EPT summer camp
Overview
EPT summer camp is an event for PhD students and postdocs, organized by the EPT-hub.
During this camp we will cover topics of engaging teaching techniques and transversal skills, in broader context of personal and professional development.
The event of the EPT-hub is supported by Department of Physics and MaP Doctoral School at ETH Zurich.
We are also greatly thankful to the Rector's Team, ETH Doctorate, as well as support from ENHANCE/Movetia.
During this camp we will cover topics of engaging teaching techniques and transversal skills, in broader context of personal and professional development.
The event of the EPT-hub is supported by Department of Physics and MaP Doctoral School at ETH Zurich.
We are also greatly thankful to the Rector's Team, ETH Doctorate, as well as support from ENHANCE/Movetia.
Theme of this year: Transdisciplinarity and self-identification
Topics:
Topics:
- Teaching and Learning
- Future skills
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Science communication and AI
- Transversal skills
Intro: our speakers
Dinner with participatory science soirée
Schedule
Sunday 14.06 / Arrive. Orient. Feel the Spirit.
14:00 Arrival and check-in
15:00 Welcome Apero
15:30 - 17:00 Intro session
14:00 Arrival and check-in
15:00 Welcome Apero
15:30 - 17:00 Intro session
This workshop empowers participants to explore their personal and professional goals, identify strengths, and craft actionable strategies for growth. Through guided exercises, reflection, and collaborative discussions, attendees will gain clarity, build confidence, and create a roadmap to navigate their unique journey toward success and fulfillment.
Andreia Fernandes is an experienced educator, entrepreneur, and global manager, specializing in strategy, leadership, and career development. She teaches at Swiss institutions, having over 20 years of experience guiding individuals, teams, and organizations to succeed through effective collaboration, intercultural communication, and career design. She holds an MBA from the University of St. Gallen and completed Stanford’s Executive Entrepreneurship Program.
Andreia Fernandes is an experienced educator, entrepreneur, and global manager, specializing in strategy, leadership, and career development. She teaches at Swiss institutions, having over 20 years of experience guiding individuals, teams, and organizations to succeed through effective collaboration, intercultural communication, and career design. She holds an MBA from the University of St. Gallen and completed Stanford’s Executive Entrepreneurship Program.
18:00 - 19:30 Dinner
Kathrin Altwegg is a renowned Swiss astrophysicist, recognized world-wide for her work in cometary science and space instrumentation. She is known for her extraordinary role as principal investigator of the ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis), key instrument on ESA’s Rosetta mission.Under her supervision, ROSINA team contributed to key discoveries about the composition of cometary gases, including insights into water, organic molecules, and the potential links between comets and the origins of life on Earth. She is professor emerita at the University of Bern, where she has spent much of her career advancing research in astrochemistry and space exploration.
21:00 - Free Time / Walk or Optional Evening Activities:
Campfiretalk Game: the reflection and personal development game (we can NOT promise campfire yet:), we are working on it, but Apline Tea for sure;) with Pleun Hermsen
Duration: ~1h
CampfireTalk is an accessible way to engage in conversation and reflect on a wide range of topics. The game can be played without facilitation and invites participants to dive deeper into current questions that you, as a Phd student or Post doc may have, such as supervision issues, finding a healthy work-life balance, procrastination, career uncertainty etc. Afterwards the game is open source available. (you can add/change topics to make it more relevant).
Pleun Hermsen is a versatile educational innovator with a focus on reflection in engineering education. She works at Delft University of Technology where she -in co-creation with educators and students- innovates existing reflective practices to make them more meaningful. She is starting her PhD research on the design process for meaningful reflection.
Duration: ~1h
CampfireTalk is an accessible way to engage in conversation and reflect on a wide range of topics. The game can be played without facilitation and invites participants to dive deeper into current questions that you, as a Phd student or Post doc may have, such as supervision issues, finding a healthy work-life balance, procrastination, career uncertainty etc. Afterwards the game is open source available. (you can add/change topics to make it more relevant).
Pleun Hermsen is a versatile educational innovator with a focus on reflection in engineering education. She works at Delft University of Technology where she -in co-creation with educators and students- innovates existing reflective practices to make them more meaningful. She is starting her PhD research on the design process for meaningful reflection.
