Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2024
Science, Technology, and Policy Master  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 860-0034-00L | Assessing Political Feasibility of Policies - Public Opinion Research, Survey and Field Experiments  Priority for Science, Technology, and Policy MSc and PhD students. | O | 4 credits | 2G | E. K. Smith, S. Gomm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course teaches the basics of public opinion surveys. We start with the theoretical foundations of the formation of (public) opinion formation and ideology, then turn to the practical lessons of developing and implementing own surveys with a focus on causal inference via survey experiments. Finally, we give practical insights into the analysis of (complex) survey data. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The goals of this class are: - to understand the basics of public opinion research - to translate this theoretical knowledge into the practical design and implementation of surveys - to make use of survey experiments for causal inference At the end of the course, students should be able to use and evaluate public opinion data and design survey experiments to test policy-relevant questions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 860-0004-00L | Concepts, Theories, and Methods for Public Policy Analysis ISTP-PhD students please register via the Study Administration. | O | 4 credits | 2S | T. Bernauer, I. Günther, M. Leese, T. Schmidt, T. Stadler, B. Steffen, E. Tilley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course starts with a broad conceptual and historical perspective on technological and scientific innovation, and then focuses on concepts, theories, and methods for policy analysis as well as their application to policy questions in a variety of issue areas. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | This course helps students with an educational background in natural sciences or engineering to transition into the field of public policy analysis (PPA). It starts with a broad conceptual and historical perspective on technological and scientific innovation, and then focuses on concepts, theories and methods for policy analysis as well as their application to policy questions in a variety of issue areas. The course is heavily based on reading assignments and their discussion in class. The overall goal is to expose students to a variety of ways in which policy analysis can be undertaken, but not to teach specific policy analysis tools in great depth – those skills will be acquired in other, dedicated courses of the MSc STP program. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Course materials will be available on Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Course materials will be available on Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Readings will be available on Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The course is open only to the ISTP's MSc students and to ISTP doctoral students. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 860-0005-00L | Colloquium Science, Technology, and Policy (HS) | O | 1 credit | 1K | T. Schmidt, T. Bernauer, E. Tilley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Presentations by guest speakers from academia and practice/policy. Students are assigned to play a leading role in the discussion and write a report on the respective event. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students obtain insights into different policy-related research fields and participate in scientific discussions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | See the program on the ISTP website: http://www.istp.ethz.ch/events/colloquium.html The series is open to the public. The lectures start at 12:15 and last 30 minutes, followed by an open discussion of 30 minutes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | open to anyone from ETH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 860-0031-00L | Policy Analysis Does not take place this semester. | O | 4 credits | 2V | B. Steffen, T. Schmidt, to be announced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course Policy Analysis 1 will introduce important concepts and methods for ex-ante policy analysis. It will mostly focus on the policy content (vis-à-vis the policy process). We will primarily discuss quantitative methods. The course will contain several practical assignments in which students have to apply the concepts and methods studied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students should gain the skill to perform policy analyses independently. To this end, students will be enabled to understand a policy problem and the rationale for policy intervention; to select appropriate impact categories and methods to address a policy problem through policy analysis; to assess policy alternatives, using various ex-ante policy analysis methods; and to communicate the results of the analysis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course has four major topics: •Rationales for public policy in Science and Technology •Impact of policies on firms and investors •Impacts of policies on socio-technical systems •Impact of policies on society at large | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 363-0503-00L | Principles of Microeconomics | O | 3 credits | 2G | M. Filippini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course introduces basic principles, problems and approaches of microeconomics. This provides the students with reflective and contextual knowledge on how societies use scarce resources to produce goods and services and ensure a (fair) distribution. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The learning objectives of the course are: (1) Students must be able to discuss basic principles, problems and approaches in microeconomics. (2) Students can analyse and explain simple economic principles in a market using supply and demand graphs. (3) Students can contrast different market structures and describe firm and consumer behaviour. (4) Students can identify market failures such as externalities related to market activities and illustrate how these affect the economy as a whole. (5) Students can also recognize behavioural failures within a market and discuss basic concepts related to behavioural economics. (6) Students can apply simple mathematical concepts on economic problems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The resources on our planet are finite. The discipline of microeconomics therefore deals with the question of how society can use scarce resources to produce goods and services and ensure a (fair) distribution. In particular, microeconomics deals with the behaviour of consumers and firms in different market forms. Economic considerations and discussions are not part of classical engineering and science study programme. Thus, the goal of the lecture "Principles of Microeconomics" is to teach students how economic thinking and argumentation works. The course should help the students to look at the contents of their own studies from a different perspective and to be able to critically reflect on economic problems discussed in the society. Topics covered by the course are: - Supply and demand - Consumer demand: neoclassical and behavioural perspective - Cost of production: neoclassical and behavioural perspective - Welfare economics, deadweight losses - Governmental policies - Market failures, common resources and public goods - Public sector, tax system - Market forms (competitive, monopolistic, monopolistic competitive, oligopolistic) - International trade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Lecture notes, exercises and reference material can be downloaded from Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | N. Gregory Mankiw and Mark P. Taylor (2023), "Economics", 6th edition, South-Western Cengage Learning. For students taking only the course 'Principles of Microeconomics' there is a shorter version of the same book: N. Gregory Mankiw and Mark P. Taylor (2023), "Microeconomics", 6th edition, South-Western Cengage Learning. Complementary: R. Pindyck and D. Rubinfeld (2018), "Microeconomics", 9th edition, Pearson Education. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 860-0041-00L | Data Analysis for Public Policy Research | O | 4 credits | 2V | E. K. Smith, C. Fournier De Lauriere | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course covers the necessary fundamentals for the use of statistics to understand policy. Theoretically the course will provide a survey of foundational concepts and techniques statistics and mathematics. The applied part of the course will focus on implementing these techniques in R, as well as the practical skills required to develop their own data based research projects. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Gain a familiarity with foundational concepts and techniques in statistics, and be able to apply these to new problems. Be comfortable independently conducting a variety of tasks in R, such as data cleaning, visualisation and analysis. Produce summaries of statistical analyses that non-specialists can understand. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This course introduces students to the necessary fundamentals of statistics, and its application, to understand policy. Theoretically the course will provide a survey of foundational concepts and techniques statistics and mathematics. The applied part of the course will focus on implementing these techniques in R, as well as developing the practical skills in the language required to be able to independently conduct data based research projects. By doing so, students will gain a familiarity with foundational concepts and techniques in statistics, and be able to apply these to new problems. Students will also develop the requisite skills to be able to independently conduct a variety of tasks in R, such as data cleaning, visualisation and analysis. Finally, students will be able to produce summaries of statistical analyses that non-specialists can understand. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 363-0565-00L | Principles of Macroeconomics | O | 3 credits | 2V | J.‑E. Sturm, E. Baselgia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course examines the behaviour of macroeconomic variables, such as gross domestic product, unemployment and inflation rates. It tries to answer questions like: How can we explain fluctuations of national economic activity? What can economic policy do against unemployment and inflation? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | This lecture will introduce the fundamentals of macroeconomic theory and explain their relevance to every-day economic problems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This course helps you understand the world in which you live. There are many questions about the macroeconomy that might spark your curiosity. Why are living standards so meagre in many African countries? Why do some countries have high rates of inflation while others have stable prices? Why have some European countries adopted a common currency? These are just a few of the questions that this course will help you answer. Furthermore, this course will give you a better understanding of the potential and limits of economic policy. As a voter, you help choose the policies that guide the allocation of society's resources. When deciding which policies to support, you may find yourself asking various questions about economics. What are the burdens associated with alternative forms of taxation? What are the effects of free trade with other countries? How does the government budget deficit affect the economy? These and similar questions are always on the minds of policy makers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | The course Moodle page contains announcements, course information and lecture slides. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | The set-up of the course will closely follow the book of N. Gregory Mankiw and Mark P. Taylor (2023), Economics, Cengage Learning, 6th Edition. This book can also be used for the course '363-0503-00L Principles of Microeconomics' (Filippini). Besides this textbook, the slides, lecture notes and problem sets will cover the content of the lecture and the exam questions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 860-0001-00L | Public Institutions and Policy-Making Processes Number of participants limited to 30. Priority for Science, Technology, and Policy Master. | O | 3 credits | 2G | T. Bernauer, S. Bechtold, F. Schimmelfennig | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Students acquire the contextual knowledge for analyzing public policies. They learn why and how public policies and laws are developed, designed, and implemented at national and international levels, and what challenges arise in this regard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Public policies result mainly from decision-making processes that take place within formal institutions of the state (parliament, government, public administration, courts) or inter-/supranational organizations (e.g., EU, UN, World Bank). That is, policies are shaped by the characteristics of decision-making processes and the characteristics of public institutions and related actors (e.g., citizens, interest groups, news media). In this course, students acquire the contextual knowledge for analyzing public policies – hence this course is complementary to the ISTP course on concepts and methods of policy analysis. Students learn why and how public policies and laws are developed, designed, and implemented at national and international levels. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course is organized in three modules. The first module (taught by Stefan Bechtold) examines basic concepts and the role of law, law-making, and law enforcement in modern societies. The second module (taught by Thomas Bernauer) deals with political behavior (including elections and electoral systems), and the functioning of legislatures, governments, and interest groups. The third module (taught by Frank Schimmelfennig) focuses on the European Union and international organizations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Course materials will be available on Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Readings will be available on Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This is a Master level course. The course is limited to 30 students, with ISTP Master students having priority. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 860-0008-00L | MSc STP Introductory Day | O | 0 credits | 1V | T. Bernauer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This teaching unit introduces students to the MSc STP program. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students learn about the structure of the study programme, the different types of courses and how to select courses within the various course categories. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Minor in Natural Sciences and Engineering | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urbanization and Planning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 701-1453-00L | Ecological Assessment and Evaluation | W | 3 credits | 3G | F. Knaus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course provides methods and tools for ecological evaluations dealing with nature conservation or landscape planning. It covers census methods, ecological criteria, indicators, indices and critically appraises objectivity and accuracy of the available methods, tools and procedures. Birds and plants are used as main example guiding through different case studies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students will be able to: 1) critically consider biological data books and local, regional, and national inventories; 2) evaluate the validity of ecological criteria used in decision making processes; 3) critically appraise the handling of ecological data and criteria used in the process of evaluation 4) perform an ecological evaluation project from the field survey up to the descision making and planning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Powerpoint slides are available on the moodle page. Additional documents are handed out as copies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Basic literature and references are listed on the webpage. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The course structure changes between lecture parts, seminars and discussions. The didactic atmosphere is intended as working group. Suggested prerequisites for attending this course are skills and knowledge equivalent to those taught in the following ETH courses: - Pflanzen- und Vegetationsökologie - Systematische Botanik - Raum- und Regionalentwicklung - Naturschutz und Naturschutzbiologie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 363-1047-00L | Urban Systems and Transportation | W | 3 credits | 2G | M. Köthenbürger, G. Loumeau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course is an introduction to urban and regional economics. It focuses on the formation and development of urban systems, and highlight how transport infrastructure investments can affect the location, size and composition of such systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The main objective of this course is to provide students with some basic tools to analyze the fundamental economic forces at play in urban systems (i.e., agglomeration and congestion forces), and the role of transport networks in shaping the structure of these systems. Why do urban areas grow or decline? How do transport networks affect the location of individuals and firms? Does the location of a firm determine its productivity? Can transport infrastructure investments reduce economic disparities? These are some of the questions that students should be able to answer after having completed the course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course is organized in four parts. I start with the key observation that economic activity (both in terms of population density and productivity) is unevenly distributed in space. For instance, the share of the population living in urban centers is increasing globally, from 16% in 1900 and 50% in 2000 to about 68% by the year 2050 (UN, World Economic Prospects, 2014). The goal of the first part is then to understand the economic forces at play behind these trends, looking at the effects within and across urban areas. I will also discuss how natural or man-made geographical characteristics (e.g., rivers, mountains, borders, etc.) affect the development of such urban systems. In the second part, I discuss the planning and pricing of transport networks, moving from simple local models to more complex transport models at a global scale. The key aspects include: the first and second best road pricing, the public provision of transport networks and the demographic effects of transport networks. In the third part, I combine the previous two parts and analyze the interaction between urban systems and transportation. Thereby, the main focus is to understand the economic mechanisms that can lead to a general equilibrium of all actors involved. However, as the study of the historical development of urban systems and transport networks provides interesting insights, I will discuss how their interaction in the past shapes today’s economic geography. Finally, I broaden the scope of the course and explore related topics. There will be a particular emphasis on the relation between urban systems and fiscal federalism as well as environmental policies. Both aspects are important determinants of the contemporary developments of urban systems, and as such deserve our attention. In general, this class focuses on the latest research developments in urban and regional economics, though it does not require prior knowledge in this field. It pays particular attention to economic approaches, which are based on theoretical frameworks with strong micro-foundations and allow for precise policy recommendations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Course slides will be made available to students prior to each class. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Course slides will be made available to students. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 101-0509-00L | Infrastructure Management 1: Process | W | 6 credits | 2G | B. T. Adey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Infrastructure management is the process that ensures infrastructure provides desired service over time. This course provides an overview of the process and insight into some of the most important parts, i.e., defining service, justifying interventions, monitoring the infrastructure system, and ensuring a well function infrastructure management organisation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the infrastructure management process. The high-level process can be used as a starting point to ensure that infrastructure management is done professionally, efficiently and effectively. This process can be used to help improve the specific infrastructure management processes in the organisations. More specifically upon completion of the course, students had their first experience with • defining the service to be provided by infrastructure, • developing and evaluating asset strategies, and converting them into programs / project portfolios • establishing a monitoring program for an infrastructure system, and • establishing basic rules and principles to ensure an infrastructure management organisation is running well. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The weekly lectures are structured as follows: 1 Introduction: An introduction to infrastructure management and the project. 2 Service: Determination of what service you are trying to provide with an infrastructure network is important in justifying the interventions you think are required and ensuring that investment decisions are aligned throughout an infrastructure management organisation. This lecture introduces the concept of serve and connects it to measurable indicators. 3 Help session 1: This session provides time for your group to ask questions as you define the service you want your infrastructure network to provide 4 Presentation 1: 4 groups will present their ideas on how they want their networks to provide service 5 Interventions: Justifying the interventions you want to execute to ensure you continue to provide the defined service requires you to model deterioration, determining economically justifiable strategies and explain which interventions will be postponed if you can’t do all you would like. This lecture is focused on explaining the main principles behind each of these concepts. 