Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology explained

Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Native Name Lang:de
Established:1936[1]
Type:Public
Budget:79.358 million CHF (2015)[2]
Director:Martin Ackermann
Academic Staff:~ 370 (2015)[3]
Administrative Staff:~ 130 (2015)
City:Dübendorf
State:ZH
Country:Switzerland
Campus:Dübendorf and Kastanienbaum
Former Name:EAWAG

The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag, German acronym for Eidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz) is a Swiss water research institute and an internationally networked institution. As part of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Domain, it is an institution of the Federal Department of Home Affairs of the Swiss Confederation. The Eawag is based in Dübendorf near Zurich and Kastanienbaum near Lucerne.

After its foundation in 1936 it concentrated on wastewater treatment and drinking water supplies. From these beginnings it has expanded into a multidisciplinary research institute with a focus on three primary research areas: water as a foundation of health and well-being, water as an essential factor in the functioning of our ecological systems, and strategies for the mitigation of water use conflicts. Nowadays, with a staff of over 500 employees, Eawag is actively engaged in research, teaching and consulting in all areas pertaining to water. Eawag's overall aim is to ensure the sustainable use of water resources and infrastructure and to harmonize the ecological, economic and social interests associated with bodies of water. In doing so, the Eawag plays an important role in bridging research and practice.

History

The Eawag was founded in 1936 as an advisory board of the ETH Zurich for wastewater treatment and drinking water supplies.[4] Less than ten years later this information center officially becomes the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (or EAWAG as per its German acronym) whose mission is increasingly devoted to developing integrated approaches to water management and protection: besides being key to implementing the first water management regulation in 1957, the institute later demonstrated that the growth of green algae that plagued Swiss lakes at the time was mostly due to the release of detergent-derived phosphates. These were finally banned in 1985.[5]

The institute grew through the 1960s and 1970s: first came the Kastanienbaum hydrobiological research centre,[6] followed in 1968 by WHO's recently created International Reference Centre for Waste Disposal, out of which the current Department for Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec) emerged.[7]

In 1970 Eawag, until then an institute within ETH Zurich becomes an affiliated institute within the ETH system, moving a few months later in their new premises in Dübendorf.[8] In 1993, a new law sets it as an independent water research institute within the ETH domain. In 2004 the Fishing Information Centre FIBER, in 2008 the Water Agenda 21 and the Ecotox Centre, and in 2010 the centres of excellence CEEB and CCDW were founded.[9] In 2007 Eawag moved to the Forum Chriesbach, itself a winner of several environmental awards.[10]

Activities

Research

As a water research institute Eawag has three major focus areas:

Safe drinking water supply and wastewater disposal are essential to maintain human welfare. Eawag research projects aim to develop optimum approaches and strategies to meet future threats caused by increasing contamination, population growth, and climate change.

The increasing pressure of civilisation has a negative influence on the water environment and ecosystems. Developing strategies and measures to both strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of ecosystems. Maintaining a sustainable provision of ecosystem services is another focus of Eawag research.

Water use conflicts arise when direct human needs for water and the prevention of negative impacts on ecosystems have to be accommodated at the same time. Eawag research projects develop integrated approaches and put specific emphasis on strategies to meet energy concerns in the context of trade-offs and competing demands.The Eawag has twelve research departments, where research is conducted by natural and social scientists and engineers. This combination permits a wide range of water research. These departments are:[11]

Together with external partners and various Eawag departments, the Eawag directs and participates in interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary projects in order to combine pure research with practical problem-solving.

Teaching

Eawag Directors (1936 – today)[12] !!Tenure
Willy von Gonzenbach & Eugene Meyer-Peter1936–1946
Ulrich Corti1946–1952
Otto Jaag1952–1970
Werner Stumm1970–1992
Alexander J.B. Zehnder1992–2004
Ulrich Bundi (ad interim)2004–2007
Janet Hering2007–
The Eawag supports universities in educating undergraduate and doctoral candidates in the natural, engineering and social sciences. Numerous master's students and doctoral candidates from within the country and from abroad are supervised and guided in projects pertaining to water research every year. In addition, approximately 26 apprentices are trained in laboratory, commercial or IT-related areas. Furthermore, the Eawag offers specialists in water resources management, administration and science regular courses in further education (PEAK – practice oriented Eawag courses). The courses are based on current research work and experience and help to promote communication exchanges of knowledge and experience between research and practice. In the area of further education, six research scholarships are granted to undergraduate and doctoral candidates from developing countries each year within the framework of the Partnership Program for Developing Countries (EPP).

Consulting

The Eawag carries out various advisory mandates both inland and abroad including, for example, for the Swiss Confederation, Cantons and NGOs. Eawag specialists sit as experts in numerous national and international boards and committees. The Eawag aquatic research institute is, moreover, home to various specialist advisory centres:

Awards

Eawag researchers have received national and international awards for their achievements. The most important awards include:

