Discovering a whole world at ETH
© ETH Foundation / Valeriano Di Domenico
Discovering a whole world at ETH
It is with gratitude that Samuel Zumthurm looks back on his university years and the benefit of an ETH scholarship. It was a period of expansion – not only for him personally but for his scientific interests too.
“I grew up in Grengiols, a small village in the Valais. My father worked in a nursing home then, as he does now, and my mother was a homemaker, caring for my two siblings and me. I always enjoyed school and found learning easy. From high school onwards, my parents could no longer support me as a student, so the fact that I’m capable of getting ahead on my own is something I learned at an early age. I still remember my English teacher saying, ‘You’re clever and will achieve something one day.’ That gave me a lot of confidence.
For a long time, I wanted to become a vet. Eventually, I decided to study agricultural sciences because I realised that this covered topics like animal husbandry and breeding too. I was eager to find out if I could handle the challenges of an ETH degree. When I moved to Zurich, a whole new world opened up for me at ETH. I met so many interesting people with unconventional views and ideas, which spurred me on immensely.
Studying flat out
I lived in shared accommodation with other students. Initially, we agreed that we’d take turns doing the weekly grocery shopping for everyone. However, I soon had to have a talk with my flatmates because I simply couldn’t afford the fresh, or even organic, food they were buying. Receiving the news that I’d been awarded an ETH scholarship was a huge relief for me and my whole family. Without the scholarship, they’d all have been under pressure to live extremely frugally.
I also took part-time jobs but, when it came to preparing for exams, the scholarship enabled me to focus purely on my degree and study flat out. I remember that the coffee at ETH’s Tannenbar tasted excellent, but was a little more expensive than at other places at ETH. To save money, I usually opted for the cheaper coffees. After hearing the good news about the scholarship, I told myself, ‘From now on, you can treat yourself to the good coffee.’
The perfect position
During my studies, my interest shifted from animal production to sustainable food systems. I began looking at agricultural policy and consumer behaviour, and how human nutrition intersects with climate change and animal welfare. When I saw the doctoral position on ‘Reducing Meat Consumption’ advertised at Agroscope, the federal competence centre for agricultural research, I knew immediately that it was the perfect fit for me.
The main part of my dissertation is to find out what could be done to encourage people to eat less meat. Swiss people consume two to three times more meat than is scientifically recommended, which has a number of negative health effects, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Using empirical methods, I’m examining various ways of promoting a more balanced diet, and this includes the food served in canteens. As for what comes after my doctorate,
I’m not yet sure. From my experiences at ETH, I’m confident that many exciting opportunities lie ahead of me waiting to be seized when the time is right.”
