Exploring Integration Across Boundaries
ETH Zurich Hosts First ENHANCE Summer School
From 18–22 August 2025, ETH Zurich welcomed 24 students from ENHANCE universities to the first-ever ENHANCE Summer School at this member university. Focused on Inter- and Transdisciplinary Integration in Science, Policy and Practice, the programme was organised by ETH’s Department of Environmental Systems Science and Eawag, under the lead of PD Dr. Bianca Vienni-Baptista and Dr. Sabine Hoffmann.
The summer school addressed one of today’s central challenges: how to integrate knowledge across academic disciplines and between science, policy and practice. Participants explored theories and methods of integration, applied tools such as Theory of Change and Problem Framing, and worked on real-world case studies.
Highlights included insights from the Horizon Europe project DIAMOND on integrated assessment models for net-zero pathways and Eawag’s WINGS programme on resource-oriented sanitation systems. Learning extended beyond the classroom, with interactive workshops, group work, and excursions to the WaterHub@NEST and the Hunziker Areal living lab. These hands-on experiences encouraged reflection not only on technical aspects of integration, but also on personal qualities such as flexibility, humility, and openness.
The week concluded with reflections from participants, who emphasised that integration is as much about building trust and relationships as about frameworks and methods. As one student put it, “Collaboration works best when we listen to each other with openness and curiosity.” The summer school showed the value of spaces where young researchers can experiment, collaborate, and co-create knowledge.
About the ENHANCE Innovative Learning Campus
This summer school was part of the ENHANCE Innovative Learning Campus, which promotes interdisciplinary learning and professional development across the ENHANCE network through short-term innovative learning experiences. The ENHANCE ILC offers a diverse range of opportunities – including micro-credential programmes, MOOCs, summer and winter schools, hackathons, and workshops – focused on addressing key global challenges such as sustainability and societal impact. Participants benefit from a flexible, collaborative learning environment that supports both personal growth and career advancement, with opportunities for physical or virtual exchanges.
We thank ETH Zurich and Eawag for their support, the lecturers for their inspiring contributions, and above all the students, whose outstanding engagement made this week a truly enriching experience.
All images: © ETH Zurich