Registrations open for the European Universities & Graduate Schools Innovation Championship, the Morpheus Cup
On April 12th 2018, top European talents from 120 campuses will compete in the fourth edition of the Morpheus Cup to showcase their skills and highlight their most innovative projects. After Luxembourg in 2017, the event will take place in 2018 at the Palais Brongniart (Stock Exchange) in Paris and will focus on burning topics such as Digital Transformation, Creativity, Deeptech, Circular Economy, Ecommerce and much more.
Since its launch in 2015, the Morpheus Cup has been placed under the high patronage of the European Commission with the support of Commissioners Marianne Thyssen and Carlos Moedas in 2017. "The championship is a great opportunity for young people to showcase their skills and to help to bridge the gap between universities, schools and the European employment market. In the Commission, we believe that the right skills not only improve young people's life chances, but also act as a driver for our future competitiveness and growth" underlines Mrs. Thyssen.
In the last three years, the event already attracted hundreds of campus from more than 20 countries and rewarded many of them including Warshaw School of Economics, Mannheim Business School, HEC Paris, Polytechnique Nantes, universities from Oxford, Berlin, Luxembourg, Athens, and Barcelona.
New challenges for new talents
The next edition will take the competition to another level by featuring tech, business, science, marketing, creative challenges in five different rooms, suggesting meetings with employers, innovative brands and investors through 50 stands and presenting not less than 20 categories for students to submit their projects/startups ideas (Morpheus Prize). Apart from the live experiences and challenges designed by entrepreneurs or partners of the event, almost 500 research projects and startups will be showcased to win awards, the championship and up to €50,000 worth of prizes.
Art, circular economy, human capital, smart cities, mobility, FinTech, design, industry, sport, artificial intelligence… topics, regardless of the students’ profiles and education level, invite them to be creative in many different fields.
Finalists will have to pitch in front of an international jury. Past editions welcomed jury members from Google Lunar XPrize, WarnerBros, Accenture, European Investment Fund, FC Barcelona, ESA, Canal+, Novak Djokovic Foundation etc. Daimler, Forbes, Expon Capital, Davidson, Leroy-Merlin, PwC have already joined the next edition.
Registrations are already open. First partners, jury members and employers will be unveiled before Christmas season.
The Morpheus Cup’s website unveils the main characteristics of the championship and also the past editions prize-winners.
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The only one of its kind in the world, the Morpheus Cup invites each year the greatest talents among European students to compete together through innovative projects and one day of themed challenges.
To date, more than 100 campuses from 19 countries have sent their teams or projects supported by 50 employers and innovative brands. In 2018, Paris will welcome the fourth edition of this event at Palais Brongniart with the support of both the European Commission and Paris City Hall. |
For more information, please contact:
Fabien Amoretti, Founder of the Morpheus Cup :
David Spichiger, SCS
06.10.2017
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017 to
Jacques Dubochet,
University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Joachim Frank,
Columbia University, New York, USA, and
Richard Henderson,
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
"for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution"
Cool microscope technology revolutionises biochemistry
We may soon have detailed images of life’s complex machineries in atomic resolution. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017 is awarded to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson for the development of cryo-electron microscopy, which both simplifies and improves the imaging of biomolecules. This method has moved biochemistry into a new era.
A picture is a key to understanding. Scientific breakthroughs often build upon the successful visualisation of objects invisible to the human eye. However, biochemical maps have long been filled with blank spaces because the available technology has had difficulty generating images of much of life’s molecular machinery. Cryo-electron microscopy changes all of this. Researchers can now freeze biomolecules mid-movement and visualise processes they have never previously seen, which is decisive for both the basic understanding of life’s chemistry and for the development of pharmaceuticals.
Electron microscopes were long believed to only be suitable for imaging dead matter, because the powerful electron beam destroys biological material. But in 1990, Richard Henderson succeeded in using an electron microscope to generate a three-dimensional image of a protein at atomic resolution. This breakthrough proved the technology’s potential.
Joachim Frank made the technology generally applicable. Between 1975 and 1986 he developed an image processing method in which the electron microscope’s fuzzy twodimensional images are analysed and merged to reveal a sharp three-dimensional structure.
Jacques Dubochet added water to electron microscopy. Liquid water evaporates in the electron microscope’s vacuum, which makes the biomolecules collapse. In the early 1980s, Dubochet succeeded in vitrifying water – he cooled water so rapidly that it solidified in its liquid form around a biological sample, allowing the biomolecules to retain their natural shape even in a vacuum.
