Thesis Director: Prof. P. Scarlino,
\r\nPhysics doctoral program
\r\nThesis Nr. 11553
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\r\nTo take part in the public defense, please contact directly the speaker
Thesis Directors: Dr. S. Joost, Dr A. M. Jaksic
\r\nCivil and Environmental Engineering doctoral program
\r\nThesis Nr. 11653
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\r\nTo take part in the public defense, please contact directly the speaker
Poster Exhibition of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Students, featuring their 2025–2026 Master’s Projects, in the MXF Entrance (MXF-194.0) from October 1st to 21st, 2026.
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\r\nThe Viewpoint Series, is a new entrepreneurship seminar series designed to expose students and scientists to real-world perspectives from founders, operators, and investors.
\r\nSupported by E4S and organized by EPFL - College of Management of Technology, and EPFL Entrepreneurship Education Hub, it brings together experienced practitioners to share candid perspectives on:\r\n
Entitled \"From abundance to resilience?\", the Forum des transitions urbaines will be held on September 3, 2027 in the Auditorium of Microcity, a branch of the EPFL in Neuchâtel (Switzerland). Organized jointly by the Ecoparc Association and the Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST) of the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), in partnership with the journal espazium, the biennial event will approach this crucial theme for our built environment from different angles.
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\r\nonline registration
Since 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.
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