FEBRUARY 16

EPFL - Forum Rolex | 1pm - 2:15pm
Registration required, in French

Aux frontières du cosmos

Ersilia Vaudo
Astrophysicist by training, Chief Diversity Officer at ESA

A journey into the heart of the revolutions that shaped the history of astrophysics
From the fall of an apple to the imprint of a robot on a comet, Aux frontières du cosmos (Quanto) retraces the key moments when humanity pierced the veil of the sky. With the precision of a scientist and the grace of a storyteller, Ersilia Vaudo brings to life the foundational discoveries of astrophysics: Newton’s universal gravitation, Einstein’s absolute speed of light, Hubble’s revelation of the expanding Universe, the existence of antimatter and the still‑unresolved mysteries of the cosmos.

Trained as an astrophysicist, she reminds us that scientific revolutions are not only intellectual leaps: they are steps into the unknown—shifts in our understanding of reality that allow us, each time, to better grasp the world we belong to.

She will be at EPFL on Monday, February 16, to present her research, her book and her career, during this talk given in French. 

FEBRUARY 26

EPFL - Forum Rolex | 6pm - 8pm
Registration required, in French

Une vie d'explorations entre étoiles, ciel et abysses

Gaëlle Giesen
Engineer at CNES, expert in space exploration missions, high-level diver and parachutist and Alumni Award 2025

Introduction by Claude Nicollier, Astronaut, Honorary Professor, EPFL

Current technology makes it possible to explore the various environments of our planet, from high altitudes to the depths of the ocean, as well as the celestial bodies of our solar system, in order to unravel the greatest mysteries of the universe. Likewise, space probes have enabled us to discover thousands of exoplanets—distant extraterrestrial worlds that could harbour life and about which there is still so much to learn.

But how can humans explore the extreme environments of our planet, in water and in the air? What techniques are used to probe extraterrestrial worlds and search for the origins of life? And what do space missions, technical diving and parachuting have in common?

MARCH 4

EPFL - CO 2 | 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Registration required, in French

9 Lies About Entrepreneurship

Steve Anavi
Co-Founder of Qonto, a Digital Financial Services Company for Professionals and Alumni Award 2025

Lessons From Building a Unicorn
Entrepreneurship is often shrouded in myths. Drawing from personal and concrete experience, this lecture deconstructs 9 common misconceptions - from the 'revolutionary idea' to the famous 'founder's freedom.' No magic formulas, no academic theories. The goal is to share raw insights from the field: what it actually takes to get started, to endure over time and to build something that works in the real world. And who knows? It might just give you the push to take the leap!

MARCH 5 and 7

EPFL - Rolex Learning Center
Free entry, but registration required for some activities
In English and in French

Les Journées de la Durabilité

EPFL is organising our first edition of the Sustainability Days, centred around the theme "Innovate and Take Action for a Sustainable Future".

Saturday 7^th March, will be dedicated to the general public. Throughout this day, a wide range of activities will be offered, including conferences, cafés scientifiques, exhibitions, guided tours, discovery stands, and workshops for children. Come and discover how research, education, and innovation at EPFL are helping to build a sustainable future and address the global challenges facing our societies.

• March 5: Inaugural conference
• (March 6:  Day for the EPFL Community)
• March 7: Day for the general public

MARCH 5

EPFL - Forum Rolex | 6pm - 7:30pm
Registration required, in English

When AI Meets Sustainability: Environmental, Social and Ethical Perspectives

Aimee van Wynsberghe
Professor for Applied Ethics of Artificial Intelligence & Director of the Institute for Science and Ethics at Bonn University

Opening conference of the Sustainability Days
This conference will focus on the social, ethical and environmental dimensions of artificial intelligence.
The keynote lecture by Dr. Prof. Aimee van Wynsberghe entitled Repairing AI for Environmental Justice will befollowed by a round‑table discussion with experts from EPFL and ETH Zurich.

The conference examines the environmental and societal impacts of AI systems, introduces the concept of Sustainable AI, distinguishes it from AI for Good and addresses emerging challenges related to governance, digital sovereignty and democracy.

MARCH 19

EPFL - Forum Rolex | 5:45pm - 7:45pm
Registration required, in English and in French

EPFL Final of the MT180 competition

The 14 PhD student finalists of the competition My Thesis in 180 seconds (MT180) will present their research in simple, straightforward terms in 3 minutes exactly, using humour, metaphores and examples.

A jury made up of people from the scientific community and the broader scientific arena, the business world and the media will decide between the doctoral candidates and award a prize to the three best candidates.

A special audience prize will also be awarded by the public: come along to learn more about EPFL research and vote for your favourite candidate!