6 Help session 2: This session provides time for your group to ask questions as you justify the interventions you want to execute on your infrastructure network over time and explain what you will postpone if you cannot do all of them. 7 Presentation 2: 4 groups will present how they have justified interventions and how they have selected the ones they would like to postpone if required 8 Monitoring: To ensure you the infrastructure network is providing what you expect you need to monitor its performance and how projects are being done. This lecture is focused on the principles to ensure a monitoring system is set up that ensure that the infrastructure system is providing the expected service. 9 Help session 3: This session provides time for your group to ask questions on how to establish the monitoring systems for your infrastructure networks. 10 Presentation 3: 4 groups will present how they intended to monitor their systems and projects. 11 Organisation: Managing infrastructure only works well with great teams of people with great processes. This lecture focuses on the principles of ensuring a well function organisation and well-functioning processes. 12 Help session 4: This session provides time for your group to ask questions on how to ensure well-functioning organisations and well-functioning processes. 13 Presentation 4: 4 groups will present how they intended to ensure well-functioning organisations and well-functioning processes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | - The lecture materials consist of handouts and the slides. - The lecture materials will be distributed via Moodle by the beginning of each lecture. - The questions to be discussed in the discussion session will be distributed by the end of the day on the Monday before the discussion session. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Appropriate literature will be handed out when required via Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This course has no prerequisites. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 103-0347-01L | Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems (GIS Exercises) | W | 3 credits | 2U | A. Grêt-Regamey, C. Brouillet, N. Klein, I. Nicholson Thomas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course content of the lecture Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems (103-0347-00 V) will be illustrated in practical GIS exercises (e.g. habitat modelling, land use change, ecosystem services, connectivity). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | - Practical application of theory from the lectures - Quantitative assessment and evaluation of landscape characteristics - Learning useful applications of GIS for landscape planning - Developing landscape planning measures for practical case studies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | - Applications of GIS in landscape planning - Landscape analysis - Landscape structural metrics - Modelling habitats and land use change - Calculating urban ecosystem services - Ecological connectivity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | A script and presentation slides for each exercise will be provided on Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Will be named in the lecture. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Basic GIS skills are strongly recommended. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 103-0347-00L | Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems | W | 3 credits | 2V | A. Grêt-Regamey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | In the course, students learn about methods for the identification and measurement of landscape characteristics, as well as measures and policies for landscape planning. Landscape planning is put into the context of environmental systems (soil, water, air, climate, flora and fauna) and discussed with regard to socio-political questions of the future. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The aims of this course are: 1) To illustrate the concept of landscape planning, the economic relevance of landscape and nature in the context of the environmental systems (soil, water, air, climate, flora and fauna). 2) To show landscape planning as an integral information system for the coordination of different instruments by illustrating the aims, methods, instruments and their functions in landscape planning. 3) To show the importance of ecosystem services. 4) To learn basics about nature and landscape: Analysis and assessment of the complex interactions between landscape elements, effects of current and future land use (ecosystem goods and services, landscape functions). 5) To identify and measure the characteristics of landscape. 6) Learn how to use spatial data in landscape planning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | In this course, the following topics are discussed: - Definition of the concept of landscape - Relevance of landscape planning - Landscape metrics - Landscape change - Methods, instruments and aims of landscape planning (policy) - Socio-political questions of the future - Environmental systems, ecological connectivity - Ecosystem services - Urban landscape services - Practice of landscape planning - Use of GIS in landscape planning | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | No script. The documentation, consisting of presentation slides are partly handed out and are provided for download on Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The contents of the course will be illustrated in the associated course 103-0347-01 U (Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems (GIS Exercises)) or in Project LAND within the Experimental and Computer Lab (for Environmental Engineers). A combination of courses is recommended. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 101-0427-01L | Public Transport Design and Operations | W | 6 credits | 4G | F. Corman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course aims at analyzing, designing, improving public transport systems, as part of the overall transport system. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Public transport is a key driver for making our cities more livable, clean and accessible, providing safe, and sustainable travel options for millions of people around the globe. Proper planning of public transport system also ensures that the system is competitive in terms of speed and cost. Public transport is a crucial asset, whose social, economic and environmental benefits extend beyond those who use it regularly; it reduces the amount of cars and road infrastructure in cities; reduces injuries and fatalities associated to car accidents, and gives transport accessibility to very large demographic groups. Goal of the class is to understand the main characteristics and differences of public transport networks. Their various performance criteria based on various perspective and stakeholders. The most relevant decision making problems in a planning tactical and operational point of view At the end of this course, students can critically analyze existing networks of public transport, their design and use; consider and substantiate possible improvements to existing networks of public transport and the management of those networks; optimize the use of resources in public transport. General structure: general introduction of transport, modes, technologies, system design and line planning for different situations, mathematical models for design and line planning timetabling and tactical planning, and related mathematical approaches operations, and quantitative support to operational problems, evaluation of public transport systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Basics for line transport systems and networks Passenger/Supply requirements for line operations Objectives of system and network planning, from different perspectives and users, design dilemmas Conceptual concepts for passenger transport: long-distance, urban transport, regional, local transport Planning process, from demand evaluation to line planning to timetables to operations Matching demand and modes Line planning techniques Timetabling principles Allocation of resources Management of operations Measures of realized operations Improvements of existing services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Lecture slides are provided. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Ceder, Avi: Public Transit Planning and Operation, CRC Press, 2015, ISBN 978-1466563919 (English) Holzapfel, Helmut: Urbanismus und Verkehr – Bausteine für Architekten, Stadt- und Verkehrsplaner, Vieweg+Teubner, Wiesbaden 2012, ISBN 978-3-8348-1950-5 (Deutsch) Hull, Angela: Transport Matters – Integrated approaches to planning city-regions, Routledge / Taylor & Francis Group, London / New York 2011, ISBN 978-0-415-48818-4 (English) Vuchic, Vukan R.: Urban Transit – Operations, Planning, and Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken / New Jersey 2005, ISBN 0-471-63265-1 (English) Walker, Jarrett: Human Transit – How clearer thinking about public transit can enrich our communities and our lives, ISLAND PRESS, Washington / Covelo / London 2012, ISBN 978-1-59726-971-1 (English) White, Peter: Public Transport - Its Planning, Management and Operation, 5th edition, Routledge, London / New York 2009, ISBN 978-0415445306 (English) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 103-0317-00L | Spatial Planning and Development Only for master students, otherwise a special permisson by the lecturer is required. | W | 3 credits | 2G | D. Kaufmann, A. Kuitenbrouwer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course deals with theoretical, methodological and practical foundations around the understanding and production of urban space. It discusses theoretical planning frameworks, and tasks of spatial planning at various scales, addresses current and future challenges of spatial development and reviews approaches for a sustainable development in Switzerland and beyond. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The overall aim of the course is to raise students’ awareness and curiosity about the aspects that guide and shape our environment. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and exercises, the course seeks to achieve this goal by accumulating crucial notions from both theoretical and practice-based examples, and applying such knowledge into tasks of spatial planning. At the end of this course, students should feel empowered to critically engage with the teaching topic from a variety of approaches. By taking up the lecture, the students should be able to to analyse, interpret and reflect complex cross-scale tasks of spatial development and transformation, and to use their theoretical, methodical and professional knowledge to tackle them. You as students will... ... assess present and future core challenges of spatial planning and development. ... discuss the role of spatial planning and development in shaping our living environment. ... differentiate the levels, scales and tasks of spatial planning instruments and processes. … reflect on theoretical concepts and pratical examples of decision-making of spatial tasks. ... identify and apply spatially relevant principles and systems for action-oriented planning and decision-making. ... acquire theoretical, methodological, practical know-how to examine, clarify, and solve tasks on spatial development | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Spatial development as a discipline deals with the development, (trans)formation, and arrangement of our urban environment. We simultaneously perceive and contribute to its transformation, making space the result of manifold intended and unintended changes. To mediate between different demands, interests and interventions of multiple actors, a forward-looking, evidence-based, and action-oriented planning is necessary. As guidance for future action, (spatial) planning has to be committed to the sustainable handling as well as just allocation of resources, in particular of the non-replicable resource land. The course focuses on both theoretical concepts and practice-oriented approaches to gain knowledge and be equipped to address current issues in spatial planning and development. This is mirrored in the course’s structure made of both of lectures and exercises. The lecture series introduces necessary key concepts and covers the following main topics: - Drivers of spatial development, inward development, core tasks and current challenges for (spatial) planners. - Interplay of formal and informal planning instruments across scales and actors. - Differentiation urban typologies, their characteristics and challenges - Types of spatial analysis and key figures - Planning approaches and the (political) steering of spatial development. - Types of processes and participation in spatial development. - Approaches for planning complex urban situations - Concepts for sustainable development The exercises provide a framework for practical application of the learned theoretical concepts of spatial planning to real-life situations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | A course will be set up on Moodle for the provision of lectures and documents, to upload group deliverables and to ask questions in a discussion Forum. All documents provided are exclusively available for use within this course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 052-0707-00L | Urban Design III | W | 2 credits | 2V | H. Klumpner, F. T. Salva Rocha Franco | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Students are introduced to a narrative of 'Urban Stories' through a series of three tools driven by social, governance, and environmental transformations in today's urbanization processes. Each lecture explores one city's spatial and organizational ingenuity born out of a particular place's realities, allowing students to transfer these inventions into a catalog of conceptual tools. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | How can students of architecture become active agents of change? What does it take to go beyond a building's scale, making design-relevant decisions to the city rather than a single client? How can we design in cities with a lack of land, tax base, risk, and resilience, understanding that Zurich is the exception and these other cities are the rule? How can we discover, set rather than follow trends and understand existing urban phenomena activating them in a design process? The lecture series produces a growing catalog of operational urban tools across the globe, considering Governance, Social, and Environmental realities. Instead of limited binary comparing of cities, we are building a catalog of change, analyzing what design solutions cities have been developing informally incrementally over time, why, and how. We look at the people, institutions, culture behind the design and make concepts behind these tools visible. Students get first-hand information from cities where the chair as a Team has researched, worked, or constructed projects over the last year, allowing competent, practical insight about the people and topics that make these places unique. Students will be able to use and expand an alternative repertoire of experiences and evidence-based design tools, go to the conceptual core of them, and understand how and to what extent they can be relevant in other places. Urban Stories is the basic practice of architecture and urban design. It introduces a repertoire of urban design instruments to the students to use, test, and start their designs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Urban form cannot be reduced to physical space. Cities result from social construction, under the influence of technologies, ecology, culture, the impact of experts, and accidents. Urban un-concluded processes respond to political interests, economic pressure, cultural inclinations, along with the imagination of architects and urbanists and the informal powers at work in complex adaptive systems. Current urban phenomena are the result of urban evolution. The facts stored in urban environments include contributions from its entire lifecycle, visible in the physical environment, and non-physical aspects. This imaginary city exists along with its potentials and problems and with the conflicts that have evolved. Knowledge and understanding, along with a critical observation of the actions and policies, are necessary to understand the diversity and instability present in the contemporary city and understand how urban form evolved to its current state. How did cities develop into the cities we live in now? Urban plans, instruments, visions, political decisions, economic reasonings, cultural inputs, and social organization have been used to operate in urban settlements in specific moments of change. We have chosen cities that exemplify how these instruments have been implemented and how they have shaped urban environments. We transcribe these instruments into urban operational tools that we have recognized and collected within existing tested cases in contemporary cities across the globe. This lecture series will introduce urban knowledge and the way it has introduced urban models and operational modes within different concrete realities, therefore shaping cities. The lecture series translates urban knowledge into operational tools, extracted from cities where they have been tested and become exemplary samples, most relevant for understanding how the urban landscape has taken shape. The tools are clustered in twelve thematic clusters and three tool scales for better comparability and cross-reflection. The Tool case studies are compiled into a global urbanization toolbox, which we use as typological models to read the city and critically reflect upon it. The presented contents are meant to serve as inspiration for positioning in future professional life and provide instruments for future design decisions. In an interview with a local designer, we measure our insights against the most pressing design topics in cities today, including inclusion, affordable housing, provision of public spaces, and infrastructure for all. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | The learning material, available via https://moodle-app2.let.ethz.ch/ is comprised of the following: - Toolbox 'Reader' with an introduction to the lecture course and tool summaries - Weekly exercise tasks - Infographics with basic information about each city - Quiz question for each tool - Additional reading material - Interviews with experts - Archive of lecture recordings Structure and Grading: - 70% Exam - 20% Exercise (one group workshop per semester) - 10% Participation (drawing exercises) For one-semester students, only a Research will be required. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | - Reading material will be provided throughout the semester. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 851-0252-08L | Evidence-Based Design: Methods and Tools for Evaluating Architectural Design Particularly suitable for students of D-ARCH. | W | 3 credits | 2S | C. Hölscher, L. Aguilar Melgar, M. Gath Morad, L. Narvaez Zertuche, C. Veddeler, to be announced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Students are taught a variety of analytic techniques that can be used to evaluate architectural design. The concept of evidence-based design is introduced, and complemented with theoretical background on space syntax and spatial cognition. This is a project-oriented course, students implement a range of methods on a sample project. The course is tailored for architecture design students. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The course aims to teach students how to evaluate a design project from the perspective of the end user. The concept of evidence-based design is introduced through a series of case studies. Students are given a theoretical background in space syntax and spatial cognition, with a view to applying this knowledge during the design process. The course covers a range of methods including visibility analysis, network analysis, conducting real-world observations, and virtual reality for architectural design. Students apply these methods to a case study of their choice, which can be at building or urban scale. For students taking a B-ARCH or M-ARCH degree, this can be a completed or ongoing design studio project. The course gives students the chance to implement the methods iteratively and explore how best to address the needs of the eventual end-user during the design process. The course is tailored for students studying for B-ARCH and M-ARCH degrees. As an alternative to obtaining D-GESS credit, architecture students can obtain course credit in "Vertiefungsfach" or "Wahlfach". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 151-0216-00L | Wind Energy | W | 4 credits | 2V + 1U | N. Chokani | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The objective of this course is to introduce the students to the fundamentals, technologies, modern day application, and economics of wind energy. These subjects are introduced through a discussion of the basic principles of wind energy generation and conversion, and a detailed description of the broad range of relevant technical, economic and environmental topics. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The objective of this course is to introduce the students to the fundamentals, technologies, modern day application, and economics of wind energy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This mechanical engineering course focuses on the technical aspects of wind turbines; non-technical issues are not within the scope of this technically oriented course. On completion of this course, the student shall be able to conduct the preliminary aerodynamic and structural design of the wind turbine blades. The student shall also be more aware of the broad context of drivetrains, dynamics and control, electrical systems, and meteorology, relevant to all types of wind turbines. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 227-0731-00L | Power Market I - Portfolio and Risk Management | W | 6 credits | 4G | D. Reichelt, G. A. Koeppel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Portfolio and risk management in the electrical power business, Pan-European power market and trading, futures and forward contracts, hedging, options and derivatives, performance indicators for the risk management, modelling of physical assets, cross-border trading, ancillary services, balancing power market, Swiss market model. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Knowlege on the worldwide liberalisation of electricity markets, pan-european power trading and the role of power exchanges. Understand financial products (derivatives) based on power. Management of a portfolio containing physical production, contracts and derivatives. Evaluate trading and hedging strategies. Apply methods and tools of risk management. