SDG Public Lecture Series

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 uses a dynamic and engaging format to explore innovative ideas for driving social change and technological advancement. It encourages reflection on challenges encountered in addressing the SDGs.

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 programme for the sixth edition of the SDGs in Context Public Lecture Series is complete! We look forward to welcoming you at ETH Main Building, lecture hall E 1.1, R?mistrasse 101, 8092 Zurich.

The two sessions on 30.9.2025 and 28.10.2025 will be online on Zoom.

The Student Poster Award in the frame of the Sustainability Summit 2025 on 09.12.2025 takes place at CHN Green Floor, including drinks and snacks (upon invitation only).

Download Download the SDGs in Context Public Lecture programme 2025 (PDF, 758 KB).

Opening: Introduction to the SDGs and Global Inequalities

Tuesday, 16 September 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET

Scientific perspectiv
Isabel G��nther
Professor of Development Economics (D-GESS, ETH Z��rich)

Practitioner's perspective
Claudia Zingerli
Head of ETH Office of Sustainability

Food System Sustainability - Challenges and Actions

SDG 2 Zero Hunger / SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

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 B��hler Group

Conflict mitigation in turbulent times

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Online, Zoom, 18:15-19:45 hrs CET

Scientific perspective
Allard Duursma
Assistant Professor in Conflict Management and International Relations (D-GESS, ETH Zurich)

Practitioner's perspective
Govinda Clayton
Mediation Support Manager at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

Dialogue: Sustainable transformation of universities

SDG 4 Quality Education / SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Tuesday, 14 October 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET

Austrian perspectives
Eva-Maria Holzinger
Doctoral student specializing in sustainability transitions of universities (BOKU
University, Austria) and member of uniNEtZ beWEG

ETH perspectives
Facilitation by Claudia Zingerli
Head of ETH Office of Sustainability

Energy value chains: use cases in sub-Saharan Africa

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Tuesday, 21 October 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 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

SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities / SDG 13 Climate Action

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 Neuch?tel with long track record in Swiss Federal Administration

Health technologies and the medical workforce in low-resource settings

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being

Tuesday, 04 November 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET

Scientific perspective
Milena Marie Overhoff
Doctoral student at the Engineering Design and Computing Laboratory (D-MAVT, ETH Zurich)

Practioner's perspective
Michael Hobbins
Head of Unit Research, Quality and Development at SolidarMed

Coping with weather extremes and individual climate literacy

SDG 4 Quality Education / SDG 13 Climate Action

Tuesday, 11 November 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 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 B��ren
Head of Education for Switzerland, myClimate

Social and ecological responsibility in supply chains

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Tuesday, 18 November 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET

Scientific perspective
Gonzalo Guill��n Gos��lbez
Professor in Chemical Systems Engineering (D-CHEM, ETH Zurich)

Practitioner's perspective
Rao Fu
Head of Corporate Sustainability Consulting at EBP Z��rich

Keynotes: The SDGs beyond 2030

Tuesday, 2 December 2025
HG E 1.1 (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET

Janet Hering
Professor Emeritus at the Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS, ETH Z��rich), Co-Chair of Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN) Switzerland

Isabelle G��mez Truedsson
Deputy Delegate of the Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)

Maria Stoll
Scientific Officer in Sustainable Development (Federal Office for Spatial Development)

Student Poster Award Session and Sustainability Summit 2025

Tuesday, 9 December 2025
CHN Green Floor (ETH Zurich), 18:15-19:45 hrs CET, drinks and snacks

Detailed information will follow.

Previous editions

The five previous editions of the Public Lecture Series "The Sustainable Development Goals in Context" were organised by D-USYS and ETH Sustainability in the spring semesters 2020, 2021, 2022, and as of the autumn semester 2023 by D-GESS and ETH Sustainability, in cooperation with ETH4D and NADEL.