Global Lecture Series
“Where ETH meets the world.”
The Global Lecture Series brings the world’s leading minds to ETH Zurich to explore ideas that shape our global future. Through thought-provoking dialogue and diverse perspectives, we foster understanding, innovation, and impact.
To find out more about our upcoming and past events, please see the list below.
Global Lecture Series: The EU AI Act in Practice
13 November 2025 – Please join us as we welcome to ETH the Estonian Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, Liisa-Ly Pakosta. Joining her in a timely dialogue on digitalisation and AI governance will be our newly designated Vice President for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations starting in January 2026, ETH Professor Effy Vayena. This conversation will be moderated by Chris Luebkeman.
Global Lecture Series: The Energy Transition in Practice
30 October 2025 – Join us for a dynamic conversation on the future of energy, where decades of technological leadership meet economics, environmental science, and policy analysis. Featuring guest speaker Bettina Bachmann in conversation with ETH climate and energy economics expert Lint Barrage, this conversation will be moderated by Chris Luebkeman.
Global Lecture Series: Improving Public Policy Through Science
7 October 2025 – Scientific insight meets political experience in this timely ETH Global Lecture. Former Federal Chancellor of Switzerland Walter Thurnherr and ETH Professor Tobias Schmidt explore how science can inform governance and decision-making.
ETH Global Lecture Series: The Butterfly Effect
10 Feb 2025 - The "Butterfly Effect" highlights how small actions can create global impacts, a concept shared by climate science and choreography. In this ETH Global Lecture, choreographers from the Ballet Zurich, alongside ETH Zurich climate scientists, discuss their collaboration with Ballet Zurich’s Junior Ballett, showcasing how dance reflects our world's interconnectedness and the challenges of climate change.