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | 1. Pan-European power market and trading 1.1. Power trading 1.2. Development of the European power markets 1.3. Energy economics 1.4. Spot and OTC trading 1.5. European energy exchange EEX 2. Market model 2.1. Market place and organisation 2.2. Balance groups / balancing energy 2.3. Ancillary services 2.4. Market for ancillary services 2.5. Cross-border trading 2.6. Capacity auctions 3. Portfolio and Risk management 3.1. Portfolio management 1 (introduction) 3.2. Forward and futures contracts 3.3. Risk management 1 (m2m, VaR, hpfc, volatility, cVaR) 3.4. Risk management 2 (PaR) 3.5. Contract valuation (HPFC) 3.6. Portfolio management 2 2.8. Risk Management 3 (enterprise wide) 4. Energy & Finance I 4.1. Options 1 – basics 4.2. Options 2 – hedging with options 4.3. Introduction to derivatives (swaps, cap, floor, collar) 4.4. Financial modelling of physical assets 4.5. Trading and hydro power 4.6. Incentive regulation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts of the lecture | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Case studies and ML exercise for Power Market can give bonus points for the exam. Guest speakers for specific topics. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 363-1047-00L | Urban Systems and Transportation | W | 3 credits | 2G | M. Köthenbürger, G. Loumeau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course is an introduction to urban and regional economics. It focuses on the formation and development of urban systems, and highlight how transport infrastructure investments can affect the location, size and composition of such systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The main objective of this course is to provide students with some basic tools to analyze the fundamental economic forces at play in urban systems (i.e., agglomeration and congestion forces), and the role of transport networks in shaping the structure of these systems. Why do urban areas grow or decline? How do transport networks affect the location of individuals and firms? Does the location of a firm determine its productivity? Can transport infrastructure investments reduce economic disparities? These are some of the questions that students should be able to answer after having completed the course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course is organized in four parts. I start with the key observation that economic activity (both in terms of population density and productivity) is unevenly distributed in space. For instance, the share of the population living in urban centers is increasing globally, from 16% in 1900 and 50% in 2000 to about 68% by the year 2050 (UN, World Economic Prospects, 2014). The goal of the first part is then to understand the economic forces at play behind these trends, looking at the effects within and across urban areas. I will also discuss how natural or man-made geographical characteristics (e.g., rivers, mountains, borders, etc.) affect the development of such urban systems. In the second part, I discuss the planning and pricing of transport networks, moving from simple local models to more complex transport models at a global scale. The key aspects include: the first and second best road pricing, the public provision of transport networks and the demographic effects of transport networks. In the third part, I combine the previous two parts and analyze the interaction between urban systems and transportation. Thereby, the main focus is to understand the economic mechanisms that can lead to a general equilibrium of all actors involved. However, as the study of the historical development of urban systems and transport networks provides interesting insights, I will discuss how their interaction in the past shapes today’s economic geography. Finally, I broaden the scope of the course and explore related topics. There will be a particular emphasis on the relation between urban systems and fiscal federalism as well as environmental policies. Both aspects are important determinants of the contemporary developments of urban systems, and as such deserve our attention. In general, this class focuses on the latest research developments in urban and regional economics, though it does not require prior knowledge in this field. It pays particular attention to economic approaches, which are based on theoretical frameworks with strong micro-foundations and allow for precise policy recommendations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Course slides will be made available to students prior to each class. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Course slides will be made available to students. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 151-0163-00L | Nuclear Energy Conversion | W | 4 credits | 2V + 1U | A. Manera | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Phyisical fundamentals of the fission reaction and the sustainable chain reaction, thermal design, construction, function and operation of nuclear reactors and power plants, light water reactors and other reactor types, conversion and breeding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students get an overview on energy conversion in nuclear power plants, on construction and function of the most important types of nuclear reactors with special emphasis to light water reactors. They obtain the mathematical/physical basis for quantitative assessments concerning most relevant aspects of design, dynamic behaviour as well as material and energy flows. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Nuclear physics of fission and chain reaction. Themodynamics of nuclear reactors. Design of the rector core. Introduction into the dynamic behaviour of nuclear reactors. Overview on types of nuclear reactors, difference between thermal reactors and fast breaders. Construction and operation of nuclear power plants with pressurized and boiling water reactors, role and function of the most important safety systems, special features of the energy conversion. Development tendencies of rector technology. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Hand-outs will be distributed. Additional literature and information on the course moodle website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | S. Glasston & A. Sesonke: Nuclear Reactor Engineering, Reactor System Engineering, Ed. 4, Vol. 2., Springer-Science+Business Media, B.V. R. L. Murray: Nuclear Energy (Sixth Edition), An Introduction to the Concepts, Systems, and Applications of Nuclear Processes, Elsevier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 151-1633-00L | Energy Conversion This course is intended for students outside of D-MAVT. | W | 4 credits | 3G | G. Sansavini, S. A. Hosseini, I. Karlin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course provides the students with an introduction to thermodynamics and energy conversion. Students shall gain basic understanding of energy and energy interactions as well as their link to energy conversion technologies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Thermodynamics is key to understanding and use of energy conversion processes in Nature and technology. Main objective of this course is to give a compact introduction into basics of Thermodynamics: Thermodynamic states and thermodynamic processes; Work and Heat; First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics. Students shall learn how to use energy balance equation in the analysis of power cycles and shall be able to evaluate efficiency of internal combustion engines, gas turbines and steam power plants. The course shall extensively use thermodynamic charts to building up students’ intuition about opportunities and restrictions to increase useful work output of energy conversion. Thermodynamic functions such as entropy, enthalpy and free enthalpy shall be used to understand chemical and phase equilibrium. The course also gives introduction to refrigeration cycles, combustion and refrigeration. The course compactly covers the standard course of thermodynamics for engineers, with additional topics of a general physics interest (nonideal gas equation of state and Joule-Thomson effect) also included. In the course "Energy Conversion", the competencies of process understanding and system understanding are applied and examined and the competencies process understanding and modeling are taught. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | 1. Thermodynamic systems, states and state variables 2. Properties of substances: Water, air and ideal gas 3. Energy conservation in closed and open systems: work, internal energy, heat and enthalpy 4. Second law of thermodynamics and entropy 5. Energy analysis of steam power cycles 6. Energy analysis of gas power cycles 7. Refrigeration and heat pump cycles 8. Nonideal gas equation of state and Joule-Thomson effect 9. Maximal work and exergy 10. Mixtures 11. Chemical reactions and combustion systems; chemical and phase equilibrium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Lecture slides and supplementary documentation will be available online. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, by Cengel, Y. A. and Boles, M. A., McGraw Hill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This course is intended for students outside of D-MAVT. Students are assumed to have an adequate background in calculus, physics, and engineering mechanics. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 151-0567-00L | Engine Systems | W | 4 credits | 3G | C. Onder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Introduction to current and future engine systems and their control systems | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Introduction to methods of control and optimization of dynamic systems. Application to real engines. Understand the structure and behavior of drive train systems and their quantitative descriptions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Physical description and mathematical models of components and subsystems (mixture formation, load control, supercharging, emissions, drive train components, etc.). Case studies of model-based optimal design and control of engine systems with the goal of minimizing fuel consumption and emissions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Introduction to Modeling and Control of Internal Combustion Engine Systems Guzzella Lino, Onder Christopher H. 2010, Second Edition, 354 p., hardbound ISBN: 978-3-642-10774-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Combined homework and testbench exercise (air-to-fuel-ratio control or idle-speed control) in groups | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 227-0122-00L | Introduction to Electric Power Transmission: System & Technology | W | 4 credits | 4G | C. Franck, G. Hug | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Introduction to theory and technology of electric power transmission systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | At the end of this course, the student will be able to: describe the structure of electric power systems, name the most important components and describe what they are needed for, apply models for transformers and overhead power lines, explain the technology of lines, know about electrical safety, calculate electric withstand strength of gas gaps, stationary power flows and other basic parameters in simple power systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Structure of electric power systems, transformer and power line models, analysis of and power flow calculation in basic systems, technology and principle of electric power systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Lecture script in English, exercises and sample solutions. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Data and Computer Science | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 263-3210-00L | Deep Learning | W | 8 credits | 3V + 2U + 2A | T. Hofmann | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Deep learning is an area within machine learning that deals with algorithms and models that automatically induce multi-level data representations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | In recent years, deep learning and deep networks have significantly improved the state-of-the-art in many application domains such as computer vision, speech recognition, and natural language processing. This class will cover the mathematical foundations of deep learning and provide insights into model design, training, and validation. The main objective is a profound understanding of why these methods work and how. There will also be a rich set of hands-on tasks and practical projects to familiarize students with this emerging technology. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This is an advanced level course that requires some basic background in machine learning. More importantly, students are expected to have a very solid mathematical foundation, including linear algebra, multivariate calculus, and probability. The course will make heavy use of mathematics and is not (!) meant to be an extended tutorial of how to train deep networks with tools like Torch or Tensorflow, although that may be a side benefit. The participation in the course is subject to the following condition: - Students must have taken the exam in Advanced Machine Learning (252-0535-00) or have acquired equivalent knowledge, see exhaustive list below: Advanced Machine Learning https://ml2.inf.ethz.ch/courses/aml/ Computational Intelligence Lab http://da.inf.ethz.ch/teaching/2019/CIL/ Introduction to Machine Learning https://las.inf.ethz.ch/teaching/introml-S19 Statistical Learning Theory http://ml2.inf.ethz.ch/courses/slt/ Computational Statistics https://stat.ethz.ch/lectures/ss19/comp-stats.php Probabilistic Artificial Intelligence https://las.inf.ethz.ch/teaching/pai-f18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 252-1414-00L | System Security | W | 7 credits | 2V + 2U + 2A | S. Capkun, S. Shinde | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The first part of the course covers general security concepts and hardware-based support for security. In the second part, the focus is on system design and methodologies for building secure systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | In this lecture, students learn about the security requirements and capabilities that are expected from modern hardware, operating systems, and other software environments. An overview of available technologies, algorithms and standards is given, with which these requirements can be met. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The first part of the lecture covers hardware-based security concepts. Topics include the concept of physical and software-based side channel attacks on hardware resources, architectural support for security (e.g., memory management and permissions, disk encryption), and trusted execution environments (Intel SGX, ARM TrustZone, AMD SEV, and RISC-V Keystone). In the second part, the focus is on system design and methodologies for building secure systems. Topics include: common software faults (e.g., buffer overflows, etc.), bug-detection, writing secure software (design, architecture, QA, testing), compiler-supported security (e.g., control-flow integrity), and language-supported security (e.g., memory safety). Along the lectures, model cases will be elaborated and evaluated in the exercises. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 263-4640-00L | Network Security | W | 8 credits | 2V + 2U + 3A | P. De Vaere, S. Frei, K. Paterson, A. Perrig | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Some of today's most damaging attacks on computer systems involve exploitation of network infrastructure, either as the target of attack or as a vehicle to attack end systems. This course provides an in-depth study of network attack techniques and methods to defend against them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | - Students are familiar with fundamental network-security concepts. - Students can assess current threats that Internet services and networked devices face, and can evaluate appropriate countermeasures. - Students can identify and assess vulnerabilities in software systems and network protocols. - Students have an in-depth understanding of a range of important state-of-the-art security technologies. - Students can implement network-security protocols based on cryptographic libraries. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course will cover topics spanning four broad themes with a focus on the first two themes: (1) network defense mechanisms such as public-key infrastructures, TLS, VPNs, anonymous-communication systems, secure routing protocols, secure DNS systems, and network intrusion-detection systems; (2) network attacks such as hijacking, spoofing, denial-of-service (DoS), and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks; (3) analysis and inference topics such as traffic monitoring and network forensics; and (4) new technologies related to next-generation networks. In addition, several guest lectures will provide in-depth insights into specific current real-world network-security topics. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This lecture is intended for students with an interest in securing Internet communication services and network devices. Students are assumed to have knowledge in networking as taught in a communication networks lecture like 252-0064-00L or 227-0120-00L. Basic knowledge of information security or applied cryptography as taught in 252-0211-00L or 263-4660-00L is beneficial, but an overview of the most important cryptographic primitives will be provided at the beginning of the course. The course will involve several graded course projects. Students are expected to be familiar with a general-purpose or network programming language such as C/C++, Go, Python, or Rust. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
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| 252-0535-00L | Advanced Machine Learning | W | 10 credits | 3V + 2U + 4A | J. M. Buhmann, C. Cotrini Jimenez | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Machine learning algorithms provide analytical methods to search data sets for characteristic patterns. Typical tasks include the classification of data, function fitting and clustering, with applications in image and speech analysis, bioinformatics and exploratory data analysis. This course is accompanied by practical machine learning projects. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students will be familiarized with advanced concepts and algorithms for supervised and unsupervised learning; reinforce the statistics knowledge which is indispensible to solve modeling problems under uncertainty. Key concepts are the generalization ability of algorithms and systematic approaches to modeling and regularization. Machine learning projects will provide an opportunity to test the machine learning algorithms on real world data. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The theory of fundamental machine learning concepts is presented in the lecture, and illustrated with relevant applications. Students can deepen their understanding by solving both pen-and-paper and programming exercises, where they implement and apply famous algorithms to real-world data. Topics covered in the lecture include: Fundamentals: What is data? Bayesian Learning Computational learning theory Supervised learning: Ensembles: Bagging and Boosting Max Margin methods Neural networks Unsupservised learning: Dimensionality reduction techniques Clustering Mixture Models Non-parametric density estimation Learning Dynamical Systems | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | No lecture notes, but slides will be made available on the course webpage. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | C. Bishop. Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning. Springer 2007. R. Duda, P. Hart, and D. Stork. Pattern Classification. John Wiley & Sons, second edition, 2001. T. Hastie, R. Tibshirani, and J. Friedman. The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining, Inference and Prediction. Springer, 2001. L. Wasserman. All of Statistics: A Concise Course in Statistical Inference. Springer, 2004. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The course requires solid basic knowledge in analysis, statistics and numerical methods for CSE as well as practical programming experience for solving assignments. Students should have followed at least "Introduction to Machine Learning" or an equivalent course offered by another institution. PhD students are required to obtain a passing grade in the course (4.0 or higher based on project and exam) to gain credit points. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 263-2400-00L | Reliable and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence | W | 6 credits | 2V + 2U + 1A | M. Vechev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Creating reliable, secure, robust, and fair machine learning models is a core challenge in artificial intelligence and one of fundamental importance. The goal of the course is to teach both the mathematical foundations of this new and emerging area as well as to introduce students to the latest and most exciting research in the space. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Upon completion of the course, the students should have mastered the underlying methods and be able to apply them to a variety of engineering and research problems. To facilitate deeper understanding, the course includes a group coding project where students will build a system based on the learned material. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course is split into 4 parts: Robustness of Machine Learning -------------------------------------------- - Adversarial attacks and defenses on deep learning models. - Automated certification of deep learning models (major trends: convex relaxations, branch-and-bound, randomized smoothing). - Certified training of deep neural networks (combining symbolic and continuous methods). Privacy of Machine Learning -------------------------------------- - Threat models (e.g., stealing data, poisoning, membership inference, etc.). - Attacking federated machine learning (across vision, natural language and tabular data). - Differential privacy for defending machine learning. - AI Regulations and checking model compliance. Fairness of Machine Learning --------------------------------------- - Introduction to fairness (motivation, definitions). - Enforcing individual fairness (for both vision and tabular data). - Enforcing group fairness (e.g., demographic parity, equalized odds). Robustness, Privacy and Fairness of Foundation Models --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - We discuss all previous topics, as well as programmability, in the context of latest foundation models (e.g., LLMs). More information here: https://www.sri.inf.ethz.ch/teaching/rtai24. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | While not a formal requirement, the course assumes familiarity with basics of machine learning (especially linear algebra, gradient descent, and neural networks as well as basic probability theory). These topics are usually covered in “Intro to ML” classes at most institutions (e.g., “Introduction to Machine Learning” at ETH). The coding project will utilize Python and PyTorch. Thus some programming experience in Python is expected. Students without prior knowledge of PyTorch are expected to acquire it early in the course by solving exercise sheets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 263-3845-00L | Data Management Systems | W | 8 credits | 3V + 1U + 3A | G. Alonso | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course will cover the implementation aspects of data management systems using relational database engines as a starting point to cover the basic concepts of efficient data processing and then expanding those concepts to modern implementations in data centers and the cloud. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The goal of the course is to convey the fundamental aspects of efficient data management from a systems implementation perspective: storage, access, organization, indexing, consistency, concurrency, transactions, distribution, query compilation vs interpretation, data representations, etc. Using conventional relational engines as a starting point, the course will aim at providing an in depth coverage of the latest technologies used in data centers and the cloud to implement large scale data processing in various forms. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course will first cover fundamental concepts in data management: storage, locality, query optimization, declarative interfaces, concurrency control and recovery, buffer managers, management of the memory hierarchy, presenting them in a system independent manner. The course will place an special emphasis on understating these basic principles as they are key to understanding what problems existing systems try to address. It will then proceed to explore their implementation in modern relational engines supporting SQL to then expand the range of systems used in the cloud: key value stores, geo-replication, query as a service, serverless, large scale analytics engines, etc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | The main source of information for the course will be articles and research papers describing the architecture of the systems discussed. The list of papers will be provided at the beginning of the course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The course requires to have completed the Data Modeling and Data Bases course at the Bachelor level as it assumes knowledge of databases and SQL. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 263-5902-00L | Computer Vision | W | 8 credits | 3V + 1U + 3A | M. Pollefeys, S. Tang | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The goal of this course is to provide students with a good understanding of computer vision and image analysis techniques. The main concepts and techniques will be studied in depth and practical algorithms and approaches will be discussed and explored through the exercises. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The objectives of this course are: 1. To introduce the fundamental problems of computer vision. 2. To introduce the main concepts and techniques used to solve those. 3. To enable participants to implement solutions for reasonably complex problems. 4. To enable participants to make sense of the computer vision literature. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Camera models and calibration, invariant features, Multiple-view geometry, Model fitting, Stereo Matching, Segmentation, 2D Shape matching, Shape from Silhouettes, Optical flow, Structure from motion, Tracking, Object recognition, Object category recognition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | It is recommended that students have taken the Visual Computing lecture or a similar course introducing basic image processing concepts before taking this course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 252-3005-00L | Natural Language Processing | W | 7 credits | 3V + 3U + 1A | R. Cotterell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course presents topics in natural language processing with an emphasis on modern techniques, primarily focusing on statistical and deep learning approaches. The course provides an overview of the primary areas of research in language processing as well as a detailed exploration of the models and techniques used both in research and in commercial natural language systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The objective of the course is to learn the basic concepts in the statistical processing of natural languages. The course will be project-oriented so that the students can also gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art tools and techniques. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This course presents an introduction to general topics and techniques used in natural language processing today, primarily focusing on statistical approaches. The course provides an overview of the primary areas of research in language processing as well as a detailed exploration of the models and techniques used both in research and in commercial natural language systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Lectures will make use of textbooks such as the one by Jurafsky and Martin where appropriate, but will also make use of original research and survey papers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 263-5057-00L | From Publication to the Doctor's Office The deadline for deregistering expires at the end of the second week of the semester. Students who are still registered after that date, but do not attend the seminar, will officially fail the seminar. | W | 3 credits | 2S + 1A | O. Demler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This seminar course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to review and critically evaluate recent publications in medical field focusing on examples when CS method or bioinformatics/statistical technique has lead to an instrumentation, technique or drug approved for clinical practice use. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Throughout the course, students will read and analyze recent publications that demonstrate successful applications and sometimes failures in medicine. Promissing research applications will also be duscussed. The publications will cover a wide range of topics, including drug discovery, image analysis, prognostic models, and learning healthcare. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course will be structured as half lecture content and half seminar content. Lectures will review state of the medical practice prior to the discovery, obstacles in moving the field forward, and the need for improvement. Lecture will be followed by the seminar part where students will take turns presenting the assigned publications and leading the discussions. Students‘ presentations will focus on the main findings, and specfic steps taken to translate the finding into clinical practice. Publications will include examples of: • specific CS/bioinformatics/statistics applications that has been brought to „bedside“ – has been approved by European Medicines Agency / Food and Drug Administration (USA) for clinical use or are widely used in medical research; • examples of failures of how a discovery did not translate into an endproduct and why; current active research areas. Covered topics will include some of the following: • Drug discovery: Computer-aided drug discovery has become an integral part of the drug development process, enabling researchers to design and screen large libraries of molecules in silico (i.e., using computer simulations) before synthesizing and testing them in the lab. This has led to the discovery of new drug candidates for a wide range of diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and HIV/AIDS. • Genomics: Advances in computational genomics have enabled researchers to analyze and interpret large-scale genomic data, including DNA sequencing data, to identify disease-causing mutations, genetic risk factors, and drug targets. Examples of the development of personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to an individual's genetic makeup. Examples when drug target identified by genetics has led to approved treatment. • Imaging: Computer vision and image processing techniques have revolutionized medical imaging, enabling researchers to extract quantitative information from medical images that were previously inaccessible. This has led to the development of new diagnostic and prognostic tools for a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders. • Real-world data applications: emulation of clinical trials using electronic health records data. • Large language models: Generating clinical trial protocols using large language models. Natural Language Processing for information extraction and interpretation. • Learning healthcare systems: Advances in data analytics and information technology have enabled the development of learning healthcare systems, which use real-time data from electronic health records, medical devices, and other sources to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. This has the potential to transform the way healthcare is delivered, making it more personalized, efficient, and effective. In addition to the presentations, students will also be required to write critical reviews of the assigned publications throughout the course. The reviews will be evaluated based on the students' ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the publications and to provide insightful and constructive feedback. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The course is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with a background in computer science, bioinformatics, or a related field and interest in applying their skills to medical research. This course assumes a working knowledge of R/Python and intermediate statistical analysis, including linear, logistic, survival regressions or ability and interest to learn them outside of the class. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Life Science and Health | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 376-0021-00L | Materials and Mechanics in Medicine | W | 4 credits | 3G | M. Zenobi-Wong, J. G. Snedeker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Understanding of physical and technical principles in biomechanics, biomaterials, and tissue engineering as well as a historical perspective. Mathematical description and problem solving. Knowledge of biomedical engineering applications in research and clinical practice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Understanding of physical and technical principles in biomechanics, biomaterials, tissue engineering. Mathematical description and problem solving. Knowledge of biomedical engineering applications in research and clinical practice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Tissue Biomechanics, Implants. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | course website on Moodle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, 3rd Edition 2011, Autor: John Enderle, Joseph Bronzino, ISBN 9780123749796 Academic Press | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 376-1103-00L | Frontiers in Nanotechnology | W | 4 credits | 4V | V. Vogel, further lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Many disciplines are meeting at the nanoscale, from physics, chemistry to engineering, from the life sciences to medicine. The course will prepare students to communicate more effectively across disciplinary boundaries, and will provide them with deep insights into the various frontiers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Building upon advanced technologies to create, visualize, analyze and manipulate nano-structures, as well as to probe their nano-chemistry, nano-mechanics and other properties within manmade and living systems, many exciting discoveries are currently made. They change the way we do science and result in so many new technologies. The goal of the course is to give Master and Graduate students from all interested departments an overview of what nanotechnology is all about, from analytical techniques to nanosystems, from physics to biology. Students will start to appreciate the extent to which scientific communities are meeting at the nanoscale. They will learn about the specific challenges and what is currently “sizzling” in the respective fields, and learn the vocabulary that is necessary to communicate effectively across departmental boundaries. Each lecturer will first give an overview of the state-of-the art in his/her field, and then describe the research highlights in his/her own research group. While preparing their Final Projects and discussing them in front of the class, the students will deepen their understanding of how to apply a range of new technologies to solve specific scientific problems and technical challenges. Exposure to the different frontiers will also improve their ability to conduct effective nanoscale research, recognize the broader significance of their work and to start collaborations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Starting with the fabrication and analysis of nanoparticles and nanostructured materials that enable a variety of scientific and technical applications, we will transition to discussing biological nanosystems, how they work and what bioinspired engineering principles can be derived, to finally discussing biomedical applications and potential health risk issues. Scientific aspects as well as the many of the emerging technologies will be covered that start impacting so many aspects of our lives. This includes new phenomena in physics, advanced materials, novel technologies and new methods to address major medical challenges. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | All the enrolled students will get access to a password protected website where they can find pdf files of the lecture notes, and typically 1-2 journal articles per lecture that cover selected topics. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 376-1714-00L | Biocompatible Materials | W | 4 credits | 3V | K. Maniura, M. Rottmar, M. Zenobi-Wong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Introduction to molecules used for biomaterials, molecular interactions between different materials and biological systems (molecules, cells, tissues). The concept of biocompatibility is discussed and important techniques from biomaterials research and development are introduced. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The course covers the follwing topics: 1. Introdcution into molecular characteristics of molecules involved in the materials-to-biology interface. Molecular design of biomaterials. 2. The concept of biocompatibility. 3. Introduction into methodology used in biomaterials research and application. 4. Introduction to different material classes in use for medical applications. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Introduction into natural and polymeric biomaterials used for medical applications. The concepts of biocompatibility, biodegradation and the consequences of degradation products are discussed on the molecular level. Different classes of materials with respect to potential applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery and for medical devices are introduced. Strong focus lies on the molecular interactions between materials having very different bulk and/or surface chemistry with living cells, tissues and organs. In particular the interface between the materials surfaces and the eukaryotic cell surface and possible reactions of the cells with an implant material are elucidated. Techniques to design, produce and characterize materials in vitro as well as in vivo analysis of implanted and explanted materials are discussed. A link between academic research and industrial entrepreneurship is demonstrated by external guest speakers, who present their current research topics. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts are deposited online (moodle). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Literature: - Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine, Ratner B.D. et al, 3rd Edition, 2013 - Comprehensive Biomaterials, Ducheyne P. et al., 1st Edition, 2011 (available online via ETH library) Handouts and references therin. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 376-0300-00L | Essentials in Translational Science | W | 3 credits | 2G | J. Goldhahn, N. K. Brasier, D. Schaffarczyk | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Translational science is a cross disciplinary scientific research that is motivated by the need for practical applications that help people (e.g. Medicines). The course should help to clarify basics of translational science, illustrate successful applications and enable students to integrate key features into their future projects. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | After completing this course, students will be able to understand: Principles of translational science including medical device development, intellectual property, regulatory environment and project management Students should be able to apply this knowledge in drug development programs in Pharma, Biotech or their own spin-off. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | What is translational science and what is it not Including: How to identify need? How to choose the appropriate research type and methodology How to measure success? How are medical devices developed? How to handle IP in the development process? How does the regulatory environment impact innovation? How to manage complex development projects? Positive and negative examples will be illustrated by distinguished guest speakers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Principles of Biomedical Sciences and Industry Translating Ideas into Treatments https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527824014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | 4x online input lecture followed by case preparation and symposium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 752-6105-00L | Epidemiology and Prevention | W | 3 credits | 2V | M. Puhan, R. Heusser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The module „Epidemiology and prevention“ describes the process of scientific discovery from the detection of a disease and its causes, to the development and evaluation of preventive and treatment interventions and to improved population health. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The overall goal of the course is to introduce students to epidemiological thinking and methods, which are criticial pillars for medical and public health research. Students will also become aware on how epidemiological facts are used in prevention, practice and politics. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The module „Epidemiology and prevention“ follows an overall framework that describes the course of scientific discovery from the detection of a disease to the development of prevention and treatment interventions and their evaluation in clinical trials and real world settings. We will discuss study designs in the context of existing knowledge and the type of evidence needed to advance knowledge. Examples from nutrition, chronic and infectious diseases will be used in order to show the underlying concepts and methods. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 752-6151-00L | Public Health Concepts | W | 3 credits | 2V | R. Heusser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The module "public health concepts" offers an introduction to key principles of public health. Students get acquainted with the concepts and methods of epidemiology. Students also learn to use epidemiological data for prevention and health promotion purposes. Public health concepts and intervention strategies are presented, using examples from infectious and chronic diseases. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | At the end of this module students are able: - to interpret the results of epidemiological studies - to critically assess scientific literature - to know the definition, dimensions and determinants of health - to plan public health interventions and health promotion projects - to draw a bridge from evidence to policies and politics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Concepts of descriptive and analytical epidemiology, study designs, measures of effect, confounding and bias, screening, surveilllance, definition of health and health promotion, health dimensions and health determinants, prevention strategies, public health interventions, public health action cycle, epidemiology and prevention of infectious and chronic diseases (HIV, COVID-19, Obesity, Iodine/PH nutrition). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts are provided to students in the classroom. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 636-0109-00L | Stem Cells: Biology and Therapeutic Manipulation | W | 4 credits | 3G | T. Schroeder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Stem cells are central in tissue regeneration and repair, and hold great potential for therapy. We will discuss the role of stem cells in health and disease, and possibilities to manipulate their behavior for therapeutic application. Basic molecular and cell biology, engineering and novel technologies relevant for stem cell research and therapy will be discussed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Understanding of current knowledge, and lack thereof, in stem cell biology, regenerative medicine and required technologies. Theoretical preparation for practical laboratory experimentation with stem cells. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | We will use different diseases to discuss how to potentially model, diagnose or heal them by stem cell based therapies. This will be used as a guiding framework to discuss relevant concepts and technologies in cell and molecular biology, engineering, imaging, bioinformatics, tissue engineering, that are required to manipulate stem cells for therapeutic application. Topics will include: - Embryonic and adult stem cells and their niches - Induced stem cells by directed reprogramming - Relevant basic cell biology and developmental biology - Relevant molecular biology - Cell culture systems - Cell fates and their molecular control by transcription factors and signalling pathways - Cell reprogramming - Disease modelling - Tissue engineering - Bioimaging, Bioinformatics - Single cell technologies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 376-0225-00L | Critical Appraisal of Evidence for Exercise in Health and Disease | W | 3 credits | 2V | E. Giannouli, E. de Bruin, R. Knols | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course will discuss the mechanisms and latest evidence-based recommendations of physical activity and exercise for a series of conditions and populations. In the second part of each lecture session, published randomized controlled trials of the respective lecture`s topic will be discussed and critically appraised based on established tools. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | On completion of this course students will be able to: 1. understand the role of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the maintenance of health and the etiology, prevention and treatment of disease 2. synthesize effective physical activity and exercise interventions for the prevention and management of several diseases and populations 3. evaluate recent evidence regarding physical activity and exercise interventions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | New trends in physical activity for prevention and rehabilitation Introduction to critical appraisal tools Exercise for Cancer Rehabilitation Exercise for Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (Focus on Osteoarthritis and Low Back Pain) Exercise in Parkinson`s disease Exercise for Rehabilitation of Metabolic Disorders (Focus on Obesity and Diabetes type 2) Exercise for age-related diseases and disorders, Part A (Focus on Frailty and Falls) Exercise for Stroke Rehabilitation Exercise in Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment Exercise for Children’s Rehabilitation (focus on Cerebral Palsy) Exercise for age-related diseases and disorders, Part B (Focus on Sarcopenia and Osteoporosis) Exercise in Multiple Sclerosis Exercise for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation (Focus on Heart Failure) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | • Kanosue, K., Oshima, S., Cao, Z. B., & Oka, K. (Eds.). (2015). Physical activity, exercise, sedentary behav-ior and health (No. 12152). Springer Japan. • Stensel, D. J., Hardman, A. E., & Gill, J. M. (Eds.). (2021). Physical activity and health: the evidence ex-plained. Routledge. • Xiao, J. (Ed.). (2020). Physical exercise for human health. Singapore: Springer Singapore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Resources and Environment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 103-0347-00L | Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems | W | 3 credits | 2V | A. Grêt-Regamey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | In the course, students learn about methods for the identification and measurement of landscape characteristics, as well as measures and policies for landscape planning. Landscape planning is put into the context of environmental systems (soil, water, air, climate, flora and fauna) and discussed with regard to socio-political questions of the future. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The aims of this course are: 1) To illustrate the concept of landscape planning, the economic relevance of landscape and nature in the context of the environmental systems (soil, water, air, climate, flora and fauna). 2) To show landscape planning as an integral information system for the coordination of different instruments by illustrating the aims, methods, instruments and their functions in landscape planning. 3) To show the importance of ecosystem services. 4) To learn basics about nature and landscape: Analysis and assessment of the complex interactions between landscape elements, effects of current and future land use (ecosystem goods and services, landscape functions). 5) To identify and measure the characteristics of landscape. 6) Learn how to use spatial data in landscape planning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | In this course, the following topics are discussed: - Definition of the concept of landscape - Relevance of landscape planning - Landscape metrics - Landscape change - Methods, instruments and aims of landscape planning (policy) - Socio-political questions of the future - Environmental systems, ecological connectivity - Ecosystem services - Urban landscape services - Practice of landscape planning - Use of GIS in landscape planning | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | No script. The documentation, consisting of presentation slides are partly handed out and are provided for download on Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The contents of the course will be illustrated in the associated course 103-0347-01 U (Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems (GIS Exercises)) or in Project LAND within the Experimental and Computer Lab (for Environmental Engineers). A combination of courses is recommended. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 651-4057-00L | Climate History and Palaeoclimatology | W | 4 credits | 2G | H. Stoll, I. Hernández Almeida | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Climate history and paleoclimatology explores how the major features of the earth's climate system have varied in the past, and the driving forces and feedbacks for these changes. The major topics include the earth's CO2 concentration and mean temperature, the size and stability of ice sheets and sea level, the amount and distribution of precipitation, and the ocean heat transport. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The student will be able to describe the natural factors lead to variations in the earth's mean temperature, the growth and retreat of ice sheets, and variations in ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns, including feedback processes. Students will be able to interpret evidence of past climate changes from the main climate indicators or proxies recovered in geological records. Students will be able to use data from climate proxies to test if a given hypothesized mechanism for the climate change is supported or refuted. Students will be able to compare the magnitudes and rates of past changes in the carbon cycle, ice sheets, hydrological cycle, and ocean circulation, with predictions for climate changes over the next century to millennia. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course spans 5 thematic modules: 1. Cyclic variation in the earth's orbit and the rise and demise of ice sheets. Ice sheets and sea level - What do expansionist glaciers want? What is the natural range of variation in the earth's ice sheets and the consequent effect on sea level? How do cyclic variations in the earth's orbit affect the size of ice sheets under modern climate and under past warmer climates? What conditions the mean size and stability or fragility of the large polar ice caps and is their evidence that they have dynamic behavior? What rates and magnitudes of sea level change have accompanied past ice sheet variations? How stable or fragile is the ocean heat conveyor, past and present? 2. Feedbacks on climate cycles from CO2 and methane. What drives CO2 and methane variations over glacial cycles? What are the feedbacks with ocean circulation and the terrestrial biosphere? 3. Atmospheric circulation and variations in the earth's hydrological cycle - How variable are the earth's precipitation regimes? How large are the orbital scale variations in global monsoon systems? 4. Century-scale droughts and civil catastrophes. Will mean climate change El Nino frequency and intensity? What factors drive change in mid and high-latitude precipitation systems? Is there evidence that changes in water availability have played a role in the rise, demise, or dispersion of past civilizations? 5. How sensitive is Earth's long term climate to CO2 and cloud feedbacks? What regulates atmospheric CO2 over long tectonic timescales of millions to tens of millions of years? The weekly two hour lecture periods will feature lecture on these themes interspersed with short interactive tasks to apply new knowledge. Over the semester, student teams will each present in class one debate based on two scientific articles of contrasting interpretations. With flexible scheduling, students will participate in a laboratory activity to generate a new paleoclimate record from stalagmites. Student teams will be supported by an individual tutorial meeting to assist in debate preparation and another to assist in the interpretation of the lab activity data. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 701-1677-00L | Quantitative Vegetation Dynamics: Models from Tree to Globe | W | 3 credits | 3G | H. Lischke, U. Hiltner, B. Rohner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course introduces basic concepts and applications of dynamic vegetation models at various temporal and spatial scales. Different modeling approaches and underlying principles are presented and critically discussed during the lectures. In the integrated exercise parts, students work in a number of small projects with some of the introduced models to gain practical experience. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students will - be enabled to understand, assess and evaluate the fundamental properties of dynamic systems using vegetation models as case studies - obtain an overview of dynamic modelling techniques and their applications from the individual plant to the global level - understand the basic assumptions of the various model types, which dictate the applicability and limitations of the respective model - be enabled to work with such model types on their own - appreciate the methodological basis for impact assessments of future climate change and other environmental changes on ecosystems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Models of individuals - Deriving single-plant models from inventory measurements - Plant models based on 'first principles' Models at the stand scale - Simple approaches: matrix models - Competition for light and other resources as central mechanisms - Individual-based stand models: distance-dependent and distance-independent - Theoretical models Models at the landscape scale - Simple approaches: cellular automata - Dispersal and disturbances (windthrow, fire, bark beetles) as key mechanisms - Landscape models Global models - Sacrificing local detail to attain global coverage: processes and entities - Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) - DGVMs as components of Earth System Models | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts will be available in the course and for download | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Will be indicated at the beginning of the course | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | - Ideally basic experiences in modelling and systems analysis - Basic knowledge of programming, ideally in R - Good knowledge of general ecology, ideally of vegetation dynamics and forest systems | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 701-1346-00L | Climate Change Mitigation: Carbon Dioxide Removal | W | 3 credits | 2G | N. Gruber, C. Brunner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Future climate change can only kept within reasonable bounds when CO2 emissions are drastically reduced. In this course, we will discuss a portfolio of options involving the alteration of natural carbon sinks and carbon sequestration. The course includes introductory lectures, presentations from guest speakers from industry and the public sector, and final presentations by the students. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The goal of this course is to investigate, as a group, a particular set of carbon mitigation/sequestration options and to evaluate their potential, their cost, and their consequences. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | From the large number of carbon sequestration/mitigation options, a few options will be selected and then investigated in detail by the students. The results of this research will then be presented to the other students, the involved faculty, and discussed in detail by the whole group. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Will be identified based on the chosen topic. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Exam: No final exam. Pass/No-Pass is assigned based on the quality of the presentation and ensuing discussion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 103-0347-01L | Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems (GIS Exercises) | W | 3 credits | 2U | A. Grêt-Regamey, C. Brouillet, N. Klein, I. Nicholson Thomas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course content of the lecture Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems (103-0347-00 V) will be illustrated in practical GIS exercises (e.g. habitat modelling, land use change, ecosystem services, connectivity). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | - Practical application of theory from the lectures - Quantitative assessment and evaluation of landscape characteristics - Learning useful applications of GIS for landscape planning - Developing landscape planning measures for practical case studies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | - Applications of GIS in landscape planning - Landscape analysis - Landscape structural metrics - Modelling habitats and land use change - Calculating urban ecosystem services - Ecological connectivity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | A script and presentation slides for each exercise will be provided on Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Will be named in the lecture. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Basic GIS skills are strongly recommended. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 701-1257-00L | European Climate Change | W | 3 credits | 2G | E. Fischer, J. Rajczak, S. C. Scherrer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The lecture provides an overview of climate change in Europe, from a physical and atmospheric science perspective. It covers the following topics: • observational datasets, observation and detection of climate change; • underlying physical processes and feedbacks; • numerical and statistical approaches; • currently available projections. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | At the end of this course, participants should: • understand the key physical processes shaping climate change in Europe; • know about the methodologies used in climate change studies, encompassing observational, numerical, as well as statistical approaches; • be familiar with relevant observational and modeling data sets; • be able to tackle simple climate change questions using available data sets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Contents: • global context • observational data sets, analysis of climate trends and climate variability in Europe • global and regional climate modeling • statistical downscaling • key aspects of European climate change: intensification of the water cycle, Polar and Mediterranean amplification, changes in extreme events, changes in hydrology and snow cover, topographic effects • projections of European and Alpine climate change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Slides and lecture notes will be made available at http://www.iac.ethz.ch/edu/courses/master/electives/european-climate-change.html | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Participants should have a background in natural sciences, and have attended introductory lectures in atmospheric sciences or meteorology. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 751-5201-10L | Tropical Cropping Systems, Soils and Livelihoods (with Excursion) IMPORTANT: Students who enroll for this course are strongly recommended to verify with lecturers from other courses whether their absence of two weeks may affect their performance in the respective courses. | W | 5 credits | 10G | J. Six, K. Benabderrazik | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course guides students in analyzing and comprehending tropical agroecosystems and food systems. Students gain practical knowledge of field methods, diagnostic tools and survey methods for tropical soils and agroecosystems. An integral part of the course is the two-week field project in the Mount Kenya Region, which is co-organized with the University of Embu (Kenya) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | (1) Overview of the major land use systems in Tropical agroecosystems in several contexts Africa (2) Interdisciplinary analysis of agricultural production systems (3) Knowledge on methods to assess agroecological performance of a tropical agroecosystems (4) Hands-on training on the use of field methods, diagnostic tools and survey methods. (5) Gain practical knowledge on how to assess to climate resilience and farming systems. (6) Collaboration in international students and stakeholders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This course guides students in analyzing and comprehending tropical agroecosystems. Students of ETH Zürch will work together with the students from Embu University (Kenya) in an interdisciplinary and intercultural team. Students will focus on the Agroecological performance and climate resilience of diverse farming systems in the Mount Kenya Region. From October 28th to November 11th, The students will take part in a field course in the Mount Kenya Region. Students will then gain practical knowledge on field, meeting several stakeholders of the agricultural and food systems and conducting various assessments related to climate resilience and farming systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | We would require the students enrolled to the class to send a short cover letter (1-page max.) by September 18rd 2023, justifying your motivation to enroll to this class. A selection of 20 students will be done on the basis of the letters. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 651-4037-00L | Mineral Resources I Can be chosen as an elective course within the Bachelor. Prospective MSc-Students attending the module "Mineral Resources" should attend Mineral Resources I and II in the first year of their MSc studies. | W | 3 credits | 2G | C. Chelle-Michou, L. Tavazzani | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Principles of hydrothermal ore formation, using base metal deposits (Cu, Pb, Zn) in sedimentary basins to explain the interplay of geological, chemical and physical factors from global scale to sample scale. Introduction to orthomagmatic ore formation (mostly Cr, Ni, PGE). Introduction to supergene residual deposits (Ni, Al) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Understanding the fundamental processes of hydrothermal, magmatic and supergene ore formation, recognising and interpreting mineralised rocks in geological context | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | (a) Principles of hydrothermal ore formation: base metal deposits in sedimentary basins. Practical classification of sample suites by genetic ore deposit types Mineral solubility and ore deposition, principles & thermodynamic prediction using activity diagrams. Driving forces and structural focussing of hydrothermal fluid flow (b) Introduction to orthomagmatic ore formation. Chromite, Ni-Cu sulphides and PGE in layered mafic intrusions. Distribution coefficients between silicate and sulphide melts. Carbonatites and pegmatite deposits. (c) Introduction to supergene residual deposits with emphasis on Ni laterites and bauxites | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Notes handed out during lectures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Extensive literature list distributed in course | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | 2 contact hours per lecture / week including lectures, exercises and practical study of samples, and small literature-based student presentations. Supplementary contact for sample practicals and exercises as required. Credits and mark based on participation in course (exercises, 50%) and 1h30 written exam in the last lecture of the semester (50%). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 860-0011-00L | Complex Social Systems: Modeling Agents, Learning, and Games - With Coding Project Prerequisites: Good mathematical skills, basic programming skills, elementary probability and statistics. | W | 6 credits | 2S + 2A | D. N. Dailisan, D. Helbing, D. Carpentras | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course introduces mathematical and computational models to study techno-socio-economic systems and the process of scientific research. Students develop a significant project to tackle techno-socio-economic challenges in application domains of complex systems. They are expected to implement a model and communicating their results through a seminar thesis and a short oral presentation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The students are expected to know a programming language and environment (Python, Java or Matlab) as a tool to solve various scientific problems. The use of a high-level programming environment makes it possible to quickly find numerical solutions to a wide range of scientific problems. Students will learn to take advantage of a rich set of tools to present their results numerically and graphically. The students should be able to implement simulation models and document their skills through a seminar thesis and finally give a short oral presentation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Students are expected to implement themselves models of various social processes and systems, including agent-based models, complex networks models, decision making, group dynamics, human crowds, or game-theoretical models. Credit points are finally earned for the implementation of a mathematical or empirical model from the complexity science literature and the documentation in a seminar thesis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | The lecture slides will be presented on the course web page after each lecture. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Agent-Based Modeling https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-24004-1_2 Social Self-Organization https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783642240034 Traffic and related self-driven many-particle systems Reviews of Modern Physics 73, 1067 https://journals.aps.org/rmp/abstract/10.1103/RevModPhys.73.1067 An Analytical Theory of Traffic Flow (collection of papers) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261629187 Pedestrian, Crowd, and Evacuation Dynamics https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/handle/20.500.11850/45424 The hidden geometry of complex, network-driven contagion phenomena (relevant for modeling pandemic spread) https://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6164/1337 Further literature will be recommended in the lectures. