Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2020

GESS Science in Perspective Information
Only the topics listed in this paragraph can be chosen as GESS Science in Perspective.
Further below you will find the "type B courses Reflections about subject specific methods and content" as well as the language courses.

6 ECTS need to be acquired during the BA and 2 ECTS during the MA

Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.
Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents
Subject-specific courses: Recommended for doctoral, master and bachelor students (after first-year examination only).

Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.

These course units are also listed under "Type A", which basically means all students can enroll
D-MAVT
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
851-0742-00LContract Design Restricted registration - show details
Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH, D-BAUG, D-CHAB, DMATH, D-MTEC, D-INFK, D-MAVT

Number of participants limited to 30.
W2 credits2GA. Stremitzer, N. Atkinson
AbstractThis course takes an engineering approach to contracting. It aims to bridge the gap between economic contract theory, contract law scholarship and the drafting of real world contracts. Students will apply insights from mechanism design and law to the design of incentive compatible contracts.
ObjectiveThis course takes an engineering approach to contracting, bridging the gap between economic contract theory, contract law scholarship, and the drafting of real world contracts. It consists in discussing the economics underlying business transactions and applying those concepts to focused case studies. Students will apply insights from mechanism design and law to the design of incentive compatible contracts in business transactions.

Transactions are agreements between two or more parties that work together to create and allocate value. They can take a range of forms that include: the sale of an asset; the formation and running of a business; initial public offerings (IPOs); debt financings; buyouts; sales out of bankruptcy; leases; construction contracts; oil & gas production contracts, movie financing deals, etc. Deals occur, and value is created, when deal professionals design structures that provide good incentives for all parties involved and constrain opportunities for future misbehavior.

The class consists of three modules:

Module 1: Contract Theory & Contract Design: The first part of the class consists in theoretical lectures aimed at equipping students with heuristic tools on how to write contracts. To this end, students learn about key concepts of economic and behavioral contract theory.

Module 2: Drafting Contracts: The second part of the class initiates students to contract drafting, by analyzing and marking up real world contracts.

Module 3: Structuring a Complex Contract for a (hypothetical) client organization: The third part of the class will subdivide the class into groups. Each group will be presented with a complex real world deal or case study. The students will then perform the following tasks:

1) Reconstruction of the economic and informational environment in which the contract was written.
2) Identification of the main economic, technical and legal challenges of the transaction.
3) Drafting of a strategic term sheet aimed at addressing those challenges.
4) Recommendations on how the actual contract can be improved.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course is open to ETH students through the Science in Perspective Program of the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences.

This course has technical aspects that ETH students will be prepared for. UZH students must send a CV and a short letter of motivation to ensure that they have sufficient preparation for the course. Please email these materials to Dr. Atkinson (Link) with the subject line "Contract Design Course", before the course begins.
851-0738-01LThe Role of Intellectual Property in the Engineering and Technical Sector Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to40.

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.
851-0738-00LIntellectual Property: Introduction
Particularly suitable for students of D-CHAB, D-INFK, D-ITET, D-MAVT, D- MATL, D-MTEC
W2 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).
851-0735-10LBusiness 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.
851-0703-00LIntroduction to Law
Students who have attended or will attend the lecture "Introduction to Law for Civil Engineering and Architecture " (851-0703-03L) or " Introduction to Law" (851-0708-00L), cannot register for this course unit.

Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH, D-MAVT, D-MATL
W2 credits2VO.  Streiff Gnöpff
AbstractThis class introduces students into basic features of the legal system. Fundamental issues of constitutional law, administrative law, private law and the law of the EU are covered.
ObjectiveStudents are able to identify basic structures of the legal system. They unterstand selected topics of public and private law and are able to apply the fundamentals in more advanced law classes.
ContentBasic concepts of law, sources of law.
Private law: Contract law (particularly contract for work and services), tort law, property law.
Public law: Human rights, administrative law, procurement law, procedural law.
Insights into the law of the EU and into criminal law.
Lecture notesJaap Hage, Bram Akkermans (Eds.), Introduction to Law, Cham 2017 (Online Resource ETH Library)
LiteratureFurther documents will be available online (see Link).
853-0047-01LWorld Politics Since 1945: The History of International Relations (Without Exercises)W3 credits2VA. Wenger
AbstractThis lecture series provides students with an overview of the development of international relations since the end of World War II. The first part of the series deals with the development of and changes in Cold War security policy structures. The second part deals with the period after the transformation of 1989/91; the focus here is on current issues in international security policy.
ObjectiveBy the end of the semester, participants should have a solid knowledge of the history and theoretical foundations of International Relations since the end of the Second World War.
Contentcf. "Diploma Supplement"
LiteratureReading:

Wenger, Andreas und Doron Zimmermann. International Relations: From the Cold War to the Globalized World. Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 2003.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe lecure is being supported by a website on Moodle. If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Guggenheim (Link)
853-0725-00LHistory Part One: Europe (The Cradle of Modernity, Britain, 1789-1914) Information W3 credits2VH. Fischer-Tiné
AbstractA range of fundamental processes have transformed European societies in the course of the 19th and the 20th centuries. This lecture series asks whether one single model of modernization prevailed on the 'Old Continent' or whether we need to differenciate regionally. A special focus lies on the Swiss experience.
ObjectiveAt the end of this lecture course, students can: (a) highlight the most important changes in the "long nineteenth century" in Europe (b) explain their long-term effects; and (c) relate these changes to global developments today.
ContentThe thematic foci include: Industrialization on the British Isles, urban growth in Switzerland, the difficult road to democracy in Germany, and French individualism.
Lecture notesPower Point Slides and references will be made available in digital form during the course of the semester.
LiteratureMandatory and further reading will be listed on the course plan that is made available as from the first session.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis lecture series does not build upon specific previous knowledge by the students.
701-0703-00LEnvironmental EthicsW2 credits2VA. Deplazes Zemp
AbstractThe pressing environmental challenges of today demand a critical reflection. Ethics is an important tool for doing so. This lecture introduces the basics of ethics and provides in-depth knowledge of environmental ethics and its debates. This theoretical background will be applied and critically reflected using examples of current environmental challenges.
ObjectiveOn completion of this lecture, you have acquired the ability to identify, analyze, critically reflect and resolve ethical challenges in general and specifically regarding the environment. You know basic concepts, positions and lines of argumentation from the debate in environmental ethics, which you have applied and discussed in smaller exercises.
Content- Introduction to general and applied ethics.
- Overview and discussion of ethical theories relevant to address environmental challenges.
- Familiarisation with various basic standpoints within environmental ethics.
- Cross-section topics, such as sustainability, intergenerational justice, protection of species, etc.
- Practicing of newly acquired knowledge in smaller exercises.
Lecture notesPresentation slides of the individual sessions will be distributed, including the most important theories and keywords; extended reading lists.
Literature- Angelika Krebs (Hrg.) Naturethik. Grundtexte der gegenwärtigen tier- und ökoethischen Diskussion 1997
- Andrew Light/Holmes Rolston III, Environmental Ethics. An Anthology, 2003
- John O'Neill et al., Environmental Values, 2008
- Konrad Ott/Jan Dierks/Lieske Voget-Kleschin, Handbuch Umweltethik, 2016