An open, informal conversation where participants can engage directly with a professor in a relaxed setting. This session goes beyond the usual academic format and invites frank, unfiltered discussion—about research realities, career paths, failures as much as successes, and the questions that rarely make it into lectures. Expect candid insights, surprising perspectives, and space for asking the “uncomfortable but important” questions.
Professor Daniela Rupp investigates highly excited matter by capturing extreme high-resolution images and movies of laser-excited nanoparticles using intense X-ray lasers. She is currently in the final phase of her tenure-track Assistant Professorship at ETH Zurich.
With a strong passion for both - research and teaching, Daniela is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive academic environment and actively advocates for student-centered innovative didactics, equality, diversity, and openness in science.
Professor Daniela Rupp investigates highly excited matter by capturing extreme high-resolution images and movies of laser-excited nanoparticles using intense X-ray lasers. She is currently in the final phase of her tenure-track Assistant Professorship at ETH Zurich.
With a strong passion for both - research and teaching, Daniela is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive academic environment and actively advocates for student-centered innovative didactics, equality, diversity, and openness in science.
Monday 15.06 / INSPIRATION keynotes: Where Vision Sparks
06:50 - 07:15 Morning Meditation (optional)
07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast
08:30 - 08:40 Warm-up
08:50 - 12:30 Morning Session / with Coffee Break 11:00 - 11:30
06:50 - 07:15 Morning Meditation (optional)
07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast
08:30 - 08:40 Warm-up
08:50 - 12:30 Morning Session / with Coffee Break 11:00 - 11:30
In this keynote, Pleun Hermsen shares her work on facilitating authentic reflection in engineering education. Educators see reflection as relevant and valuable in learning and in becoming responsible professionals. At the same time, students experience reflective assignments often as a chore. Literature and practice paints a picture that students' responses on reflective assignments are often non-descriptive, deflective, or even outsourced to artificial intelligence. Educators often struggle to get students engaged and the appreciation is often lower for this non-disciplinary teaching than for their research efforts or their disciplinary teaching. From her work, leading a university wide program called " the Reflective Engineer" at Delft University of technology, Pleun distilled a practice informed framework for the design principles of authentic reflection. Today she will talk about the relevance of authentic reflection, about the way she ret hinks the problems around reflection in education into a design problem and she will share insights in the design principles for using reflection in teaching and for your own personal development as a teacher, researcher or professional in education.
Pleun Hermsen is a versatile educational innovator with a focus on reflection in engineering education. She works at Delft University of Technology where she -in co-creation with educators and students- innovates existing reflective practices to make them more meaningful. She is starting her PhD research on the design process for meaningful reflection.
Pleun Hermsen is a versatile educational innovator with a focus on reflection in engineering education. She works at Delft University of Technology where she -in co-creation with educators and students- innovates existing reflective practices to make them more meaningful. She is starting her PhD research on the design process for meaningful reflection.
This contribution compares a traditional lecture with a more interactive, student-centered format. It further examines why students attend lectures in the first place and discusses alternative approaches to exercise sessions that may better support learning.
Andreas Vaterlaus is a Professor of Physics and Education and former Vice Rector for Curriculum Development at ETH Zurich (2012–2023), where he played a central role in shaping and advancing academic curricula across the institution.
He studied physics at ETH Zurich, where he also completed his doctoral degree at the Department of Physics. During his PhD, he investigated ultrafast demagnetization processes in magnetic materials. Following a postdoctoral stay at IBM in Yorktown Heights, USA, he returned to ETH Zurich and was appointed Full Professor in 2008.
His research interests span both teaching and learning in higher education as well as ultrafast processes in solid-state physics, bridging cutting-edge research with educational innovation.
Andreas Vaterlaus is a Professor of Physics and Education and former Vice Rector for Curriculum Development at ETH Zurich (2012–2023), where he played a central role in shaping and advancing academic curricula across the institution.
He studied physics at ETH Zurich, where he also completed his doctoral degree at the Department of Physics. During his PhD, he investigated ultrafast demagnetization processes in magnetic materials. Following a postdoctoral stay at IBM in Yorktown Heights, USA, he returned to ETH Zurich and was appointed Full Professor in 2008.
His research interests span both teaching and learning in higher education as well as ultrafast processes in solid-state physics, bridging cutting-edge research with educational innovation.