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The number of participants is limited to the size of the available computer teaching room. The source code related to the seminar thesis should be well enough documented. Good programming skills and a good understanding of probability & statistics and calculus are expected. Students need to present a new subject, for which they have not earned any credit points before. Good scientific practices, in particular citation and quotation rules, must be properly complied with. Chatham House rules apply to this course. Materials may not be shared without previous written permission. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 101-0417-00L | Transport Planning Methods | W | 6 credits | 4G | E. Heinen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The course provides the necessary knowledge to develop models to understand, to support and to evaluate the solution of given planning problems. The course is composed of a lecture part, providing the theoretical knowledge, and an applied part in which students develop their own models in order to evaluate a transport project/policy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | - Appraise the role of theory and data in transport planning - Differentiate and appraise different transport planning methods (causality, 4 stage and agent based modeling, cost-benefit analysis) - Construct a transport model by statistical methods and algorithms commonly used in transport planning - Propose a modeling framework to analyze transport planning challenges. a decision-making supporting tool | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course provides the necessary knowledge to develop models to understand travel behaviour and travel demand, and to support the solution of given planning problems. It also introduces cost-benefit analysis as a decision-making tool. Examples of such planning problems are the estimation of traffic volumes, prediction of estimated utilization of new public transport lines, and evaluation of effects (e.g. change in emissions of a city) triggered by building new infrastructure and changes to operational regulations. To cope with that, the problem is divided into sub-problems, which are solved using various statistical models and algorithms. The course is composed of a lecture part, providing the theoretical knowledge, and an applied part in which students develop their own models in order to analyse travel behaviour, develop a traditional transport model and to evaluate a transport project/ policy by means of cost-benefit analysis. Regular lab session take place to guide and support students with the applied part of the course. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Moodle platform (enrollment needed) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Willumsen, P. and J. de D. Ortuzar (2024) Modelling Transport, Wiley, Chichester. Van Wee, B., Annema, J.A., Banister, D. and Pudāne, B. (2023) The Transport System and Transport Policy, An Introduction. Second Edition. Cheltenham, UK • Northampton, MA, USA Pearl, J., Glymour, M., and Jewell N.P. (2016) Causal Inference in Statistics. Wiley and Sons. Cascetta, E. (2001) Transportation Systems Engineering: Theory and Methods, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. Sheffi, Y. (1985) Urban Transportation Networks: Equilibrium Analysis with Mathematical Programming Methods, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs. Other: Schnabel, W. and D. Lohse (1997) Verkehrsplanung, 2. edn., vol. 2 of Grundlagen der Strassenverkehrstechnik und der Verkehrsplanung, Verlag für Bauwesen, Berlin. McCarthy, P.S. (2001) Transportation Economics: A case study approach, Blackwell, Oxford. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 860-0040-00L | Case Study Research Paper in Science, Technology and Policy 1 | W | 3 credits | 6A | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | In the case study research paper, students apply skills and knowledge acquired in the social sciences courses of the ISTP curriculum to address a particular societal challenge. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students are able to apply their problem-solving and analytical skills to address a particular societal challenge. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Based on what they have learned, or are learning, in the companion course, and the skills and knowledge acquired in the social sciences courses of the ISTP curriculum, students identify a particular policy challenge to be addressed. Coached by the instructor of the companion course, or in exceptional cases by another ISTP professor, the develop and implement their research idea, accord-ing to the ISTP guidelines to this end. The result should be a research paper of around 4’000 words (all inclusive, except appendices) that will be graded by the supervisor on the 1-6 scale, based on a grading scheme for this purpose. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Students can enroll in this unit exclusively in combination with another (companion) course to complete the Case Study requirements in the MSc ISTP. The unit allows students to carry out case studies on specific policy issues based on their individual preferences. The companion course should have a policy focus or deal with a policy rele-vant issue and can be taken either in parallel or prior to the Case Study Research Pa-per unit. The instructor of the companion course should be able and willing to also serve as the supervisor of the associated case study paper. After successfully completing the companion course and the research paper, the student office will assign both courses to the category case studies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 860-0040-01L | Case Study Research Paper in Science, Technology and Policy 2 | W | 3 credits | 6A | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | In the case study research paper, students apply skills and knowledge acquired in the social sciences courses of the ISTP curriculum to address a particular so-cietal challenge. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students are able to apply their problem-solving and analytical skills to address a particular societal challenge. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Based on what they have learned, or are learning, in the companion course, and the skills and knowledge acquired in the social sciences courses of the ISTP curriculum, students identify a particular policy challenge to be addressed. Coached by the instructor of the companion course, or in exceptional cases by another ISTP professor, the develop and implement their research idea, accord-ing to the ISTP guidelines to this end. The result should be a research paper of around 4’000 words (all inclusive, except appendices) that will be graded by the supervisor on the 1-6 scale, based on a grading scheme for this purpose. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Students can enroll in this unit exclusively in combination with another (companion) course to complete the Case Study requirements in the MSc ISTP. The unit allows students to carry out case studies on specific policy issues based on their individual preferences. The companion course should have a policy focus or deal with a policy rele-vant issue and can be taken either in parallel or prior to the Case Study Research Paper unit. The instructor of the companion course should be able and willing to also serve as the supervisor of the associated case study paper. In the case study research paper, students apply skills and knowledge acquired in the social sciences courses of the ISTP curriculum to address a particular societal challenge. After successfully completing the companion course and the research paper, the student office will assign both courses to the category case studies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 851-0760-00L | Building a Robot Judge: Data Science for Decision-Making Does not take place this semester. Particularly suitable for students of D-INFK, D-ITET, D-MTEC. | W | 3 credits | 2V | E. Ash | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course explores the automation of decisions in the legal system. We delve into the machine learning tools needed to predict judge decision-making and ask whether techniques in model explanation and algorithmic fairness are sufficient to address the potential risks. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | This course introduces students to the data science tools that may provide the first building blocks for a robot judge. While building a working robot judge might be far off in the future, some of the building blocks are already here, and we will put them to work. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Data science technologies have the potential to improve legal decisions by making them more efficient and consistent. On the other hand, there are serious risks that automated systems could replicate or amplify existing legal biases and rigidities. Given the stakes, these technologies force us to think carefully about notions of fairness and justice and how they should be applied. The focus is on legal prediction problems. Given the evidence and briefs in this case, how will a judge probably decide? How likely is a criminal defendant to commit another crime? How much additional revenue will this new tax law collect? Students will investigate and implement the relevant machine learning tools for making these types of predictions, including regression, classification, and deep neural networks models. We then use these predictions to better understand the operation of the legal system. Under what conditions do judges tend to make errors? Against which types of defendants do parole boards exhibit bias? Which jurisdictions have the most tax loopholes? Students will be introduced to emerging applied research in this vein. In a semester paper, students (individually or in groups) will conceive and implement an applied data-science research project. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 701-1563-00L | Climate Policy | W | 6 credits | 4G | A. Patt, S. Hanger-Kopp | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course provides an in-depth of analysis both of the theoretical underpinnings to different approaches to climate policy at the international and national levels, and how these different approaches have played out in practice. Students will learn how legislative frameworks have developed over the last 25 years, and also be able to appraise those frameworks critically. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The goal is to give students a glimpse into the enormous complexity of this policy area, an understanding of some of the many debates that are currently raging (of which the debate about whether climate change is actually real is probably the least complicated or interesting). We want to give students the ability to evaluate policy arguments made by politicians, experts, and academics with a critical eye, informed by a knowledge of history, an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings, and the results of empirical testing of different strategies. A student taking this course ought to be able to step into an NGO or government agency involved in climate policy analysis or political advocacy, and immediately be able to make an informed and creative contribution. Moreover, by experiencing the depth of this policy area, students should be able to appreciate the complexity inherent in all policy areas. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, touching all aspects of the environment and of society. There is broad recognition (although with some dissent) that governments ought to do something about it: making sure that emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) stop within the next 20 to 30 years; helping people to adapt to the consequences of the climate change to which we have already committed ourselves; and, most controversially, perhaps taking measures to actively remove GHG’s from the atmosphere, or to alter the radiation balance of the Earth through solar engineering. It’s a complicated set of problems, especially the first of these, known as mitigation. Fundamentally this is because it means doing something that humanity has never really tried before at a planetary scale: deliberately altering the ways the we produce, convert, and consume energy, which is at the heart of modern society. Modern society – the entire anthropocene – grew up on fossil fuels, and the huge benefits they offered in terms of energy that was inexpensive, easy to transport and store, and very dense in terms of its energy content per unit mass or volume. How to manage a society of over 7 billion people, at anything like today’s living standards, without the benefits of that energy, is a question for which there is no easy answer. There are also other challenges outside of energy. How do we build houses, office buildings, and infrastructure networks without cement, a substance that releases large amounts of CO2 as it hardens? How do we reverse the pace of deforestation, particularly in developing countries? How do we eliminate the GHG emissions from agriculture: the methane from cows’ bellies and rice paddies, together with the chemicals that enter the atmosphere from the application of fertilizer? These are all tough questions at a technical level, but even tougher when you consider that governments typically need to employ indirect methods to get these things to happen. Arguably a government could simply pass a law that forbids people from using fossil fuels. But politically this is simply unrealistic, at least while so many people depend on fossil fuels in their daily lives. What is to be done? For this, one needs to turn to various ideas about how government can and should influence society. On the one hand are ideas suggesting that government ought to play a very limited role, relative to private actors, and should step in only to correct “market failures,” with interventions designed specifically around that failure. On the other hand are ideas suggesting that government (meaning all of us, working together through a democratic process) is the appropriate decision-making body for core decisions on where society can and should go. These issues come to the fore in climate policy discussions and debates. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | There will be reading assignments for select classes. All of these will be posted in PDF format on a course Moodle. In addition, there will be one books and one report to be read over the course of the semester. They are: Ministry of the Future, by Kim Stanley Robinson Ten Principles for Policy Making in the Energy Transition, by Laura Diaz Anadon et al. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 063-0859-24L | Subject Semester HS24 (Fachsemester) in the Field of History and Theory of Urban Design (Avermaete) Does not take place this semester. A student can only register once for a "Fachsemester" during the Master studies! The application deadline for this "Fachsemester" 4.9.2024, 8 p.m. You will receive a message about acceptance or rejection for the subject semester by 5.9.2024, 2 p.m. at the latest. Students who have been rejected have the opportunity to choose a design class (enrollment ends on 5.9.2024, at 6 p.m.).“ | W | 14 credits | 29A | T. Avermaete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This Research Studio focuses on the entanglements of the architectural and urban histories of Switzerland and the history of global colonialism. Through architecture-specific research methods, it investigates how centuries of colonialism have historically influenced the aesthetic, construction and craft cultures of Swiss cities, and explores ways to engage with these contested legacies today. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The Research Studio has two main objectives: 1. Archaeology of Swiss Coloniality. First, students will develop an ‘archaeology’ of the historical entanglements of Swiss industry with global colonialism. In this part, the studio work is understood as an archaeological venture, digging up traces of the past. Students will systematically probe the built environment of Switzerland for traces and influences of global colonialism and its aftermath. The result will be a catalogue of colonial entanglements, illustrating how they are inscribed into architectural and urban figures and how they continue to impact the urban fabric of Switzerland and its industry. 2. Processing Swiss Coloniality. In a second step, students will attempt to ‘process’ the enduring impact of Swiss Coloniality. Based on the 'Archaeology,’ students will explore the inherent logics of global colonialism in relation to Swiss industry as it impacts the present. The central idea is to avoid considering the past as a closed chapter, but as an ongoing process and condition of coloniality that still structures our present and future, which needs acknowledgement and dialogue. Students will be asked, using the tools of the architect, to explore strategies to represent these entanglements and suggest openings for repair where needed. Based on these main objectives, this course will: - offer students an overview of the most important historical and contemporary contributions to debates on postcolonial and decolonial theory and the entanglement of Switzerland’s industry with global colonialism; - equip students to reflect critically upon the manifestations of Swiss Coloniality in the built environment with the help of both theoretical and historical perspectives; - make students aware that the production of the city is not a neutral given but is always shaped by cultural values, assumptions, and expectations, which impact the everyday environment and, as such, condition inhabitants and users; - help students to position themselves within current debates on cities, urban development, and urban life in relation to broader challenges such as sustainability and social inequality. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Swiss Coloniality Cities have never been isolated entities and have always existed by grace of the myriad connections with their hinterland. Throughout the past centuries, and especially since the 15th century onwards, these connections have become increasingly far-reaching across the globe, and the history of urban development in areas such as Europe has been intricately entwined with conditions and realities elsewhere. As such, urban history cannot be seen as entirely separate from global colonialism and its aftermath. While designing and constructing the architecture of the city, architects, urban designers, builders, and inhabitants also inevitably take part in the wider ecologies of material and immaterial flows that are shaped by and contribute to a global system of inequality. Not uncoincidentally, the metropole – a key term of colonial history – finds its roots in the political urban figure of the polis and identifies the center-periphery relationship between the ‘motherland’ and its hinterland. The metropole is the place from where power is exercised over foreign territories and the place that reaps the fruits of this exercising of power. While Switzerland never had colonies of its own, it was nevertheless in many ways involved in and contributed to the history of global colonialism: by taking part in the economy sustained by colonialism, by financing and securing slave trade, by contributing to race-based science practices, etc. So, despite being a country without colonies, what if we consider Switzerland and its position in the world from the perspective of the colonial metropole? What would be the specific architectural and urban dimension of this figure of Metropole Switzerland? In raising such questions, in this Research Studio, we aim to focus on the entanglements of the architectural and urban histories of Switzerland and the history of global colonialism. Starting to answer such questions requires a widened understanding of colonialism and its impact, which has been grasped with the notion of coloniality in recent debates. While colonialism refers to the historically specific phenomenon of one area of the world colonizing another, settling on foreign land, extracting its resources, and violently disciplining its inhabitants, the term coloniality refers to the more long-lasting processes and indirect effects that are the result of centuries of colonialism, and that mark a landscape of global inequality, even after the ‘official’ reign of colonialism has ended. In this sense, the disparity between the so-called ‘Global North’ and ‘Global South’, and the way in which a country such as Switzerland is still profiting from an advantageous position in this globally unequal world, can be considered the result of centuries of colonialism, and to be still part of a condition of coloniality. As this condition is a two-sided and mutually inflictive phenomenon, to unravel the knot of Swiss coloniality, we not only aim to investigate how Switzerland was implicated in activities abroad but also, conversely, how these activities have impacted Switzerland. While in the fields of political, social and economic history, a revisionist effort is underway to reconsider/correct the image of Switzerland as a neutral country without colonies, in the field of architecture and urban history, however, we are yet to unravel the impact of this entanglement on the built environment, and, more widely, on the aesthetic, material and craft cultures of Swiss cities. