![\"Programme](\"https://www.epfl.ch/campus/art-culture/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/LES_CULTURELLES_1920x1080_programme_complet.png\")
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSince 2006, the Erna Hamburger Prize is awarded by the EPFL-WISH Foundation (Women In Science and Humanities) and distinguishes influential, leading women scientists who are transforming their field and executing change.
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\r\nThe Erna Hamburger Prize 2026 will be awarded to Prof. Margo Seltzer. The award ceremony will be held on November 11th 2026 at 6:30 pm at SG 1138. On this occasion, the awardee will give a conference on the EPFL Campus. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to hear from one of the most influential figures in contemporary computer science.
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\r\nConference abstract
\r\nIt's 2026, and the answer to every problem today seems to be a multiple choice exercise of selecting answers from: AI, Agents, LLMs or machine learning. Is our future really just all about prompt engineering?
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\r\nAt a time when artificial intelligence, autonomous agents and large language models seem to be presented as the answer to every challenge, Margo Seltzer offers a thought-provoking perspective on the value of simplicity in computer science and machine learning. She will demonstrate how simpler and more transparent approaches can deliver performance comparable to that of the most sophisticated models, while providing greater interpretability, more efficient use of resources and a more natural way of addressing issues of fairness and privacy. The lecture will also explore a theme that lies at the heart of her career: collaboration. Drawing on her own experience of collaborative research, Margo Seltzer will explain how working together can broaden one’s impact, help overcome imposter syndrome, and enable individuals to discover and develop their unique strengths.
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\r\nAbout Prof. Margo Seltzer
\r\nProf. Margo Seltzer is Co-Head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver), where she moved after two decades as a Full Professor at Harvard University. She earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science in 1992 from the University of California, Berkeley. A pioneering computer systems researcher, she is the recipient of numerous prestigious honors, including the 2023 ACM Athena Lecturer Award and the USENIX Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering. Alongside her academic career, Margo Seltzer is an entrepreneur: she co-founded Sleepycat Software, maker of Berkeley DB, a widely used embedded database engine later acquired by Oracle. A recognized leader in her field, she is also a devoted mentor to young women in computer science and founded the \"Systers Lunch,\" the original diversity gathering at SOSP, the flagship conference of the systems research community.
The Unlearning Center workshop is the result of a collaboration between different entities and negotiations already initiated with the administration to free up working hours for workshop activities, allowing as many students as possible to participate.
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\r\nThe workshop creates a dedicated time and space to discuss everyday campus conditions, aiming to share, document, and make visible a range of experiences and lived realities. It is also an opportunity to exchange ideas and put common concerns into perspective. By occupying the SG Foyer in the architecture building for a period of time, the workshop establishes a special moment among students — a visible, exclusive, and introspective occupation.
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\r\nMore information
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\r\nTNT (Transition pour une Nouvelle culture du Travail) ↗︎
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\r\nInstagram TNT ↗︎
\r\nEPFL Investor Day 2026 brings together leading investors and ambitious deeptech startups from EPFL and across Western Switzerland.
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\r\nTaking place on Wednesday, 25 November 2026 at the SwissTech Convention Center, the event is structured in two parts:\r\n