What is transdisciplinarity – and what are its implications for academic education? This keynote provides a concise overview of the foundations, methods, risks and challenges of academic teaching beyond and across disciplines.
Thorsten Philipp is Associate Professor [Privatdozent] of Communication Studies, specialising in Political Communication, at TU Berlin. His work centres on strategically advancing university-wide educational projects that bridge academia with business, culture, politics and civil society. As a lecturer with a non-disciplinary agenda, his research examines pop music as a sounding board for environmental conflicts.
Thorsten Philipp is Associate Professor [Privatdozent] of Communication Studies, specialising in Political Communication, at TU Berlin. His work centres on strategically advancing university-wide educational projects that bridge academia with business, culture, politics and civil society. As a lecturer with a non-disciplinary agenda, his research examines pop music as a sounding board for environmental conflicts.
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 17:30 Afternoon Session / with Coffee Break 16:00 - 16:30
14:00 - 17:30 Afternoon Session / with Coffee Break 16:00 - 16:30
In this talk, I will share some personal reflections on teaching, learning, and the role of communication in academic life. Teaching is often described as the transmission of knowledge, but I see it also as a way of thinking: it forces us to identify the essential ideas, to understand where difficulties really lie, and to build bridges between intuition and formal language. Drawing on examples from my recent teaching and research, I will discuss how one can make abstract ideas more accessible, why confusion is often a necessary part of learning, and how teaching develops skills that are central not only in the classroom, but also in research and in one's broader career path.
Alessio Figalli is a Swiss-Italian mathematician, Fields-Medal Laureate, one of the leading figures in modern analysis and partial differential equations.
He earned his doctorate in 2007 under the supervision of Luigi Ambrosio at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa and Cédric Villani at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon. He was a faculty at the University of Texas-Austin, before moving to ETH Zürich in 2016 as a chaired professor. Since 2019 he is the director of the “FIM-Institute for Mathematical Research” at ETH Zürich.
Alessio Figalli is a Swiss-Italian mathematician, Fields-Medal Laureate, one of the leading figures in modern analysis and partial differential equations.
He earned his doctorate in 2007 under the supervision of Luigi Ambrosio at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa and Cédric Villani at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon. He was a faculty at the University of Texas-Austin, before moving to ETH Zürich in 2016 as a chaired professor. Since 2019 he is the director of the “FIM-Institute for Mathematical Research” at ETH Zürich.
I once believed I was a good teacher — until I realized my students were memorizing rather than truly understanding the material. Who was to blame? The students? The content? The painful truth was that the problem lay in my teaching approach. In this talk, I share how I came to that realization and how I transformed my methods to promote deeper engagement and learning. By shifting from lecturing to interactive questioning, I foster critical thinking and spark those elusive "Aha!" moments. These skills —essential for meaningful learning — are more important than ever in the age of AI, where understanding
and adaptability outpace rote recall.
Eric Mazur is the Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Harvard University and Member of the Faculty of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He served as Area Chair and Area Dean of Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences from 2010 until 2021 and Academic Dean from 2021 until 2024. Mazur is Chair of the Optica Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting students and early-career professionals in the field of optics and photonics, and Past President of Optica (formerly the Optical Society). Mazur is a prominent physicist known for his contributions in nanophotonics, an internationally recognized educational innovator, and a sought-after speaker. In education he is widely known for his work on Peer Instruction, an interactive teaching method aimed at engaging students in the classroom and beyond. In 2014 Mazur became the inaugural recipient of the Minerva Prize for Advancements in Higher Education. He has received many awards for his work in physics and in education, and has founded several successful companies. Mazur has widely published in peer-reviewed journals and holds numerous patents. He has also written extensively on education and is the author of Peer Instruction: A User's Manual (Prentice Hall, 1997), a book that explains how to teach large lecture classes interactively, and of the Principles and Practice of Physics (Pearson, 2015), a book that presents a groundbreaking new approach to teaching introductory calculus-based physics.
and adaptability outpace rote recall.