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Methodology The overarching hypothesis of this Research Studio is that historical and theoretical research can profit profoundly from the use of the tools and knowledge of architects. On the one hand, the spatial, formal, material, and constructive knowledge gained throughout architectural studies will guide the historical research in the archives, in the library, and/or in the city itself and will allow students to articulate specifically architectural interpretations of the materials they find. On the other hand, the Studio explicitly asks students to employ specific architectural tools such as drawing, writing and model-making to explore the historical and theoretical realities that are being investigated. By actively reflecting on the composition of a varied set of analytical and interpretative drawings, texts, and models, students will probe the capacity of these media to act as tools for historical and theoretical research. Within the general theme of Swiss Coloniality, students will be guided to identify their own subtheme, which will require exploring their own specific research methodologies. These architecture-specific methodologies will be strategically chosen to discuss specific aspects of society: political, economic, social, cultural, or otherwise. Thus, conjoining these ‘autonomous’ and ‘heteronomous’ dimensions of architecture, a new understanding of the city and our built environment is developed that allows us to answer (some of) the research questions mentioned previously. Research process Students will be guided through three phases with different emphases: Definitions, Logics and Reinterpretations of Swiss Coloniality. The first phase, Definitions, is focused on developing an understanding of what the notion of Swiss Coloniality can entail and how it relates specifically to industry and the production of the city. This phase will allow students to become familiar with the historical and current entanglements of Switzerland with global colonialism and, by closely examining its main actors, practices, and materials, will set the stage for students to develop their own, individual research project. The second phase, Logics, is about understanding and demonstrating the inner workings and mechanisms of Swiss Coloniality. Each of the students will focus on one specific case – a material, a site, an actor, a practice, etc. – and will examine it closely through targeted archival and library research, as well as through drawing, writing, and model-making. In the third phase, Reinterpretations, students will formulate and investigate a hypothesis regarding the entanglements of Swiss industry with global colonialism. Based on this hypothesis, students will position themselves in relation to Swiss Coloniality, its history and its enduring impact. The position statement can take the form of a written text, architectural drawings and/or models and will be presented in the form of a student-curated studio exhibition and an online adaptation of it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Course syllabus and reader will be made available during the course's first week. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Students can register only once for a "Fachsemester" during the Master studies. Enrollment will not take place through the D-ARCH website. To enroll for this Fachsemester please send an e-mail to sebastiaan.loosen@gta.arch.ethz.ch by Wednesday 6 September 2023, 8PM. If necessary, available places will be allocated firstly conform the A-B-C-studio priority system, and secondly, randomly. You will receive a confirmation by Thursday 7 September 2023, 12AM (noon). In case of over-applications, students who are not selected have the opportunity to choose a regular design studio through the D-ARCH website (enrollment ends on September 7, at 6 p.m.). The Research Studio is self-dependent work and tutoring takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Further course information on https://avermaete.arch.ethz.ch/researchstudio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 351-0778-01L | Discovering Management (Pitch) Does not take place this semester. Complementary exercises for the module Discovering Managment. Prerequisite: Participation and successful completion of the module Discovering Management (351-0778-00L) is mandatory. | W | 1 credit | 1U | B. Clarysse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course is offered complementary to the basis course 351-0778-00L, "Discovering Management". The course offers an additional exercise. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The general objective of Discovering Management (Exercises) is to complement the course "Discovering Management" with one larger additional exercise. Discovering Management (Exercises) thus focuses on developing the skills and competences to apply management theory to a real-life exercise from practice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The exercise consists of delivering and submitting a "pitch" with a clear recommendation for one of the selected cases amongst those seen in Discovering Management, using your insights from Discovering Management, and an extra session on pitching. Students have the option to either do this alone or in a group of two students. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | All course materials (readings, slides, videos, and worksheets) will be made available to inscribed course participants through Moodle. Students following this course should also be enrolled for course 351-0778-00L, "Discovering Management". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 851-0609-06L | Governing the Energy Transition Primarily suited for Master and PhD level. | W | 2 credits | 2V | T. Schmidt, L. P. Fesenfeld | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This 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 understand specific aspects of the governance of the energy transition. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning 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 gain knowledge on the role of policy and politics in energy transitions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Climate change, access to energy and other societal challenges are directly linked to the way we use and create energy. Both the 2015 United Nations Paris climate change agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals make a fast and extensive transition of the energy system necessary. This lecture 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 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 grade will be determined by a final exam. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Slides and reading material will be made available via moodle.ethz.ch (only for registered students). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | A reading list will be provided via moodle.ethz.ch at the beginning of the semester. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 857-0027-00L | International Organizations (Field Trip) | W | 2 credits | 1S | V. Koubi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | A two-day field trip to international organizations in Geneva - e.g., the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Become familiar with the work and challenges of international organizations based in Geneva. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Karen A. Mingst, Margaret P. Karns. The United Nations in the Twenty-First Century, Third Edition (Dilemmas in World Politics). Westview Press, 2007. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Teams of 2-3 students prepare a 2-3 page background reading for the group on a specific international organization and lead the discussion with representatives of that organization during the visit. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 860-0023-00L | International Environmental Politics Particularly suitable for students of D-ITET, D-USYS. | W | 3 credits | 2V | T. Bernauer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course deals with how and why international problem-solving efforts (cooperation) in environmental politics emerge and evolve, and under what circumstances such efforts are effective. Based on concepts, theories, and methods of political economy, political science, and public policy, various examples of international environmental policy-making are examined. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The objectives in this course are to (1) gain an overview of important questions in international environmental politics from a social sciences viewpoint; (2) learn how to identify interesting/innovative questions in this policy area and how to address them in a conceptually and methodologically meaningful and insightful way; (3) gain an overview of important global and regional environmental problems and how they are or could be solved. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This course deals with how and why international problem-solving efforts (cooperation) in environmental politics emerge and evolve, and under what circumstances such efforts are effective. Based on concepts, theories, and methods of political economy, political science, and public policy, various examples of international environmental policy-making are examined, for example international efforts to reduce air pollution, manage international water resources, mitigate and adapt to global warming, protect the stratospheric ozone layer, address biodiversity challenges, deal with plastic waste, and prevent pollution of the oceans. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Reading materials and slides will be available via Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Reading materials and slides will be available via Moodle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The course is open to all ETH students and visiting students from other universities. Participation does not require previous coursework in the social sciences or environmental policy. Most meetings in this course will take place on campus (ETH Main Building, HG F.3). There will be no live-streaming, and the course is not in hybrid (on-campus plus online) format. However, the lecture will be recorded (slides and voice, no video) and the recordings will be made available via the Moodle platform for this course a few days after the respective lecture for students who are unable to attend in person. All electronic correspondence will take place via the ETH mystudies system and Moodle, so please make sure you are properly registered there with a functioning email address/account. Credits and Exam After passing a written test at the end of the course (requirement: grade 4.0 or higher) students will receive 3 ECTS credit points. The workload is around 90 hours (meetings, reading assignments, preparation of test). Visiting students (e.g., from the University of Zurich, exchange students) are subject to the same conditions. Registration of visiting students in the web-based system of ETH is compulsory. Students who obtain a grade of < 4.0 for the test will have a second chance (see table below). Students who did not participate in the test on 16 December 2024 will not have access to the repeat test unless they submit compelling and documented (e.g., medical, other exam in parallel at ETH) reasons for why they are/were unable to participate in the first test. The test covers all contents of the lectures and the reading assignments. No separate registration for the exam is required, registration for the course as such covers everything. The exam will take place on campus, most likely in HG F3. That is, you must be present in person at ETH Zurich on the exam date/time. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 701-1631-00L | Foundations of Ecosystem Management | W | 5 credits | 3G | J. Ghazoul, A. Giger Dray | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course introduces the broad variety of conflicts that arise in projects focusing on sustainable management of natural resources. It explores case studies of ecosystem management approaches and considers their practicability, their achievements and possible barriers to their uptake. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students should be able to a) propose appropriate and realistic solutions to ecosystem management problems that integrate ecological, economic and social dimensions across relevant temporal and spatial scales. b) identify important stakeholders, their needs and interests, and the main conflicts that exist among them in the context of land and resource management. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Traditional management systems focus on extraction of natural resources, and their manipulation and governance. However, traditional management has frequently resulted in catastrophic failures such as, for example, the collapse of fish stocks and biodiversity loss. These failures have stimulated the development of alternative ‘ecosystem management’ approaches that emphasise the functionality of human-dominated systems. Inherent to such approaches are system-wide perspectives and a focus on ecological processes and services, multiple spatial and temporal scales, as well as the need to incorporate diverse stakeholder interests in decision making. Thus, ecosystem management is the science and practice of managing natural resources, biodiversity and ecological processes, to meet multiple demands of society. It can be local, regional or global in scope, and addresses critical issues in developed and developing countries relating to economic and environmental security and sustainability. This course provides an introduction to ecosystem management, and in particular the importance of integrating ecology into management systems to meet multiple societal demands. The course explores the extent to which human-managed terrestrial systems depend on underlying ecological processes, and the consequences of degradation of these processes for human welfare and environmental well-being. Building upon a theoretical foundation, the course will tackle issues in resource ecology and management, notably forests, agriculture and wild resources within the broader context of sustainability, biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation or economic development. Case studies from tropical and temperate regions will be used to explore these issues. Dealing with ecological and economic uncertainty, and how this affects decision making, will be discussed. Strategies for conservation and management of terrestrial ecosystems will give consideration to landscape ecology, protected area systems, and community management, paying particular attention to alternative livelihood options and marketing strategies of common pool resources. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | No Script | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Chichilnisky, G. and Heal, G. (1998) Economic returns from the biosphere. Nature, 391: 629-630. Daily, G.C. (1997) Nature’s Services: Societal dependence on natural ecosystems. Island Press. Washington DC. Hindmarch, C. and Pienkowski, M. (2000) Land Management: The Hidden Costs. Blackwell Science. Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington DC. Milner-Gulland, E.J. and Mace, R. (1998) Conservation of Biological Resources. Blackwell Science. Gunderson, L.H. and Holling, C.S. (2002) Panarchy: understanding transformations in human and natural systems. Island Press. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 851-0467-00L | From Traffic Modeling to Smart Cities and Digital Democracies | W | 3 credits | 2S | D. Helbing, R. K. Dubey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This seminar will present speakers who discuss the challenges and opportunities arising for our cities and societies with the digital revolution. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | To collect credit points, students must actively contribute and give an individual, circa 20-minute presentation in the seminar on a subject agreed upon with the lecturer. After the presentation, it will be discussed and graded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This seminar will present speakers who discuss the challenges and opportunities arising for our cities and societies with the digital revolution. Besides discussing questions of automation using Big Data, AI and other digital technologies, we will also reflect on the question of how democracy could be digitally upgraded, and how citizen participation could contribute to innovation, sustainability, resilience, and quality of life. This includes questions around collective intelligence and digital platforms that support creativity, engagement, coordination and cooperation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Dirk Helbing An Analytical Theory of Traffic Flow (collection of papers) Michael Batty, Kay Axhausen et al. Smart cities of the future Books by Michael Batty: How social influence can undermine the wisdom of crowd effect Evidence for a collective intelligence factor in the performance of human groups Optimal incentives for collective intelligence Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace Big Mind: How Collective Intelligence Can Change Our World Programming Collective Intelligence Urban architecture as connective-collective intelligence. Which spaces of interaction? Build digital democracy How to make democracy work in the digital age Digital Democracy: How to make it work? Proof of witness presence: Blockchain consensus for augmented democracy in smart cities Iterative Learning Control for Multi-agent Systems Coordination Decentralized Collective Learning for Self-managed Sharing Economies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Students need to present a new subject, for which they have not earned any credit points before. Good scientific practices, in particular citation and quotation rules, must be properly complied with. Chatham House rules apply to this course. Materials may not be shared without previous written permission. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 851-0585-41L | Computational Social Science | W | 3 credits | 2S | D. Helbing, C. I. Hausladen, J. C.‑Y. Yang | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Participants 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Ball: Why Society Is A Complex Matter • Helbing: Social Self-Organization • Helbing: Managing Complexity • Colander/Kupers: Complexity and the Art of Public Policy • Mitchell: Complexity • Buckley: Society – A Complex Adaptive System • Castellani/Hafferty: Sociology and Complexity Science • Mikhailov/Calenbuhr: From Cells to Society • Mainzer: Thinking in Complexity • Sawyer: Social Emergence • Books published by the Santa Fe Institute Computational Social Science https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/323/5915/721.full.pdf Manifesto of Computational Social Science https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjst/e2012-01697-8 Social Self-Organisation https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783642240034 How simple rules determine pedestrian behaviour and crowd disasters https://www.pnas.org/content/108/17/6884.short Peer review and competition in the Art Exhibition Game https://www.pnas.org/content/113/30/8414.short Generalized network dismantling https://www.pnas.org/content/116/14/6554.short Computational Social Science: Obstacles and Opportunities https://science.sciencemag.org/content/369/6507/1060?rss%253D1= Bit by Bit: Social Research in the Digital Age https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bit-Social-Research-Digital-Age-ebook/dp/B072MPFXX2/ Further literature will be recommended in the lectures. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Students need to present a new subject, for which they have not earned any credit points before. Good scientific practices, in particular citation and quotation rules, must be properly complied with. Chatham House rules apply to this course. Materials may not be shared without previous written permission. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 363-0537-00L | Resource and Environmental Economics | W | 3 credits | 2G | A. Miftakhova, A. Minabutdinov | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Relationship between economy and environment, market failures, external effects and public goods, contingent valuation, internalisation of externalities, economics of non-renewable resources, economics of renewable resources, environmental cost-benefit analysis, sustainability economics, and international resource and environmental problems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | A successful completion of the course will enable a thorough understanding of the basic questions and methods of resource and environmental economics and the ability to solve typical problems using appropriate tools consisting of concise verbal explanations, diagrams or mathematical expressions. Concrete goals are first of all the acquisition of knowledge about the main questions of resource and environmental economics and about the foundation of the theory with different normative concepts in terms of efficiency and fairness. Secondly, students should be able to deal with environmental externalities and internalisation through appropriate policies or private negotiations, including knowledge of the available policy instruments and their relative strengths and weaknesses. Thirdly, the course will allow for in-depth economic analysis of renewable and non-renewable resources, including the role of stock constraints, regeneration functions, market power, property rights and the impact of technology. A fourth objective is to successfully use the well-known tool of cost-benefit analysis for environmental policy problems, which requires knowledge of the benefits of an improved natural environment. The last two objectives of the course are the acquisition of sufficient knowledge about the economics of sustainability and the application of environmental economic theory and policy at international level, e.g. to the problem of climate change. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course covers all the interactions between the economy and the natural environment. It introduces and explains basic welfare concepts and market failure; external effects, public goods, and environmental policy; the measurement of externalities and contingent valuation; the economics of non-renewable resources, renewable resources, cost-benefit-analysis, sustainability concepts; international aspects of resource and environmental problems; selected examples and case studies. After a general introduction to resource and environmental economics, highlighting its importace and the main issues, the course explains the normative basis, utilitarianism, and fairness according to different principles. Pollution externalities are a deep core topic of the lecture. We explain the governmental internalisation of externalities as well as the private internalisation of externalities (Coase theorem). Furthermore, the issues of free rider problems and public goods, efficient levels of pollution, tax vs. permits, and command and control instruments add to a thorough analysis of environmental policy. Turning to resource supply, the lecture first looks at empirical data on non-renewable natural resources and then develops the optimal price development (Hotelling-rule). It deals with the effects of explorations, new technologies, and market power. When treating the renewable resources, we look at biological growth functions, optimal harvesting of renewable resources, and the overuse of open-access resources. A next topic is cost-benefit analysis with the environment, requiring measuring environmental benefits and measuring costs. In the chapter on sustainability, the course covers concepts of sustainability, conflicts with optimality, and indicators of sustainability. In a final chapter, we consider international environmental problems and in particular climate change and climate policy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Perman, R., Ma, Y., McGilvray, J, Common, M.: "Natural Resource & Environmental Economics", 4th edition, 2011, Harlow, UK: Pearson Education | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 052-0707-00L | Urban Design III | W | 2 credits | 2V | H. Klumpner, F. T. Salva Rocha Franco | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Students are introduced to a narrative of 'Urban Stories' through a series of three tools driven by social, governance, and environmental transformations in today's urbanization processes. Each lecture explores one city's spatial and organizational ingenuity born out of a particular place's realities, allowing students to transfer these inventions into a catalog of conceptual tools. