Energy in transition: insights and encounters on Monte Verità
From 31 August to 5 September 2025, Monte Verità in Ascona, Switzerland, buzzed with ideas, debates, and new connections during the second Energy Summer School. Organized by the Institute of Science, Technology and Policy (ISTP) and the Energy Science Center (ESC) at ETH Zurich, in collaboration with ETH for Development, the program welcomed participants from across Europe as well as Ghana, Morocco, China, Columbia and more.?
This year’s focus — “Navigating the Energy Transition in an Insecure World” — could not have been more pressing. Over six days, participants engaged with leading academia, industry and policy experts. The lecture topics ranged from “The Role of Borders in the Transition Towards a Low-Carbon Society” by Prof. Itay Fishhendler (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), to “Transmission Grids and Challenges of Variable Feed-Ins by PV and Wind” by Kaja Hollstein (Swissgrid), and Financing Climate, Energy and Nature by Prof. Florian Egli (TU Munich). The full programme is available here.
A dynamic mix of lectures, case studies, poster sessions, and workshops ensured that participants not only gained fresh insights from experts and peers, but also immediately applied their knowledge through country-specific case studies.
However, the program wasn’t all science and debate. A hike into the Valle Verzasca led to a dip in its crystal-clear river, and a visit to the Contra Dam (Verzasca Hydropower Plant) and the Waste Incinerator in Giubiasco offered a concrete reminder of the scale of energy infrastructure. These shared experiences gave participants a chance to catch their breath and strengthen bonds outside the seminar room.
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Group Picture during Contra Dam Excursion. (Image: Energy Science Center) -
Group Picture during Waste Incinerator (Image: Energy Science Center) -
Participants during Social Dinner. (Image: Energy Science Center)
The Energy Summer School brought together leading voices from academia, industry, and policy. Participants emphasized that the real highlight was the exchange with the community.
“At ETH Zurich’s Energy Summer School, participants faced uncertainty with purpose and discipline, becoming active drivers of the energy transition.”Oumaima Aithammou, Participant
“The Energy Summer School is a fantastic learning experience for both the students and presenters. It is rare to find such a collaborative interdisciplinary community with which to work.”Prof. Bri-Mathias Hodge, Speaker
Diverse perspectives, lively debates, and shared reflections not only broadened their views on the energy transition but also helped forge a common language across disciplines.
As the second edition of the Energy Summer School, the program is quickly becoming a fixture for those eager to shape the energy transition. And the journey doesn’t stop here: the next gathering is already planned for late summer 2027, promising another chance to think big, learn together, and imagine new paths toward a secure and sustainable energy future.
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