Eric Mazur is the Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Harvard University and Member of the Faculty of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He served as Area Chair and Area Dean of Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences from 2010 until 2021 and Academic Dean from 2021 until 2024. Mazur is Chair of the Optica Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting students and early-career professionals in the field of optics and photonics, and Past President of Optica (formerly the Optical Society). Mazur is a prominent physicist known for his contributions in nanophotonics, an internationally recognized educational innovator, and a sought-after speaker. In education he is widely known for his work on Peer Instruction, an interactive teaching method aimed at engaging students in the classroom and beyond. In 2014 Mazur became the inaugural recipient of the Minerva Prize for Advancements in Higher Education. He has received many awards for his work in physics and in education, and has founded several successful companies. Mazur has widely published in peer-reviewed journals and holds numerous patents. He has also written extensively on education and is the author of Peer Instruction: A User's Manual (Prentice Hall, 1997), a book that explains how to teach large lecture classes interactively, and of the Principles and Practice of Physics (Pearson, 2015), a book that presents a groundbreaking new approach to teaching introductory calculus-based physics.
Günther Dissertori is a professor of particle physics, since 2022 - a Rector of ETH Zurich.
He is widely recognized both, for his scientific contributions to experimental particle physics, particularly in experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, and for his role in shaping higher education in Switzerland and internationally.
He is widely recognized both, for his scientific contributions to experimental particle physics, particularly in experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, and for his role in shaping higher education in Switzerland and internationally.
17:30 - 22:30 Dinner with participatory Science Soirée with Thorsten-D. Künnemann & Dominique Rieder (Technorama) and Concert by BanduraGirl (Anastasiia Voytyuk)
Thorsten-D. Künnemann is a German biologist and science educator who has built his career around science communication and informal learning. Before joining Technorama, he worked in science education and outreach, focusing on making natural sciences more accessible and engaging to the public.
Since taking over as director, he has overseen Technorama’s development into one of Europe’s leading interactive science centers, known for its hands-on exhibits, laboratories, and outdoor experimental installations. Under his leadership, Technorama has strengthened its role as Switzerland’s largest out-of-school learning institution for science.
Since taking over as director, he has overseen Technorama’s development into one of Europe’s leading interactive science centers, known for its hands-on exhibits, laboratories, and outdoor experimental installations. Under his leadership, Technorama has strengthened its role as Switzerland’s largest out-of-school learning institution for science.
Anastasiia Voytyuk is asinger, bandurist, composer, and cultural ambassador dedicated to promoting Ukrainian folk traditions through contemporary music. A virtuoso of the bandura, she combines the instrument with diverse musical genres and international collaborations, performing across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America. She is the founder and leader of Troye Zillia, a folk-fusion ensemble that reimagines traditional Ukrainian songs through a blend of bandura, polyphonic singing, jazz, electronic, and world music influences. Her work bridges tradition and innovation, bringing Ukrainian culture to audiences worldwide.
Tuesday 16.06 PRACTICE workshops: Make It Real - Live It!
06:50 - 07:15 Morning Meditation (optional)
07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast
08:30 - 08:40 Warm-up
08:50 - 12:30 Morning Session / with Coffee Break 11:00 - 11:30
06:50 - 07:15 Morning Meditation (optional)
07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast
08:30 - 08:40 Warm-up
08:50 - 12:30 Morning Session / with Coffee Break 11:00 - 11:30
When artificial intelligence can generate answers, solve problems, and produce explanations on demand, the central challenge in science education is no longer simply how to deliver content. It is how to create ownership of learning.
In this talk, I will describe a project- and team-based course designed to give students responsibility for their own — and each other's — learning. The course has no standard lectures or exams. Instead, it uses team-based learning and authentic projects to promote active engagement, self-determination, and social responsibility for learning.
Students in this environment show significantly greater conceptual gains than in traditional settings, along with gains in self-efficacy, self-determination, metacognition, attendance, engagement, and course satisfaction. I will argue that in the age of AI, the goal is not to make learning "AI-proof," but to design experiences where students develop the motivation, judgment, collaboration, and reflective habits they need to learn deeply in a world shaped by AI.