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | How can students of architecture become active agents of change? What does it take to go beyond a building's scale, making design-relevant decisions to the city rather than a single client? How can we design in cities with a lack of land, tax base, risk, and resilience, understanding that Zurich is the exception and these other cities are the rule? How can we discover, set rather than follow trends and understand existing urban phenomena activating them in a design process? The lecture series produces a growing catalog of operational urban tools across the globe, considering Governance, Social, and Environmental realities. Instead of limited binary comparing of cities, we are building a catalog of change, analyzing what design solutions cities have been developing informally incrementally over time, why, and how. We look at the people, institutions, culture behind the design and make concepts behind these tools visible. Students get first-hand information from cities where the chair as a Team has researched, worked, or constructed projects over the last year, allowing competent, practical insight about the people and topics that make these places unique. Students will be able to use and expand an alternative repertoire of experiences and evidence-based design tools, go to the conceptual core of them, and understand how and to what extent they can be relevant in other places. Urban Stories is the basic practice of architecture and urban design. It introduces a repertoire of urban design instruments to the students to use, test, and start their designs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Urban form cannot be reduced to physical space. Cities result from social construction, under the influence of technologies, ecology, culture, the impact of experts, and accidents. Urban un-concluded processes respond to political interests, economic pressure, cultural inclinations, along with the imagination of architects and urbanists and the informal powers at work in complex adaptive systems. Current urban phenomena are the result of urban evolution. The facts stored in urban environments include contributions from its entire lifecycle, visible in the physical environment, and non-physical aspects. This imaginary city exists along with its potentials and problems and with the conflicts that have evolved. Knowledge and understanding, along with a critical observation of the actions and policies, are necessary to understand the diversity and instability present in the contemporary city and understand how urban form evolved to its current state. How did cities develop into the cities we live in now? Urban plans, instruments, visions, political decisions, economic reasonings, cultural inputs, and social organization have been used to operate in urban settlements in specific moments of change. We have chosen cities that exemplify how these instruments have been implemented and how they have shaped urban environments. We transcribe these instruments into urban operational tools that we have recognized and collected within existing tested cases in contemporary cities across the globe. This lecture series will introduce urban knowledge and the way it has introduced urban models and operational modes within different concrete realities, therefore shaping cities. The lecture series translates urban knowledge into operational tools, extracted from cities where they have been tested and become exemplary samples, most relevant for understanding how the urban landscape has taken shape. The tools are clustered in twelve thematic clusters and three tool scales for better comparability and cross-reflection. The Tool case studies are compiled into a global urbanization toolbox, which we use as typological models to read the city and critically reflect upon it. The presented contents are meant to serve as inspiration for positioning in future professional life and provide instruments for future design decisions. In an interview with a local designer, we measure our insights against the most pressing design topics in cities today, including inclusion, affordable housing, provision of public spaces, and infrastructure for all. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | The learning material, available via https://moodle-app2.let.ethz.ch/ is comprised of the following: - Toolbox 'Reader' with an introduction to the lecture course and tool summaries - Weekly exercise tasks - Infographics with basic information about each city - Quiz question for each tool - Additional reading material - Interviews with experts - Archive of lecture recordings Structure and Grading: - 70% Exam - 20% Exercise (one group workshop per semester) - 10% Participation (drawing exercises) For one-semester students, only a Research will be required. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | - Reading material will be provided throughout the semester. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 851-0101-86L | Complex Social Systems: Modeling Agents, Learning, and Games Prerequisites: Basic programming skills, elementary probability and statistics. | W | 3 credits | 2S | D. N. Dailisan, D. Carpentras, D. Helbing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course introduces mathematical and computational models to study techno-socioeconomic systems and the process of scientific research. Students develop a significant project to tackle techno-socio-economic challenges in application domains of complex systems. They are expected to implement a model and to communicate their results through a project report and a short oral presentation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | See your own field of study in a wider context (“Science in Perspective”), e.g. see the psychological, social, economic, environmental, historical, ethical,or philosophical connections and implications. Learn to think critically and out of the box. Question what you believe you know for sure. Get to know surprising, counterintuitive properties of complex (non-linearly interacting, networked, multi-component) systems. Learn about collaboration. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | By the end of the course, the students should be able to better understand the literature on complex social systems, develop their own models for studying specific phenomena and report results according to the standards of the relevant scientific literature by presenting their results both numerically and graphically. At the end of the course, the students will deliver a report, computer code and a short oral presentation. To collect credit points, students will have to actively contribute and give a circa 30 minutes presentation in the course on a subject agreed with the lecturers, after which the presentation will be discussed. The presentation will be graded. Students are expected to implement themselves models of techno-socio-economic processes and systems, particularly agent-based models, complex networks models, decision making, group dynamics, human crowds, or game-theoretical models. Credit points are finally earned for the implementation of a mathematical or empirical model from the complexity science literature, its presentation, and documentation by a project report. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | The lecture slides will be presented on the course Moodle after each lecture. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Agent-Based Modeling https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-24004-1_2 Social Self-Organization https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783642240034 Traffic and related self-driven many-particle systems Reviews of Modern Physics 73, 1067 https://journals.aps.org/rmp/abstract/10.1103/RevModPhys.73.1067 An Analytical Theory of Traffic Flow (collection of papers) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261629187 Pedestrian, Crowd, and Evacuation Dynamics https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/handle/20.500.11850/45424 The hidden geometry of complex, network-driven contagion phenomena (relevant for modeling pandemic spread) https://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6164/1337 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The number of participants is limited to the size of the available computer teaching room. The source code related to the seminar thesis should be well enough documented. Good programming skills and a good understanding of probability & statistics and calculus are expected. Students need to present a new subject, for which they have not earned any credit points before. Good scientific practices, in particular citation and quotation rules, must be properly complied with. Chatham House rules apply to this course. Materials may not be shared without previous written permission. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 851-0732-06L | Law & Tech | W | 3 credits | 2S | A. Stremitzer, J. Merane | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course introduces students to scientific and technological developments that require regulation or enable legal innovation. We focus particularly on the challenges to current law posed by prominent near-future technologies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The course is designed for a wide range of ETH students as well as for law students who are keen to deepen their understanding of cutting-edge technology. It offers an overview of key legal areas important for technology regulation, complemented by guest lectures on emerging technological trends. In previous years, the course has featured esteemed speakers from various sectors, including industry leaders like Google, NGOs such as Digital Society Switzerland and The European Consumer Organization, regulatory bodies like the Swiss Competition Commission, and noted academics. The course is open to ETH students through the Science in Perspective program of the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The planned course outline is below. - Overview of Law and Technology - Fundamental Rights - AI & Discrimination - Landmark Big Tech Cases - Regulation of Digital Platforms & Content Moderation - Online Consumer Protection - Law and Tech Scholarship Series A number of recent regulations will be discussed, including the EU's AI Act, the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), as well as emerging internet phenomena, like ChatGPT. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | You can find all course materials and the most recent announcements on Moodle. Please log in to Moodle using your ETH or UZH credentials. Then search for "Law & Tech (851-0732-06L, HS 2024)" and enroll. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 151-8101-00L | International Engineering: from Hubris to Hope | W | 4 credits | 3G | E. Tilley, J. Freihardt, C. Walder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Since Europe surrendered their colonial assets, engineers from rich countries have returned to the African continent to address the real and perceived ills that they felt technology could solve. And yet, 70 years on, the promise of technology has largely failed to deliver widespread, substantive improvements in the quality of life. Why? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | This course is meant for engineers who are interested in pursuing an ethical and relevant career internationally, and who are willing to examine the complex role that well-meaning foreigners have played and continue to play in the disappointing health outcomes that characterize much of the African continent. After completing the course, participants will be able to • critique the jargon and terms used by the international community, i.e. “development”, “aid”, “cooperation”, “assistance” “third world” “developing” “global south” “low and middle-income” and justify their own chosen terminology • recognize the role of racism and white-supremacy in the development of the Aid industry • understand the political, financial, and cultural reasons why technology and infrastructure have historically failed • Debate the merits of international engineering in popular culture and media • Propose improved SDG indicators that address current shortcomings • Compare the engineering curricula of different countries to identify relative strengths and shortcomings • Explain the inherent biases of academic publishing and its impact on engineering failure • Analyse linkages between the rise of philanthropy and strategic priority areas • Recommend equitable, just funding models to achieve more sustainable outcomes • Formulate a vision for the international engineer of the future | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Role of international engineering during colonialism Transition of international engineering following colonialism White saviourism and racism in international engineering International engineering in popular culture The missing role of Engineering Education Biases in academic publishing The emerging role in Global Philanthropy The paradox of International funding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | McGoey, L. (2015). No such thing as a free gift: The Gates Foundation and the price of philanthropy. Verso Books. Moyo, D. (2009). Dead aid: Why aid is not working and how there is a better way for Africa. Macmillan. Munk, N. (2013). The idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the quest to end poverty. Signal. Rodney, W. (2018). How europe underdeveloped africa. Verso Trade. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 851-0760-00L | Building a Robot Judge: Data Science for Decision-Making Does not take place this semester. Particularly suitable for students of D-INFK, D-ITET, D-MTEC. | W | 3 credits | 2V | E. Ash | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course explores the automation of decisions in the legal system. We delve into the machine learning tools needed to predict judge decision-making and ask whether techniques in model explanation and algorithmic fairness are sufficient to address the potential risks. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | This course introduces students to the data science tools that may provide the first building blocks for a robot judge. While building a working robot judge might be far off in the future, some of the building blocks are already here, and we will put them to work. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Data science technologies have the potential to improve legal decisions by making them more efficient and consistent. On the other hand, there are serious risks that automated systems could replicate or amplify existing legal biases and rigidities. Given the stakes, these technologies force us to think carefully about notions of fairness and justice and how they should be applied. The focus is on legal prediction problems. Given the evidence and briefs in this case, how will a judge probably decide? How likely is a criminal defendant to commit another crime? How much additional revenue will this new tax law collect? Students will investigate and implement the relevant machine learning tools for making these types of predictions, including regression, classification, and deep neural networks models. We then use these predictions to better understand the operation of the legal system. Under what conditions do judges tend to make errors? Against which types of defendants do parole boards exhibit bias? Which jurisdictions have the most tax loopholes? Students will be introduced to emerging applied research in this vein. In a semester paper, students (individually or in groups) will conceive and implement an applied data-science research project. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 851-0685-00L | Data and Society | W | 3 credits | 2V | M. Leese | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This lecture series explores the multifaceted role of data in shaping contemporary society, governance, and individual lives. The course equips students with a critical understanding of how data is made, managed, and preserved, and its implications for societal norms and individual rights. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | At the end of the term, students will be able to: • reflect concepts and theories that capture the performativity of data • reflect concepts and theories that capture the socio-technical nature of data • assess the implications of data practices for social and political ordering • identify key actors, sites, and domain contexts of data practices | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 860-0001-01L | Public Institutions and Policy-Making Processes; Research Paper Prerequisite: you have to be enrolled in 860-0001-00L during the same semester. | W | 3 credits | 3A | T. Bernauer, S. Bechtold, F. Schimmelfennig | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This is an add-on module to the course: 860-0001-00L. It focuses on students writing an essay on an issue covered by the main course 860-0001-00L. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students learn how to write an essay on a policy issue they select. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Public policies result from decision-making processes that take place within formal institutions of the state (parliament, government, public administration, courts). That is, policies are shaped by the characteristics of decision-making processes and the characteristics of public institutions and related actors (e.g. interest groups). In this course, students acquire the contextual knowledge for analyzing public policies - hence this course is complementary to the ISTP course on concepts and methods of policy analysis. Students learn why and how public policies and laws are developed, designed, and implemented at national and international levels. The course is organized in three modules. The first module (taught by Stefan Bechtold) examines basic concepts and the role of law, law-making, and law enforcement in modern societies. The second module (taught by Thomas Bernauer) deals with the functioning of legislatures, governments, and interest groups. The third module (taught by Frank Schimmelfennig) focuses on the European Union and international organizations. This teaching unit is an add-on module to the course: 860-0001-00L. It focuses on students writing an essay on an issue covered by the main course 860-0001-00L. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | See Moodle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Access only for ISTP MSc students also enrolled in 860-0001-00L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Internship The performance counts as electives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 860-0600-00L | Internship - Short The internship can be started the earliest in the second semester. The internship needs to be approved by the study director. Therefore students need to hand in a short description to the study secretary before they start the internship. | W | 6 credits | external organisers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The internship is a voluntary part of the MSc curriculum. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The internship serves to make students familiar with policy analysis in a real world setting, for instance in a government agency, a NGO, a regulatory or public affairs division of a private sector firm, or a consulting firm focused on policy analysis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The short internship corresponds to a workload of 180 hours, to be accomplished within 3 months. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The internship can be started the earliest in the second semester. The internship needs to be approved by the study director. Therefore students need to hand in a short description to the study secretary before they start the internship. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 860-0700-00L | Internship - Long The internship can be started the earliest in the second semester. The internship needs to be approved by the study director. Therefore students need to hand in a short description to the study secretary before they start the internship. | W | 12 credits | external organisers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The internship is a voluntary part of the MSc curriculum. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The internship serves to make students familiar with policy analysis in a real world setting, for instance in a government agency, a regulatory or public affairs division of a private sector firm, or a consulting firm focused on policy analysis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The long internship corresponds to a workload of 360 hours, to be accomplished within 6 months. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The internship can be started the earliest in the second semester. The internship needs to be approved by the study director. We ask students to hand in a short description to the study secretary before they start the internship. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Master's Thesis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 860-0900-00L | Master's Thesis Only students who fulfill the following criteria are allowed to begin with their master thesis: a. successful completion of the bachelor programme; b. fulfilling of any additional requirements necessary to gain admission to the master programme. | O | 30 credits | 64D | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The thesis should demonstrate the students ability to conduct independent research on the basis of the theoreticel and methodological knowledge acquired during the MSc program. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The thesis should demonstrate the students ability to conduct independent research on the basis of the theoreticel and methodological knowledge acquired during the MSc program. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||