As the centerpiece of two weeks of festivities, over 100 invited guests from the sciences, politics, industry and culture, plus Empa staff, came together to celebrate the institution’s 125 years of existence. Best wishes from the national government were delivered in person by Federal Councilor Couchepin. “We recognize that over the past 125 years – and particularly noticeably over the last four – the Empa has progressed in a very positive way,” emphasized the Federal Councilor in his message of greetings. The Empa today occupies an important place in the Swiss research and technology landscape. It has also succeeded in “strengthening and modernizing technology transfer to small and medium sized enterprises.” In response to the question frequently raised in the news media about the optimal location for the Empa, M. Couchpin merely said that this was not a matter for the Federal Council to decide. But it was essential whatever the outcome that a well-balanced solution be found, both in terms of research and regional political considerations.
Matterhorn, Toblerone, Polo Hofer, Empa
“Matterhorn, Toblerone, Polo Hofer, Empa.” With these words began National Councilor Barbara Haering her address to the guests. “I congratulate the Empa on having succeeded in joining this pantheon of symbols which typify Switzerland.” The Empa, she continued, has managed to metamorphose from a facility providing technical services to a renowned research institute, and this effort was worthy of our appreciation and thanks. However, all things change; the Matterhorn sits partly on the African tectonic plate, Toblerone is today an American-owned brand and even Polo Hofer now refuses to sing some of his old, folk-music style songs. In the same spirit, the future of the Empa is also under discussion. “We have to find solutions which exploit the potential of the Empa and the ETH-Domain institutions to the fullest extent,” she maintained. In this process the Empa should build on its own strengths with self-confidence.
Prof. Alexander Zehnder, the current President of the ETH-Council, was the next speaker and he congratulated the Empa on being 5 x 25 years young. “The Empa is at the forefront of development in the 21st century”, he said, adding that the institution was also a bridge-builder between science and research, something that in future would become ever-more important. “Switzerland is not an island, it is a part of a European network” maintained Zehnder. The country needs cutting-edge research based on innovative, coordinated ideas, and an international exchange of scientific knowledge. “We must go about things in an innovative way,” Zehnder insisted. “Let us dare to take this vital step forward together”. For its forthcoming journey into the 6th phase of its existence, he wished the Empa “a racing start, a strong tail-wind, waterproof clothing and an accurate compass!”
The past, the current and the future of the Empa was then described from the macroscopic viewpoint of an engineer by Prof. Urs Meier, and from the microscopic viewpoint of a physicist by Prof. Louis Schlapbach, the Deputy Director and Director respectively of the Empa. This was followed by the first public viewing of the DVD “Nanoworld”, produced by the Empa in association with the University of Basel. The New Orleans Stompers jazz band provided a zestful musical framework to the celebration.
Presentation of the Mirko Roš Award
The Empa’s birthday celebrations closed in a suitably festive atmosphere with the presentation for the first time of the Mirko Roš Award. Gold medals in recognition of their lifetime achievements as Empa partners in material sciences and engineering were presented to Alfred Roesli, Christian Menn and Aftab Mufti.
Roesli’s trailblazing experiments on a road bridge in the 60’s helped raise the Empa’s profile to an international level of recognition. With his “MARES” (MAterials RESearch) software he strengthened the research activities of the Empa and contributed significantly to enhancing the technical and scientific repute of the institution.
Menn is one of the best known bridge constructors of our times, his work being acclaimed not only in Switzerland but also North America. For many years Empa staff have worked together with this world famous bridge builder, and currently a team is supporting him in the design of a cable-stayed bridge over Lake Grimsel.
Mufti is Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, and President of ISIS Canada (Intelligent Sensing for Innovative Structures). In 1989 he visited the Empa and was very impressed by the know-how available on fiber-composite materials. This was the beginning of a very productive exchange of knowledge between the two parties.
The Silver medal, which is intended to recognize outstanding undergraduate final-year project work or doctoral dissertation research, was awarded to Doris Spori, who graduated from the Material Sciences Department of the ETH Zurich in the winter semester 2004/2005. Her final year project work, which she conducted in the Empa’s Polymers/Composites Laboratory, made a significant contribution to the success of the Empa’s “Adaptive Materials” Program.
The medals are named in honor of Mirko Roš, Empa director from 1924 to 1949, whose character left an indelible impression on the institution. His granddaughter, Cornelia Bodmer-Roš, presented the awards to the medal-winners. The design of the medals was created by Hans Erni.
Along research paths through the Empa
Following the formal ceremony, the guests were invited to dive into Empa’s world by following research paths across the site. They were able to experience real science from as close as it gets, letting the finest nanopowder trickle between their fingers, taking a peek through the microscope at atoms and molecules, seeing artificial muscles in action, testing the intelligence of building structures, viewing countless airborne particles under the magnifying glass, and much, much more. Interested? On Saturday 25th June the doors to the Empa are open to all, so anyone can walk along our research paths!
Editor
Bärbel Zierl, Abteilung für Kommunikation, Tel +41 44 823 49 09, baerbel.zierl@empa.ch
Contact persons
Urs Meier, stellvertretender Direktor, Tel. +41 44 823 41 00, urs.meier@empa.ch
Inge Krombach, Projektleiterin Festakt, Tel. +41 44 823 42 00, inge.krombach@empa.ch
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