Eric Mazur is the Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Harvard University and Member of the Faculty of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He served as Area Chair and Area Dean of Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences from 2010 until 2021 and Academic Dean from 2021 until 2024. Mazur is Chair of the Optica Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting students and early-career professionals in the field of optics and photonics, and Past President of Optica (formerly the Optical Society). Mazur is a prominent physicist known for his contributions in nanophotonics, an internationally recognized educational innovator, and a sought-after speaker. In education he is widely known for his work on Peer Instruction, an interactive teaching method aimed at engaging students in the classroom and beyond. In 2014 Mazur became the inaugural recipient of the Minerva Prize for Advancements in Higher Education. He has received many awards for his work in physics and in education, and has founded several successful companies. Mazur has widely published in peer-reviewed journals and holds numerous patents. He has also written extensively on education and is the author of Peer Instruction: A User's Manual (Prentice Hall, 1997), a book that explains how to teach large lecture classes interactively, and of the Principles and Practice of Physics (Pearson, 2015), a book that presents a groundbreaking new approach to teaching introductory calculus-based physics.
In this talk, I will describe a project- and team-based course designed to give students responsibility for their own — and each other's — learning. The course has no standard lectures or exams. Instead, it uses team-based learning and authentic projects to promote active engagement, self-determination, and social responsibility for learning.
Students in this environment show significantly greater conceptual gains than in traditional settings, along with gains in self-efficacy, self-determination, metacognition, attendance, engagement, and course satisfaction. I will argue that in the age of AI, the goal is not to make learning "AI-proof," but to design experiences where students develop the motivation, judgment, collaboration, and reflective habits they need to learn deeply in a world shaped by AI.
Eric Mazur is the Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Harvard University and Member of the Faculty of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He served as Area Chair and Area Dean of Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences from 2010 until 2021 and Academic Dean from 2021 until 2024. Mazur is Chair of the Optica Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting students and early-career professionals in the field of optics and photonics, and Past President of Optica (formerly the Optical Society). Mazur is a prominent physicist known for his contributions in nanophotonics, an internationally recognized educational innovator, and a sought-after speaker. In education he is widely known for his work on Peer Instruction, an interactive teaching method aimed at engaging students in the classroom and beyond. In 2014 Mazur became the inaugural recipient of the Minerva Prize for Advancements in Higher Education. He has received many awards for his work in physics and in education, and has founded several successful companies. Mazur has widely published in peer-reviewed journals and holds numerous patents. He has also written extensively on education and is the author of Peer Instruction: A User's Manual (Prentice Hall, 1997), a book that explains how to teach large lecture classes interactively, and of the Principles and Practice of Physics (Pearson, 2015), a book that presents a groundbreaking new approach to teaching introductory calculus-based physics.
This workshop explores the psychological mechanisms that shape how we automatically notice differences, form impressions, and define "us" versus "them." Drawing on social psychology and unconscious bias research, we will examine how categorization, confirmation bias, and group identity influence communication, collaboration, and inclusion in international and academic environments. Through short exercises and discussion, participants will discover why our brains prefer quick judgments over complex understanding, and how greater awareness can support more open, reflective, and conscious interactions.
Katarzyna Stankiewicz is a psychologist working as a professor at the Faculty of Management and Economics at the Gdańsk University of Technology, where she teaches courses in organizational behavior, management psychology, and communication. She is also an MBA lecturer and tutor, working with professionals and international student groups in interdisciplinary and multicultural settings. Her interests focus on the psychological mechanisms shaping group dynamics, diversity, and collaboration, particularly in entrepreneurial and innovation-oriented environments. She combines academic research with experience in international teaching and educational cooperation projects.
Katarzyna Stankiewicz is a psychologist working as a professor at the Faculty of Management and Economics at the Gdańsk University of Technology, where she teaches courses in organizational behavior, management psychology, and communication. She is also an MBA lecturer and tutor, working with professionals and international student groups in interdisciplinary and multicultural settings. Her interests focus on the psychological mechanisms shaping group dynamics, diversity, and collaboration, particularly in entrepreneurial and innovation-oriented environments. She combines academic research with experience in international teaching and educational cooperation projects.
This workshop provides an experiential introduction to teaching project skills, based on a hands-on building activity that creates a context for collaboration while introducing constraints that simulate authentic teamwork challenges and foster constructive, psychologically safe team environments. Psychological safety refers to a climate in which people feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and offering feedback without fear of negative consequences. Teams with high psychological safety consistently outperform those with low psychological safety. Equipping students with skills to promote a constructive team climate enables them to achieve better results and foster a more constructive environment through increased inquiry (seeking information) and listening (demonstrating care for others) behaviours.
