ENAC Annual Report 2021

Last year, the Covid-19 crisis continued to shape our way of working together. It is fascinating how fast we learn and adapt to new circumstances, how creativity is triggered, and how new ideas for research, teaching and innovation emerge. The moment we were able to return to campus felt great, showing us that sharing, discussing and creating, together with our colleagues, are not things we can take for granted.

Looking back on 2021, I must say it was a creative year. Impressive progress was made on many ENAC-led initiatives addressing sustainability challenges in the natural and built environment. None of this would have been possible without the enduring support of the ENAC management team, the ENAC dean’s office, the ENAC faculty and our students. Thank you all for your ideas, energy and dedication!

In 2021, it was very pleasing to see so many research projects bolstering ENAC’s reputation for disciplinary and interdisciplinary excellence. Many researchers secured funding from prestigious organizations. Furthermore, we were able to award three interdisciplinary Cluster Grants and seven CLIMACT Grants in our three key challenge areas – climate change, digitalization and urbanization – allowing our faculty to work on cutting-edge research projects. It was particularly exciting to see established researchers working alongside young assistant professors, bridging not only disciplines but also generations.

In teaching, we recently launched, together with the School of Engineering, a Minor in Engineering for Sustainability, which is open to EPFL Master’s students and enables future engineers and architects to address sustainability challenges in their field. We also started a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Urban and Territorial Design in partnership with ETH Zurich, meeting the challenges of a sustainable transition in the urban space.

Following an initial series of workshops, the Diversity Office at ENAC, which was founded in 2021, produced a number of useful resources, including an in-house guide on inclusive language and a series of videos designed to combat stereotypes and promote inclusion. The team also held a workshop on respect and inclusion, and carried out a survey and analyzed our hiring processes with a view to drawing up practical recommendations. These early achievements underscore the important role that the Diversity Office is playing in making ENAC a more inclusive place for all.

We continue to push ahead on open science through a number of initiatives, including the ENAC-IT4Research team, which was formed in 2021 to help the ENAC scientific community leverage its research data. The examples presented in our annual report show the variety of services the team offers and point to strong demand from our scientists, who are working to make science more accessible.

Another goal relates to strong partnerships and innovation. On this front, no fewer than six ENAC-led startups were founded last year. In 2021, an association called Future Sustainable Territories, Infrastructure and Cities (FUSTIC) was created to promote the societal and ecological transition within both ENAC and EPFL. The association has already held around a dozen events in an effort to publicize our expertise to key organizations in the public and private spheres. Also last year, seven projects addressing key challenges in public health received funding through the ENAC Innovation Seed Grants program.

Finally, communication will remain a priority for ENAC in the years to come. Thanks to our sustained efforts in this area, we have secured extensive coverage in the press and on social media, helping to strengthen our position as a key contributor to a sustainable future of the built and natural environment.

I’m looking forward to 2022 – to working together on campus, fostering collaboration with our industry partners and welcoming our new faculty members, who will help us shape the future of ENAC!

Claudia R. Binder

Dean, ENAC