topics during that particular session. The presentation and participation in the discussions will form one part of the final grade (50%), the remaining 50% of the final grade will be formed by a final exam.
Lecture notesSlides and reading material will be made available via moodle.ethz.ch (only for registered students).
LiteratureA reading list will be provided via moodle.ethz.ch at the beginning of the semester.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is particularly suited for students of the following programmes: MA Comparative International Studies; MSc Energy Science & Technology; MSc Environmental Sciences; MSc Management, Technology & Economics; MSc Science, Technology & Policy; ETH & UZH PhD programmes.
851-0144-20LPhilosophical Aspects of Quantum Physics
Particularly suitable for students of D-CHAB, D-PHYS
W3 credits2SR. Renner
AbstractThis course provides an introduction to philosophical issues about quantum physics. In particular, we will examine key concepts (such as locality and time) and different interpretations of quantum mechanics (such as the many-worlds interpretation).
ObjectiveBy the end of the course students are able to describe and compare different interpretations of quantum mechanics. They have the necessary background to identify and examine features and problems of interpretations and, more generally, of key concepts of quantum physics, such as the transition between quantum and classical systems.

The course is part of ETH's "Critical Thinking"-Initiative. It provides students an opportunity to see how established knowledge can be challenged. Giving a presentation and actively participating in discussions (both verbally and in writing) is key to a successful completion of the course.
851-0105-00LBackground Knowledge Arabic WorldW2 credits2VU. Gösken
AbstractThis lecture will discuss important topics of the Arab culture involving concepts relating to history, the role of literature, sciences and religion, concepts of 'the West', meaning of education, understanding of culture as well as current concepts and discourses relevant at the sociocultural level.
ObjectiveTeaching about epistemic contents relating to the Arabic world that constitute modern Arabs' self understanding and are relevant for adequate behavior in practically dealing with the Arabic world. What basic knowledge about 'their' culture are Arabs taught? What educational goals are pursued? What is the relationship they build with the West?
The topics that are discussed on the basis of a scientifically critical approach are concepts and understandings of history, the role of literature, sciences and religion, concepts of the West and relationship with the West, the role of education, understanding of culture and cultural refinement, current concepts and discourses relevant at the sociocultural level.
851-0252-10LProject in Behavioural Finance Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 40

Particularly suitable for students of D-MTEC
W3 credits2SS. Andraszewicz, C. Hölscher, D. Kaszás
AbstractIn this seminar, students will study cognitive processes, behaviour and the underlying biological response to financial decisions. Research methods such as asset market experiments, lottery games, risk preference assessment, psychometrics, neuroimaging and psychophysiology of decision processes will be discussed. Financial bubbles and crashes will be the core interest.
ObjectiveThis course has four main goals:
1) To learn about the most important topics within Behavioural Finance
2) To learn how to conduct behavioural studies, design experiments, plan data collection and experimental tasks
3) To learn about causes of market crashes, factors that influence them, traders' behaviour before, during and after financial crises
4) To investigate a topic of interest, related to behaviour of traders during market crashes.

Additionally, the course gives to the students the opportunity to practice oral presentations, communication skills, report writing and critical thinking.
ContentThe course provides an overview of the most important topics in Behavioural Finance. First part of the course involves reading scientific articles, which will be discussed during the seminar. Therefore, attendance is required to pass the course. Each week, a student volunteer will present a paper and the presentation will be followed by a discussion. After obtaining sufficient knowledge of the field, students will select a topic for a behavioural study of their own. The final assignment consists of preparing and conducting a small behavioural study/experiment, analysing the data and presenting the project in the final meeting of the class. Each student will write a scientific report of their study.
851-0125-65LA Sampler of Histories and Philosophies of Mathematics
Particularly suitable for students D-CHAB, D-INFK, D-ITET, D-MATH, D-PHYS
W3 credits2VR. Wagner
AbstractThis course will review several case studies from the ancient, medieval and modern history of mathematics. The case studies will be analyzed from various philosophical perspectives, while situating them in their historical and cultural contexts.
ObjectiveThe course aims are:
1. To introduce students to the historicity of mathematics
2. To make sense of mathematical practices that appear unreasonable from a contemporary point of view
3. To develop critical reflection concerning the nature of mathematical objects
4. To introduce various theoretical approaches to the philosophy and history of mathematics
5. To open the students' horizons to the plurality of mathematical cultures and practices
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