Siara Isaac, PhD, is based at EPFL in Switzerland where she teaches transferable skills, designs evaluations and investigates learning. Her recent work includes Facilitating Experiential Learning in Higher Education https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003107606 and Teaching Transversal Skills for Engineering Students https://doi.org/10.55430/SJYVJ3TP24. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1527-8510
Siara Isaac, PhD, is based at EPFL in Switzerland where she teaches transferable skills, designs evaluations and investigates learning. Her recent work includes Facilitating Experiential Learning in Higher Education https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003107606 and Teaching Transversal Skills for Engineering Students https://doi.org/10.55430/SJYVJ3TP24. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1527-8510
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 17:30 Communication afternoon / with Coffee break 16:00 - 16:30
14:00 - 17:30 Communication afternoon / with Coffee break 16:00 - 16:30
This workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of storytelling and its role in effective science communication. It begins by exploring what constitutes a story and why stories are powerful tools for capturing attention, conveying information and enhancing memory. Participants will learn about the core structure of a story, from minimal narrative frameworks to more complex classical storytelling models. Key elements will be examined, along with common archetypes and their relevance in scientific contexts. The workshop emphasizes practical application, guiding participants on how to transform scientific content into compelling narratives. Real world examples will demonstrate successful approaches, and participants will receive actionable tips for integrating AI tools into their storytelling process.
Mirko Bischofberger is an expert in science communication with more than 20 years of experience, founder of Science Studios. He's a lecturer at EPFL, ETH Zurich, University of Basel and University of Zurich. Mirko studied molecular biology and specialised in computational biology during his PhD. After working for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung and the Swiss Parliament, he joined the SNSF and EPFL. He has won numerous communication grants and awards and works for several funding agencies such as the ERC, the SNSF and the FWF.
Mirko Bischofberger is an expert in science communication with more than 20 years of experience, founder of Science Studios. He's a lecturer at EPFL, ETH Zurich, University of Basel and University of Zurich. Mirko studied molecular biology and specialised in computational biology during his PhD. After working for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung and the Swiss Parliament, he joined the SNSF and EPFL. He has won numerous communication grants and awards and works for several funding agencies such as the ERC, the SNSF and the FWF.
Time is precious - especially of those that may give you money or resources for your project or your potential start-up. In this workshop we will try to simplify your story, but still get all the needed points across so decision makers and investors can make an informed decision within 90 seconds. After a short introduction we will practice our pitches in small groups and see who will come up with the most convincing pitch!
Michael Kropac is founder and Co-director of Cewas – the world's first organisation dedicated to supporting impact-oriented water and sanitation entrepreneurs across the globe. In its entrepreneurship programmes, cewas offers services at all entrepreneurial growth stages, from early-stage ideation, incubation, acceleration, to scaling businesses from thousands to millions of customers. Michael has been working with cewas ever since it started in 2010 as its Co-director, innovator, facilitator and coach. Michael is a Geographer with minors in Business Administration and Transdisciplinary Environmental Sciences. He is also a Senior Partner of seecon, a Swiss consulting company developing innovations in the field of sustainable development.
Michael Kropac is founder and Co-director of Cewas – the world's first organisation dedicated to supporting impact-oriented water and sanitation entrepreneurs across the globe. In its entrepreneurship programmes, cewas offers services at all entrepreneurial growth stages, from early-stage ideation, incubation, acceleration, to scaling businesses from thousands to millions of customers. Michael has been working with cewas ever since it started in 2010 as its Co-director, innovator, facilitator and coach. Michael is a Geographer with minors in Business Administration and Transdisciplinary Environmental Sciences. He is also a Senior Partner of seecon, a Swiss consulting company developing innovations in the field of sustainable development.
This interactive workshop explores what really shapes difficult conversations and negotiations beyond techniques alone. Drawing on psychology, non-verbal communication, group dynamics and real-world leadership experience, participants will explore how presence, emotional regulation, framing and interpersonal signals influence outcomes, often more than logic itself. Through short practical exercises and live interaction, participants will experiment with tools for handling tension, communicating with clarity, navigating power dynamics and building influence in high-stakes academic and professional environments. The session is designed to be highly participative, reflective and immediately applicable to everyday interactions.
