SB@EPFL Dec 2020 ‒ SB ‐ EPFL

School of Basic Sciences – December 2020

A word from the new Dean

I would like to begin this newsletter by expressing my gratitude to my predecessor, Jan Hesthaven, for handing over such a strong and progressive faculty. In our short history – I am only the 4th Dean of FSB – the faculty has contributed disproportionately to the advancement of knowledge and to the development of new technologies. In the last 4 years we have seen a number of major initiatives come to fruition, new initiatives launched, and our faculty and staff have been recognized by countless national and international organizations.

We must, however, continue to build on our legacy and rise to the new challenges facing us. I am the first Dean of FSB to have come through EPFL’s tenure-track system and I am delighted to serve an institution that provided me with the resources and environment in which I could thrive as an independent scientist. My aim is to amplify the best of what I observed, and harness our collective experiences to drive us forward. Even in areas where our performance is considered to be outstanding, we should not be complacent. We must also remain open minded, think big, while reinforcing our sense of community. In this way we can continue to enhance our intellectually stimulating and dynamic environment where our students and researchers can flourish.

I look forward to interacting with all the members of FSB and building on our outstanding track-record over the next 4 years. A warm welcome to those joining us in 2021 and a happy new year to all.

News

When light and atoms share a common vibe …………

21 December 2020

“Game changer” perovskite can detect gamma rays

9 December 2020

A new candidate material for Quantum Spin Liquids …………

9 November 2020

Towards cheaper hydrogen production via alkaline water splitting …………

12 October 2020

Microcomb-injected pulsed lasers as variable microwave gears …. ……………….

2 October 2020

Chemical innovation stabilizes best-performing perovskite formulation

1 October 2020

See all

Awards and Grants

Euclid space cosmology mission received a 3rd SNSF Sinergia grant

Prof. Frédéric Courbin (LASTRO) associated with CIS was allocated, for the 3rd time in a row, a SNSF sinergia grant related to the ESA-NASA Euclid space mission. The grant, to be shared between EPFL (PI), UniGE, UniZH and FHNW will allow to finalize the preparation of the satellite, to be launched by the end of 2022.

Jeremy Luterbacher wins ACS Lectureship Award

“For the development of tailored catalysts to upgrade lignin and the application of unique functionalization chemistry during biomass depolymerization.”

The 2020 Materials Today Innovation Award to Michael Grätzel

“For his ground-breaking work on solar energy conversion.”

Two Eccellenza Grants and a Professorial Fellowship to SB scientists

This year, two scientists at EPFL’s School of Basic Sciences have been awarded Eccellenza Grants:

Prof. Juhan Aru for his project “The geometry of the Gaussian free field and applications.” and

Prof. Mitali Banerjee for his project “Unambiguous identification of the topological order of the quantum Hall states.”

Richard I. Anderson, will join EPFL’s Institute of Physics in February 2021, with the support of an Eccellenza Professorial Fellowship as well as an ERC Starting Grant.