Aquatic Science, Water Management, Environmental Engineering
Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, was set up in 1936 as an ETH advisory centre for wastewater treatment and drinking water supply. The acronym comes from its German name, Eidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung, Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz.
The institute moved to new premises in Dübendorf, near Zurich, in 1970, when it became an affiliated institute within the ETH system. A new law in 1993 made it an independent water research institute within the ETH Domain. A second site, the hydrobiological research centre at Kastanienbaum near Lucerne, joined Eawag in the 1960s.
More than 500 people work at Eawag across its two Swiss sites. Research is organised in 12 departments, among them Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology, Process Engineering, and Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development. The institute also takes part in teaching, and current details on doctoral and student opportunities are on eawag.ch.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Geotechnics, Manufacturing, Marine Science, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Metrology, Microbiology and Genetics, Nanotechnologies, Physics, Process Control, Project Management, Quality, Robotics, Signal Processing, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Part of the ETH Domain. Close collaboration with ETH Zurich and EPFL for teaching and research. Strong international network with universities and research institutions. Works with public authorities and industry on water-related challenges.
Research:
Research in areas like aquatic ecology and evolution, water quality, wastewater treatment, drinking water supply, micropollutants, hydrogeology, limnology, fish ecology, and social sciences related to water.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
500
Current students***:
150
Foreign students***:
40%
Cumulative former students***:
600
Pros
World-renowned institute for aquatic research, combining fundamental science with applied solutions. Excellent training ground for PhD students and postdocs in water sciences.
Cons
Primarily a research institute. Degrees awarded through partner universities.
Best For
PhD students and researchers dedicated to water science, aquatic ecology, environmental engineering, or sustainable water management.
Empa - Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt: a federal research institute in the same Dübendorf town, working on materials science, nanotechnology and the sustainable built environment.
Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft: a federal research institute in Birmensdorf focused on forest, snow, avalanche and landscape research.
Paul Scherrer Institut: a public research institute in Villigen with energy, materials and life-sciences research.
EPFL: a public technical university in Lausanne with engineering and life sciences.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel is a research-centred public institute covering mathematics, physics, chemistry and biochemistry.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia is a graduate research university with biological and environmental science programmes.
University of Bergen in Norway is a public university noted for marine science and climate research.
Roskilde University in Denmark is a public university with interdisciplinary studies and environmental sciences.
*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.
FAQ
What does Eawag do?
It is a Swiss research institute devoted to water and aquatic systems, from wastewater treatment and drinking water to lakes and rivers. Its work is organised in 12 research departments.
How did the institute begin?
It was founded in 1936 as an ETH advisory centre for wastewater treatment and drinking water supply. It later took its present name as the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology.
Where are the Eawag sites?
The main site is in Dübendorf near Zurich, where the institute settled in 1970. The second is the hydrobiological centre at Kastanienbaum near Lucerne, which joined Eawag in the 1960s.
Is Eawag independent?
Since a law of 1993 it has been an independent water research institute. It forms part of the ETH Domain, as both Wikipedia and its own website state.
How large is the staff?
More than 500 people work at Eawag across its two Swiss locations. The exact current headcount is given on the institute website.
Which research departments exist?
Examples are Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology, Process Engineering, and the Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development department known as Sandec.
Aquaculture, Ecology, Ecosystem, Environmental Engineering, Marine Ecosystems, Marine Life Impact, Pollution, Waste Reduction, Water contamination
*: 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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