Outreach
Members of the department engage regularly in a broad range of outreach activities including science fairs and public lectures.
Ongoing activities
Scientifica
Since 2011, ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich have been opening their main buildings for one weekend in the month of September for the general public to see science 'where it happens'. Each year, external pageScientifica focusses on a different theme that is researched across disciplines in both universities.
National Future Day
The physics department, with its vocational training programmes, plays a leading role within ETH Zurich when it comes to this yearly appointment ("Zukunftstag" in German), which is designed to allow schoolchildren to peek into different career paths for a day. Updated information on this event can be found on the National Future Day at ETH Zurich page.
Travelling Circus – Physics Experiments to Borrow
The goal of this project is to make experimental setups compact and easy to transport and set up in various locations. The experiments can be used by ETH lecturers and by high-school teachers who wish to show specific experiments in their classes. The setups are also available for exhibitions and for individuals working on projects with physics experiments. More details are found on the Travelling Circus page.
Wolfgang Pauli Lectures
Each year, the Wolfgang Pauli Lectures present a topic in physics, mathematics or biology. Since 1962, the lectures have been given by many eminent speakers. The event is named after theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate Wolfgang Pauli, who was a professor at ETH Zurich from 1928 until his death in 1958.
Paul Bernays Lectures
The Paul Bernays Lectures are an annual three-part honorary lecture series about the philosophy of the exact sciences. The event was established in honor of eminent logician, mathematician and philosopher of logic and mathematics Paul Bernays, who worked at ETH from 1933 until 1959.
Past events
The Long Night of the Zurich Museums
In 2023, members of the department took part in this event with a public lecture about light and colours. Several experiments were designed to fascinate and surprise the audience. Read more about the event in this news article.
Night of Physics
In 2022, the department welcomed visitors young and old for a close encounter with the wonderful world of physics. Learn more about the event on the Night of Physics 2022 page.
Do you have questions about a recurring event listed here or would like to discuss a new outreach initiative? Get in touch with the D-PHYS Communication group.