Public Lecture: The Sustainable Development Goals in Context
The lecture series “The Sustainable Development Goals in Context” blends cutting-edge research with real-world insights to explore the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.
What are the major challenges and chances related to sustainable development? How does research at ETH Zurich and practice contribute to it?
The lecture series features a dynamic and engaging format where innovative ideas for driving social change and technological advancement are explored. Challenges encountered in addressing the SDGs can be reflected upon.
Co-organised by ETH Sustainability, ETH for Development and NADEL, students from all disciplines as well as external guests get the opportunity to gather and explore pressing global issues through an interdisciplinary lens.
REGISTRATION OPEN for the sixth edition:
16 September to 09 December 2025
Are you an ETH student?
If you would like to enroll to get credit points, please REGISTER for this course 851-0654-00L The Sustainable Development Goals in Context to get access to the Moodle.
Are you a guest?
If you would like to attend the Public Lecture Series as a guest, please REGISTER via the form.
Programme of the Sixth Edition
The programm for the sixth edition of the SDG lecture Series is currently being finalised. The website is continually being updated, so stay tuned!
Introduction to the SDGs and Global Inequalities
Tuesday, 16 September 2024
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Isabel Günther
Professor of Development Economics (D-GESS, ETH Zürich)
Food System Sustainability - Challenges and Actions
Tuesday, 23 September 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Scientific perspective
Alexander Mathys
Professor of Sustainable Food Processing Laboratory (D-HEST, ETH Zurich)
Practitioner's perspective
Jay O'Nien
Sustainability Officer at Bühler Group
Subject TBD
Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Location TBD, 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Scientific perspective
Allard Duursma
Associate Professor in Conflict Management and International Relations (D-GESS, ETH Zurich)
Practitioner's perspective
TBD
Subject TBD
Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Location TBD, 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Scientific perspective
TBD
Practitioner's perspective
TBD
Subject TBD
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Location TBD, 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Scientific perspective
John Lygeros
Professor for Computation and Control (D-ITET, ETH Zurich)
Practitioner's perspective
Arnaud Henin
Managing director at Gommyr Power Networks
Social cost of climate change - application in Switzerland
Tuesday, 28 october 2025
Online, Zoom, 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Scientific perspective
Moritz Drupp
Professor for Sustainability Economics (D-METC, ETH Zurich)
Practitioner's perspective
Nicole Mathys
Adjunct professor at University of Neuchâtel with long track record in Swiss Federal Administration
Subject TBD
Tuesday, 04 November 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Scientific perspective
Kristin Shea
Professor for Engineering Design and Computing in Mechanical and Processing Engineering (D-MAVT, ETH Zurich)
Scientific perspective
Melanie Zeilinger
Associate Professor of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT, ETH Zurich)
Practioner's perspective
Michael Hobbins
Head of Unit Research, Quality and Development at SloidarMed
Subject TBD
Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Location TBD, 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Scientific perspective
Erich Fischer
Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Scinece (D-USYS, ETH Zurich)
Practitioner's perspective
Regula von Büren
Head of Education for Switzerland, myClimate
Subject TBD
Tuesday, 18 November 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Scientific perspective
Gonzalo Guillén Gosálbez
Professor in Chemical Systems Engineering (D-CHEM, ETH Zurich)
Practitioner's perspective
Rao Fu
Head of Corporate Sustainability Consulting at EBP Zürich
The SDGs beyond 2030
Keynote
Tuesday, 2 December 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET
Scientific perspective
Janet Hering
Professor Emeritus at the Department of Environemntal Systems Science (D-USYS, ETH Zürich), Co-Chair of Sustainable Development Solution Network Switzerland
Panelist
Isabelle Gómez
Deputy Delegate of the Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
Panelist
Maria Stoll
Scientific Officer in Sustainable Development (Federal Office for Spatial Development)
Previous editions
Five editions of the Public Lecture Series "The Sustainable Development Goals in Context" were organised in the spring semesters 2020, 2021, 2022, and autumn semester 2023 and 2024. They were organized by D-USYS in cooperation with ETH Sustainability, ETH4D and NADEL.
Previous programmes
- Download Programme of the Fifth Edition (Autumn Semester 2024) (PDF, 220 KB)
- Download Programme of the Fourth Edition (Autumn Semester 2023) (PDF, 149 KB)
- Download Programme of the Third Edition (Spring Semester 2022) (PDF, 139 KB)
- Download Programme of the First Edition (Spring Semester 2020) (PDF, 1.5 MB)