Generel introductions:
- Barbara Bleisch/Markus Huppenbauer: Ethische Entscheidungsfindung. Ein Handbuch für die Praxis, Zürich 2014, 2. Auflage
- Marcus Düwell et. al (Hrg.), Handbuch Ethik, 2. Auflage, Stuttgart (Metzler Verlag), 2006
- Johann S. Ach et. al (Hrg.), Grundkurs Ethik 1. Grundlagen, Paderborn (mentis) 2008
Prerequisites / NoticeThe procedure for accumulating CP will be explained at the start of term.
We expect participants to engage in and contribute to discussions for keeping the course interesting and lively.
701-0985-00LSocial Intercourse with Current Environmental Risks
Does not take place this semester.
W1 credit1VB. Nowack, C. M. Som-Koller
AbstractThe lecture treats the social intercourse with risks of technical systems. The notion of risk and the perception of risk are discussed by case studies (e.g. nanotechnology) and socio-political instruments for decision-making are presented. Methods are presented that can be applied to deal with environmental risks and how they can be used for sustainable innovation.
Objective- Getting acquainted to the extended risk concept
- Evaluation of the risks caused by technology within the societal context
- Knowledge about the mode science and society handle current environmental risks (examples gene- and nanotechnology)
- Knowledge about handling risks (e.g. precautionary principle, protection goal, damage definition, ethics)
Knowledge about possibilities for sustainable innovation
Content- Risks and technical systems (risk categories, risk perception, risk management)
- Illustration with case studies (nanotechnology)
- Implementation (politics, science, media, etc.)
- Decision making (technology assessment, cost/benefit analysis etc.)
- The role of the media
- prospects for future developments
Lecture notesCopies of slides and selected documents will be distributed
Prerequisites / NoticeThe lecture is held biweekly (for 2 hours). The dates are 3.9.; 30.9. (instead of 7.10); 21.10; 4.11.; 18.11.; 2.12.; 16.12.
853-0061-00LIntroduction to Cybersecurity PoliticsW3 credits2GM. Dunn Cavelty
AbstractThe lecture is an introduction to global cybersecurity politics. The focus is on the strategic use of cyberspace by state and non-state actors (threats) and different answers to these new challenges (countermeasures).
ObjectiveParticipants learn to assess the advantages and disadvantages of cyberspace as a domain for strategic military operations. They understand the technical basics of cyber operations and know how technology and politics are interlinked in this area. They understand the security challenges for and the motivations of states to be active in cyberspace offensively and defensively and they are familiar with the consequences for international politics.
ContentWe start with an overview of cybersecurity issue from 1980 to today and look at events and actors responsible for turning cybersecurity matters into a security political issue with top priority. After familiarizing ourselves with the technical basics, we look at different forms of cyberviolence and trends in cyber conflicts (technique in social and political practice). Then, we turn to countermeasures: we compare national cybersecurity strategies, examine international norms building, and scrutinize concepts such as cyber-power and cyber-deterrence (technique in social and political regulartory contexts).
Lecture notesA script with background information and comments on the literature will be made available at the beginning of the semester.
LiteratureLiterature for each session will be available on Moodle.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe lecture is being supported by a website on Moodle. If you have any questions, please contact Brita Achberger; Link.
853-8002-00LThe Role of Technology in National and International Security PolicyW3 credits2GA. Wenger, A. Dossi, M. Haas, M. Leese, O. Thränert
AbstractThe lecture gives an introduction to the role of security and military technologies in the formulation and implementation of national and international security policies. The focus is on the challenges posed by new and developing technologies, the change in military capacities, and the question of regulation.
ObjectiveThe participants get an in-depth overview of the diverse areas in which technology becomes part of security policy and security practices, both in civil and military contexts.
ContentDer erste Teil befasst sich mit den vielgestaltigen und komplexen Beziehungen zwischen Konzepten nationaler und internationaler Sicherheit, der Förderung von Forschung und Entwicklung, ökonomischen Aspekten von Technologie, und Aussenpolitik und Diplomatie. Der zweite Teil behandelt die Auswirkungen von neuen Technologien auf militärische Kapazitäten, strategische Optionen, und Militärdoktrinen in Krieg und Frieden. Der dritte Teil konzentriert sich auf regulatorische Herausforderungen, die aus der Implementierung und der globalen Weiterverbreitung von Technologie resultieren. Der letzte Teil schliesslich beschäftigt sich mit den Herausforderungen für den Staat im Umgang mit neuen und noch in der Entwicklung befindlicher Technologien, vorrangig in den sensiblen Bereich der Rüstungsbeschaffung und des nachrichtendienstlichen Einsatzes.
LiteratureLiteratur für die einzelnen Sitzungen wird auf Moodle bereitgestellt.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe lecture is being supported by a website on Moodle. If you have any questions, please contact Julia Hofstetter, Link.
851-0648-00LMachine Learning for Global Development Restricted registration - show details
Does not take place this semester.
Number of participants limited to 24

Prerequisite: Students on BSc or MSc level who have already successfully participated in a data science and programming course.
W3 credits2G
AbstractIn this course students will learn theories of machine learning and its application to problems in the context of global development, with a focus on developing countries (e.g. predicting the risk of child labor or chances of a malaria outbreak). By the end of the course, students will be able to critically reflect upon linkages between technical innovations, culture and individual/societal needs.
ObjectiveThe objective of this course is to introduce students with a non-technical background to machine learning. Emphasis is on hands-on programming and implementation of basic machine learning concepts to demystify the subject, equip participants with all necessary insights and tools to develop their own solutions, and to come up with original ideas for problems related to the context of global development. Specific importance is placed upon the reconciliation of the predictions, which have been generated by automated processes, with the realities on the ground; hence the linkage between technical and social issues. This raises questions such as “In how far can we trust an algorithm?”, “Which factors are hard to measure and therefore not integrated in the algorithm but still crucial for the result, such as cultural and social influences?”. These questions will be discussed in the interdisciplinary group, equipping students with various perspectives on this crucial and very current debate.
ContentThis course will give an introduction to machine learning with emphasis on global development. We will discuss topics like data preprocessing, feature extraction, clustering, regression, classification and take some first steps towards modern deep learning. The course will consist of 50% lectures and 50% hands-on programming in python, where students will directly implement learned theory as a software to help solving problems in global development.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course will give an introduction to machine learning with emphasis on applications in global development. It will consist of 50% lectures and 50% programming exercises (in python). Teaching assistants from the EcoVision Lab will help with all programming exercises without any needs for additional funding.

Students should bring their laptops to the exercises because we will program on laptops directly.

It is required that students enrolling in this course have successfully passed a course that deals with basic data science and are familiar with programming (preferably in Python).
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