The main vehicles for achieving this are the Research Clusters. We have defined three key research areas that will not only allow us to enhance interaction among ENAC institutes, but that will create interfaces with other faculties at EPFL, as well as with other universities, industry and public authorities. The three research clusters that we will develop in the future are: (i) climate change anticipation, mitigation and adaptation; (ii) digitalization of infrastructure and cities; and (iii) sustainable territories. Furthermore, we will also aim to develop technologies for fundamental utility services across these three research areas. We hope to inform you about the exciting developments of these three clusters next year!
Let me also welcome our new faculty members at ENAC. In 2019, we had the pleasure of hiring top-flight scientists in environmental engineering and architecture. Julia Schmale will reinforce EPFL’s expertise in extreme environments as a tenure-track assistant professor based in EPFL Valais Wallis. With her innovative work in biodiversity and the acclimatization of forests and plants to climate change, Charlotte Grossiord, also appointed as a tenure-track assistant professor, will work in collaboration with the Federal Research Institute WSL. Jo Taillieu and Eric Lapierre, both appointed as associate professors, will offer our students in architecture new approaches inspired by their internationally renowned work and their careers as critics and architects. In terms of promotions, Stéphane Joost at LASIG was promoted to senior scientist (MER).
We are also proud that our researchers received prestigious awards in 2019. Yves Weinand won the “Grand Prix d’Architecture de Wallonie”; Franz Graf was named a “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres” by the French government; Andreas Schüler’s group was awarded the “Watt d’Or 2019”; and Anna Carratala Ripollès received the International Geneva Award, organized by the Swiss Network for International Studies.
Finally, we look forward to sharing ENAC’s achievements in 2019 with you and wish you an enjoyable read!
Claudia R. Binder
Dean ENAC