What if robots didn’t replace humans, but collaborated with us?
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\r\nOn the occasion of the exhibition Do Robots Dream of Construction Sites?, on view at Archizoom from 9 September to 5 December 2026, we invite you to explore a selection of scientific and popular science books, as well as science fiction novels dedicated to human-robot interactions, a theme at the heart of the exhibition.
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\r\nThis selection offers different perspectives on robotics, automation, work, and the future forms of collaboration between humans and machines.
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\r\nAll documents can be borrowed according to the Library’s standard borrowing conditions.
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\r\nDiscover the selection at the Espace Découverte from 5 October to 7 December 2026, as well as online.
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\r\nBrowse the Library's online reading selection: go.epfl.ch/library-robots
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\r\nLearn more about the Archizoom exhibition: memento.epfl.ch/event/do-robots-dream-of-construction-sites-archizoom
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SciComm Exchange is a two-day hands-on training program dedicated to science communication and outreach.
\r\nJointly organized by the University of Lausanne (Unil) and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), it offers early career researchers the opportunity to reflect on their communication and outreach practice, explore a wide variety of formats, engage with experts in the field, and develop their skills in knowledge dissemination.
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\r\nOne research. Dozens of ways to tell its story.
\r\nIt’s up to you to choose which ones you’d like to explore.
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\r\nOn 7 and 8 October 2026, SciComm Exchange invites PhD and postdoctoral researchers from all facultiesto explore new ways of communicating research through hands-on workshops, round-table discussions and meetings with specialists in the field.
\r\nNew for this edition: the Video Hackathon.
\r\nOver two days, a group of participants will be guided by audiovisual professionals to create short videos centered on a key question: why do we communicatescience, and to whom?
\r\nParticipants from previous editions sum up their experience as follows: \r\n
Recent reports claim that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is spontaneously generated – without external energy input or catalyst – at the air–water interface of microdroplets1, bubbles2, and soap films3. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, including: (i) ultrahigh instantaneous electric fields at the air–water interface driving HO− à HO• + e− radicals from hydroxide ions; (ii) water’s comproportionation into H2O•+ and H2O•−; and (iii) partial dehydration of interfacial H+ and HO− followed by radical formation. In contrast, our laboratory experiments reveal that H2O2 formation is due to the reduction of dissolved O2 at water– solid interfaces, i.e., with no role for the air–water interface beyond O2 mass transport4-6. Based on these findings, I will present four diagnostic criteria against which any existing or future mechanistic proposal should be assessed. Our approach reconciles the claims of spontaneous H2O2 formation within established physical chemistry and extends naturally to other claims of anomalous microdroplet reactivity.
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\r\nReferences:
\r\n(1) Mehrgardi, M. A.; Mofidfar, M.; Zare, R. N. Sprayed Water Microdroplets Are Able to Generate Hydrogen Peroxide Spontaneously. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022, 144 (17), 7606-7609. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c02890.
\r\n(2) Nami-Ana, S. F.; Mehrgardi, M. A.; Mofidfar, M.; Zare, R. N. Sustained Regeneration of Hydrogen Peroxide at the Water-Gas Interface of Electrogenerated Microbubbles on an Electrode Surface. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2024, 146 (46), 31945-31949. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c11422 From NLM PubMed-not-MEDLINE.
\r\n(3) Eldeeb, A. M.; Berbille, A.; Dick, J. E. No Microdroplets? No Problem. Soap Films Amplify the Interface and Produce Hydrogen Peroxide. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2025, 147 (37), 33325-33329. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c05887.
\r\n(4) Eatoo, M. A.; Mishra, H. Busting the myth of spontaneous formation of H2O2 at the air-water interface: contributions of the liquid-solid interface and dissolved oxygen exposed. Chemical Science 2024, 15 (9), 3093-3103. DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06534k From NLM PubMed-not-MEDLINE.
\r\n(5) Eatoo, M. A.; Wehbe, N.; Kharbatia, N.; Guo, X.; Mishra, H. Why do some metal ions spontaneously form nanoparticles in water microdroplets? Disentangling the contributions of the air-water interface and bulk redox chemistry. Chemical Science 2025, 16 (3), 1115-1125. DOI: 10.1039/d4sc03217a From NLM PubMed-not-MEDLINE.
\r\n(6) Eatoo, M. A.; Mishra, H. Disentangling the Roles of Dissolved Oxygen, Common Salts, and pH on Spontaneous Hydrogen Peroxide Production in Water: No O2, No H2O2. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2025, 147 (39), 35392-35400. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c09028.
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\r\nPapers:
\r\n- Busting the myth of spontaneous formation of H2O2 at the air–water interface: contributions of the liquid–solid interface and dissolved oxygen exposed
\r\n- Disentangling the Roles of Dissolved Oxygen, Common Salts, and pH on Spontaneous Hydrogen Peroxide Production in Water: No O2, No H2O2
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\r\nBio: Himanshu Mishra is a scientist-entrepreneur from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia. His team has significantly contributed to resolving scientific debates surrounding the spontaneous H2O2 formation in water microdroplets, the electrification at water-hydrophobe interfaces, and liquid–solid adhesion forces. Mishra’s team has also pioneered Carbosoil™ technology to transform desert soils for sustainable greening, food production, and carbon sequestration. His start-up Terraxy is now scaling up Carbosoil™ production to advance sustainability projects in the Middle East and beyond. Mishra’s efforts have been featured by the World Economic Forum, Geneva Inventions, and CNN (LINK).
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UNIL+EPFL Health Days 2026 invite you to dedicate some time to your physical and mental well-being from 28 September to 8 October. Over the course of these two weeks, a wide range of inspiring conferences, workshops and activities will take place at various times throughout the day. Some events will be open to the general public and offered in French and/or English.
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\r\nMembers of the university community will be able to take advantage of the health screenings and assessments available at the Health Village, hosted during the first week on the EPFL campus and during the second week on the University of Lausanne campus. They will also have access to information stands run by services and partners committed to promoting a comprehensive, 360-degree approach to health and well-being.
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\r\nThe programme will be available at the end of August on the dedicated website: https://jours-sante.ch/.