Biodiversity
Joël Mesot
President of ETH Zurich
Time to act
Biodiversity is under pressure across the entire world. The variety of habitats, species and genetic diversity is suffering due to intensive land and water use, the depletion of natural resources, climate change and the spread of invasive species.
But biodiversity is not a luxury. It regulates the climate, protects against floods, maintains soil fertility and ensures the renewal of raw materials and food supplies – services that are vital for social and economic wellbeing.
To halt the decline in diversity, decisive action is needed. We must respect planetary boundaries and develop new methods to use ecosystems and resources in a more sustainable and regenerative way. The good news? With in-depth research, innovative start-ups and targeted philanthropic efforts, highly promising approaches at ETH are already underway.
Precision for the planet
Ghjulia Sialelli is harnessing machine learning to support environmental protection. Through her research at ETH, she aims to help preserve biodiversity and combat climate change. read more
Relief for coral reefs
With the health of the oceans in acute danger, marine biologist Ulrike Pfreundt left her academic career to found a company dedicated to building and restoring tropical coral reefs. read more
Protecting our natural resources
ETH Zurich generates a wide array of insights and technologies to protect biodiversity and strengthen ecosystems – from monitoring that improves sustainability in rainforest management to pollution-fighting bacteria and sensor driven water conservation. read more
A school for life
His time at ETH was anything but easy for Finnish entrepreneur Jukka Helkama – and proof that he could rise to any challenge that came his way. read more
© Karma Sherub
Pinpointing changes in biodiversity
The WildinSync initiative, launched at ETH Zurich, is monitoring global trends in biodiversity – using eDNA, satellite data and artificial intelligence. read more