The Otto Jaag Water Protection Prize was set up in 1980 in order to honor dissertations and master's theses at the ETH Zurich in the area of water protection and hydrology. Numerous young Eawag researchers have been recipients of this award since then.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History. 2017. 11 February 2017.
  2. Web site: Geschäftsbericht 2015 . Eawag.
  3. Web site: ETH domain in brief . ETH Board . 19, 22 .
  4. Web site: zueriost.ch: 75 Jahre im Einsatz für gesundes Wasser. Schlegel. Rita. zueriost.ch. de. 2017-02-14.
  5. Web site: Eawag: 75 Jahre Wasserforschung. Carle. Claudia. 22 June 2011. www.espazium.ch. 2017-02-14.
  6. Web site: Gute Ingenieure und Techniker für Wasserforschung und -technologie. Knoblauch. Urs. 12 September 2011. www.zeit-fragen.ch. de. https://web.archive.org/web/20170215031726/http://www.zeit-fragen.ch/de/ausgaben/2011/nr-37-vom-1292011/gute-ingenieure-und-techniker-fuer-wasserforschung-und-technologie.html. 2017-02-15. dead. 2017-02-14.
  7. Dean. R.B.. 1982. Waste Management & Research. 1. 1. 100–102. 10.1177/0734242x8300100111. Reports and Reviews: Book Review. 208624360.
  8. Web site: History - Eawag. www.eawag.ch. en-GB. 2017-02-14.
  9. Web site: 75 years Eawag - Aquatic research and water protection: ongoing challenges. June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20170215202822/http://library.eawag.ch/EAWAG-Publications/openaccess/Without_EAWAG_number/eawagnews/en_70e_bryner.pdf. 2017-02-15. dead. 2017-02-15.
  10. Book: Wentz, Daniel. Eawag Forum Chriesbach, Switzerland - Research center in Switzerland. 2007. LafargeHolcim Foundation website. LafargeHolcim Foundation. 978-3-7266-0079-2. 2017-02-15.
  11. Web site: Organisation - Eawag. www.eawag.ch. en-GB. 2017-02-15.
  12. Web site: Eawag: past, present and future. Bryner. Andri. Nast. Matthias. 2011. Eawag.
  13. News: ETH Council 2013 Annual report. April 2014. 77.
  14. Web site: Der Wasserwirtschaft auf der Spur. 2016-12-05. www.infowilplus.ch. 2017-02-15.
  15. Web site: Die Schweiz engagiert sich für Zusammenarbeit im Wasserbereich. 2013-03-21. soaktuell.ch. de. 2017-02-15.
  16. Web site: SODIS Method Makes Safe Drinking Water in Six Hours. Meyers. Glenn. 2011-07-05. CleanTechnica. 2017-02-15.
  17. Web site: Eaux usées: l'ozone est un bon moyen d'éliminer les micropolluants. 2009-06-16. www.bfe.admin.ch. Federal Office for the Environment. fr. 2017-02-15.
  18. Web site: VSA-Plattform "Wasserqualität" ist gut gestartet. www.myscience.ch. 29 June 2016. de. 2017-02-15.
  19. News: Kilham Memorial Lectures - International Society of Limnology (SIL). International Society of Limnology (SIL). 2017-02-15. en-US.
  20. Web site: Moroccan wins the prestigious Energy Globe Award. 2016-05-23. Morocco Media. 2017-02-15.
  21. Web site: Sabine Hoffmann wins transdisciplinarity award. 2015-09-10. www.nrp61.ch. National Research Program. en. 2017-02-20.
  22. Web site: Janet Hering, "Distinguished Women in Chemistry 2015". 2015-08-21. www.usys.ethz.ch. en. 2017-02-15.
  23. Web site: Harvey M. Rosen Memorial Award für Lisa Salhi und Urs von Gunten. 2015-07-09. www.myscience.ch. en. 2017-02-15.
  24. Web site: Catherine Wagner erhält den Theodosius-Dobzhansky-Preis. 2015-06-30. www.myscience.ch. en. 2017-02-15.
  25. Web site: Blue Diversion - Awards. 2014-09-30. Blue Diversion Toilet. 2017-02-20.
  26. Web site: Blue Diversion - Awards. 2014-03-11. Blue Diversion Toilet. 2017-02-20.
  27. Web site: Swiss Researchers invent a new Toilet. 2012-08-15. www.admin.ch. Swiss Federal Council. en. 2017-02-15.
  28. News: Hohe Auszeichnung für Martin Wegelin. 2012-11-22. 2017-02-15. de.
  29. News: IWA Development Solutions Award. IWA Annual review 2011. 2017-02-15. yumpu.com.
  30. Web site: International award for the joint project of Eawag and Wasserversorgung Zürich. 2010-08-26. www.admin.ch. Swiss Federal Council. en. 2017-02-15.
  31. Web site: Credit Suisse Award for Best Teaching. www.ethz.ch. en. 2017-02-15.
  32. Web site: Winners of the 2007 Watt d'Or awards. 2007-01-09. www.bfe.admin.ch. Swiss Federal Office of Energy. en. 2017-02-15.
  33. Web site: Preis für Europas höchstgelegene Kläranlage. Gesundheitsschutz und Umwelttechnik. 2017-02-15.
  34. Web site: Bedeutender Umweltpreis geht an die EAWAG. 2004-12-15. www.naturalsciences.ch. Sciences Switzerland. en. 2017-02-15.
  35. News: 1999 - Stockholm International Water Institute. SIWI. Stockholm International Water Institute. 2017-02-15. en-US.
  36. Grant. Shermonta L.. 1999-04-13. Stumm and Morgan Receive 1999 Stockholm Water Prize. EOS. 80, n°15. 15. 167. 10.1029/99EO00121. 1999EOSTr..80..167G.
  37. Web site: Marcel Benoist Prize - 1990 Winners & Nominees. awardsandwinners.com. en. 2017-02-15.