PMOD/WRC in Davos is a research institute for solar radiation, atmospheric physics, and meteorology. It serves as the World Radiation Center under the WMO and is involved in developing and maintaining radiometric standards.
Address: Dorfstrasse 33, 7260 Davos Dorf, Graubünden, Switzerland
Solar Radiation, Atmospheric Physics, Radiometry
Domains taught:
- Astroscience, Chemistry, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Metrology, Optics, Physics, Signal Processing, Statistics, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
- Doctor
Status:
- Private
Partnerships:
Foundation with public mandate (WMO). Collaborates with meteorological services, space agencies, universities, and research institutes worldwide.
Research:
Research in solar physics, atmospheric optics, aerosol research, climate change (solar influence), UV radiation, and development of high-precision radiometric instruments and standards.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
60
Current students***:
10
Foreign students***:
40%
Cumulative former students***:
50
Pros
World reference center for solar radiometry. Unique high-altitude research facilities. Strong international scientific impact.
Cons
Highly specialized research institute. Educational role mainly through hosting PhDs/Postdocs.
Best For
PhD students and researchers specializing in solar radiation, atmospheric physics, radiometry, or climate studies.
- Official Linkedin
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Most Similar Schools Locally
- AO Research Institute Davos offers a comparable education in metrology, signal processing and fluid dynamics: it is far larger, with about 30 students against roughly 10 here, and is also a private institution.
- Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology takes a similar route through metrology, optics and signal processing, and it covers quality and nanotechnologies as well, and has almost the same size, at about 10 students.
- CSEM - Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique offers a comparable education in metrology, optics and signal processing: it is also a private institution and also offers master's programmes.
- The comparison with Swiss Seismological Service is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on astroscience, signal processing and fluid dynamics, and it also offers master's programmes and covers geotechnics and civil engineering as well.
- Universität Bern takes a similar route through astroscience, signal processing and fluid dynamics, and it also offers bachelor's and master's programmes and covers aerospace and bioinformatics as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
- In Spain, Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía teaches much the same core subjects, astroscience, optics and signal processing, and it runs the same doctoral programmes and covers aerospace as well.
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale offers an international parallel to this school, with metrology, astroscience and optics as common ground; it is far larger, with about 50 students against roughly 10 here, and is public, whereas this school is private.
- Canal de Experiencias Hidrodinámicas de El Pardo in Spain is the nearest foreign match on metrology, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics; it runs the same doctoral programmes and covers marine science and aerospace as well.
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, based in Japan, is built around astroscience, optics and signal processing much like this institution, and it is also a private institution and runs the same doctoral programmes.
- Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur in France shares the metrology, astroscience and optics orientation of this institution, and it also offers master's programmes and covers marine science and aerospace as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
- Climate Change, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Impact, Photovoltaic, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
- known locally
- known locally and internationally
- is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
- is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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