Carl Emerson is a leadership and organisational development consultant working with leaders, researchers and senior professionals across academia, healthcare and industry. His work focuses on communication, influence, leadership psychology, team dynamics and difficult conversations. He has designed and delivered workshops for international leadership programmes, scientific organisations and professional development initiatives, with a style that combines psychological insight, practical application and high participant interaction. Carl's background integrates organisational development, communication training and behavioural psychology, with particular interest in the often-unseen dynamics that shape human interaction, trust and influence.
Carl Emerson is a leadership and organisational development consultant working with leaders, researchers and senior professionals across academia, healthcare and industry. His work focuses on communication, influence, leadership psychology, team dynamics and difficult conversations. He has designed and delivered workshops for international leadership programmes, scientific organisations and professional development initiatives, with a style that combines psychological insight, practical application and high participant interaction. Carl's background integrates organisational development, communication training and behavioural psychology, with particular interest in the often-unseen dynamics that shape human interaction, trust and influence.
18:00 - 19:00 Dinner
19:00 - 22:00 Creativity Evening
19:00 - 22:00 Creativity Evening
This tango workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of Argentine tango in a welcoming and accessible way. No prior dance experience is required. Participants will learn basic posture, connection, walking technique, and simple partner movements, with a focus on musicality and communication through movement. The workshop emphasizes comfort, improvisation, and building confidence on the dance floor, offering a first insight into the shared language of tango.
Eugenia Parrilla is an Argentine-born tango dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Trained in classical ballet, contemporary dance, and music in Argentina, she later specialized in Argentine tango and developed an international career performing and teaching worldwide. She is known for her expressive, musical, and highly technical dance style and has collaborated with several leading tango partners on the global festival circuit.
Yanick Wyler is a Swiss tango dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Zürich. With a background in design and crafts, he discovered Argentine tango in Buenos Aires in the early 2000s and later dedicated himself to professional dance and teaching. Together with Eugenia Parrilla, he performs and teaches internationally, known for a precise, analytical, and creative approach to tango movement.
Eugenia Parrilla is an Argentine-born tango dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Trained in classical ballet, contemporary dance, and music in Argentina, she later specialized in Argentine tango and developed an international career performing and teaching worldwide. She is known for her expressive, musical, and highly technical dance style and has collaborated with several leading tango partners on the global festival circuit.
Yanick Wyler is a Swiss tango dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Zürich. With a background in design and crafts, he discovered Argentine tango in Buenos Aires in the early 2000s and later dedicated himself to professional dance and teaching. Together with Eugenia Parrilla, he performs and teaches internationally, known for a precise, analytical, and creative approach to tango movement.
This is a hands-on vocal workshop where participants will learn and sing simple traditional Ukrainian songs. Together, we will explore the foundations of discovering your natural voice and learn a few beautiful folk melodies from Ukraine.
The experience is designed to be warm, engaging, and accessible — singing engages the whole person: body, mind, and soul.
The workshop is open to everyone, whether you already enjoy singing or have never tried it before. No musical background or knowledge of Ukrainian is required. The session will be held in English, and all songs will be taught in Ukrainian using English transliteration.
Anastasiia Voytyuk is a singer, bandurist, composer, and cultural ambassador dedicated to promoting Ukrainian folk traditions through contemporary music. A virtuoso of the bandura, she combines the instrument with diverse musical genres and international collaborations, performing across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America. She is the founder and leader of Troye Zillia, a folk-fusion ensemble that reimagines traditional Ukrainian songs through a blend of bandura, polyphonic singing, jazz, electronic, and world music influences. Her work bridges tradition and innovation, bringing Ukrainian culture to audiences worldwide.
The experience is designed to be warm, engaging, and accessible — singing engages the whole person: body, mind, and soul.
The workshop is open to everyone, whether you already enjoy singing or have never tried it before. No musical background or knowledge of Ukrainian is required. The session will be held in English, and all songs will be taught in Ukrainian using English transliteration.
Anastasiia Voytyuk is a singer, bandurist, composer, and cultural ambassador dedicated to promoting Ukrainian folk traditions through contemporary music. A virtuoso of the bandura, she combines the instrument with diverse musical genres and international collaborations, performing across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and North America. She is the founder and leader of Troye Zillia, a folk-fusion ensemble that reimagines traditional Ukrainian songs through a blend of bandura, polyphonic singing, jazz, electronic, and world music influences. Her work bridges tradition and innovation, bringing Ukrainian culture to audiences worldwide.
In this workshop, participants will draw on small ceramic pieces under the supervision of artists from the PaintItEasy Center. Their pieces will then be collected, fired, and sent back to their creators as a nice memory.
Wednesday 17.06 / The Final Word
07:30 - 08:40 Check-out
07:30 - 08:40 Breakfast
08:40 - 08:50 Warm-up
07:30 - 08:40 Check-out
07:30 - 08:40 Breakfast
08:40 - 08:50 Warm-up
University teachers often make hidden assumptions about students' prior knowledge, confidence, constraints, or participation. In this hands-on workshop, you will identify common assumptions, turn them into testable questions, design inclusive ways to gather evidence, and plan concrete teaching actions that transparently respond to what they learn. Although designed for a teaching setting, these strategies can be used in broader situations including working in and managing teams.
Joelyn de Lima is a scientist and pedagogical advisor at EPFL, where she works at the intersection of engineering education research, faculty development, and institutional practice. With a background spanning the natural sciences, education research, and teaching across three continents, she brings a pragmatic, evidence-based approach to diversity and inclusion in engineering. She is co-chair of SEFI's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Special Interest Group and currently serves as SEFI's Person of Trust. Her recent work examines inclusion in engineering classrooms, conferences, and informal engineering spaces, and she has advised academic conferences across multiple fields on turning data into concrete, actionable improvements. At EPFL, she also designs educator training on inclusive teaching and on addressing discrimination and harassment in academic settings.
Joelyn de Lima is a scientist and pedagogical advisor at EPFL, where she works at the intersection of engineering education research, faculty development, and institutional practice. With a background spanning the natural sciences, education research, and teaching across three continents, she brings a pragmatic, evidence-based approach to diversity and inclusion in engineering. She is co-chair of SEFI's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Special Interest Group and currently serves as SEFI's Person of Trust. Her recent work examines inclusion in engineering classrooms, conferences, and informal engineering spaces, and she has advised academic conferences across multiple fields on turning data into concrete, actionable improvements. At EPFL, she also designs educator training on inclusive teaching and on addressing discrimination and harassment in academic settings.
10:00 - 10:30 Summarizing reflective practice / Pleun Hermsen (TU Delft)
10:30 - 11:00 Closing round
11:00 Coffee break, pick-up of take-away lunch
11:00 Departure / hike (self-organized, optional)
10:30 - 11:00 Closing round
11:00 Coffee break, pick-up of take-away lunch
11:00 Departure / hike (self-organized, optional)
EPT core team
Venue
The Mattli Antoniushaus Morschach is located in the Stoos-Muota Valley region. It is built directly on the rock of a mountain, with a wonderful view over lake Lucerne and the Rütli.
Famous for it‘s beautiful surroundings, the region offers a wide variety of activities, including: the Swiss Path around the Lake of Uri, ridge hiking trail, moor experience trail, mountain inn trail and alpine cheese trail on the Stoos, Dachsen Trail and natural rock climbing wall in Morschach, bike trail through the Ingenbohl forest, in the Muotathal joke trail, husky camp, Hölloch, Bödmeren primeval forest and Glattalp as well as the Swiss Holidaypark in Morschach, museums in Schwyz and much more as bad weather options.
Famous for it‘s beautiful surroundings, the region offers a wide variety of activities, including: the Swiss Path around the Lake of Uri, ridge hiking trail, moor experience trail, mountain inn trail and alpine cheese trail on the Stoos, Dachsen Trail and natural rock climbing wall in Morschach, bike trail through the Ingenbohl forest, in the Muotathal joke trail, husky camp, Hölloch, Bödmeren primeval forest and Glattalp as well as the Swiss Holidaypark in Morschach, museums in Schwyz and much more as bad weather options.
Contact:
Dr. Vira Bondar
Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics
HPK G 29
Otto-Stern-Weg 5
8093 Zürich
Switzerland
bondarv@phys.ethz.ch
Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics
HPK G 29
Otto-Stern-Weg 5
8093 Zürich
Switzerland
bondarv@phys.ethz.ch