Following these discoveries, the electron microscope’s every nut and bolt have been optimised. The desired atomic resolution was reached in 2013, and researchers can now routinely produce three-dimensional structures of biomolecules. In the past few years, scientific literature has been filled with images of everything from proteins that cause antibiotic resistance, to the surface of the Zika virus. Biochemistry is now facing an explosive development and is all set for an exciting future.
Source and more information: https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2017/
David Spichiger, SCS
04.10.2017
Job Offer: Polymerchemiker/in als Wissenschaftliche/n Mitarbeiter/in (100%) at ZHAW
Die ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften ist mit über 12'000 Studierenden und rund 3'000 Mitarbeitenden eine der grössten Mehrsparten-Fachhochschulen der Schweiz.
Die School of Engineering (SoE) setzt als eine der führenden Bildungs- und Forschungsinstitutionen in der Schweiz auf zukunftsrelevante Themen. 13 Institute und Zentren garantieren qualitativ hochstehende Ausbildung, Forschung und Entwicklung mit Fokus auf die Bereiche Energie, Mobilität, Information und Gesundheit.
Das Institute of Materials and Process Engineering IMPE ist mit rund 45 Mitarbeitenden am Standort Winterthur in den Schwerpunkten Werkstoffe, Oberflächentechnik und Verfahrensentwicklung tätig. Mit moderner Infrastruktur bearbeitet das IMPE interdisziplinäre F&E Projekte in enger Zusammenarbeit mit Industriepartnern und anderen Hochschulen.
Das Labor für Klebstoffe und Polymere Materialien des IMPE beschäftigt sich mit verschiedenen Aspekten aktueller klebstoffspezifischer und polymerer Technologien. Zur Unterstützung des Forschungsgruppenleiters suchen wir per sofort oder nach Vereinbarung eine/n
Polymerchemiker/in als Wissenschaftliche/n Mitarbeiter/in (100%)
Ihre Aufgaben:
- Selbstständige Bearbeitung und Organisation von Forschungsprojekten in den Gebieten Klebstoffe, Polymermodifikation und Polymersynthese
- Mitarbeit bei Akquisition und Beantragung von Forschungsprojekten
- Erschliessung neuer Methoden, Technologien und Anwendungen
- Fachliche Unterstützung der wissenschaftlichen Assistierenden
- Betreuung von Projekt-, Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten
- Erstellung von Berichten und Publikationen
Sie verfügen über einen Hochschulabschluss in Polymerchemie oder Chemie mit Polymerkompetenz mit Promotion und mehrjähriger Berufspraxis in der Entwicklung, Verarbeitung und Analytik von Polymeren, insbesondere Klebstoffen. Sie sind selbstständiges, wissenschaftliches Arbeiten gewohnt, verfügen über eine ausgeprägte Kommunikationsfähigkeit und haben Freude an der Einführung und fachlichen Betreuung von wissenschaftlichen Assistierenden und Studierenden. Ein hohes Mass an Eigeninitiative und Leistungsbereitschaft sind für diese Stelle entscheidend. Freude an der täglichen Laborarbeit und am interdisziplinären Arbeiten im Projektteam mit Industriepartnern, Kreativität bei der Lösungsfindung für anspruchsvolle Problemstellungen sowie exaktes und zuverlässiges Arbeiten sind weitere Voraussetzungen für diese Position.
Die ZHAW bietet ihren Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeitern ein flexibles Jahresarbeitszeitmodell und unterstützt die Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf.
Können wir Ihnen weitere Fragen beantworten?
Für fachliche Auskünfte steht Ihnen Prof. Dr. Christof Brändli, unter Tel. +41 (0) 58 934 65 86 oder per E-Mail unter , gerne zur Verfügung.
Haben wir Ihr Interesse geweckt?
Dann freuen wir uns auf Ihre vollständigen Bewerbungsunterlagen über unser Stellenportal www.zhaw.ch/jobs (Deutsch) an Eliane Leemann, HR Consultant, am Standort Winterthur. Bitte beachten Sie, dass wir ausschliesslich Bewerbungen via Online Plattform berücksichtigen und somit keine Bewerbungen per Briefpost oder per E-Mail bearbeiten.
Die School of Engineering strebt eine Erhöhung des Anteils von Frauen im Mittelbau an. Bewerbungen von Frauen sind deshalb in besonderem Masse erwünscht
Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter www.zhaw.ch und www.zhaw.ch/impe.
Zürcher Fachhochschule
David Spichiger, SCS
03.10.2017
ILMAC Lausanne, October 4-5, 2017, Expo Beaulieu Lasuanne
"The decision to propose a trade show in Lausanne underlines the strong position of the French speaking part of Switzerland in the sectors of chemistry, biotechnology and laboratory in general. This community can benefit from this opportunity to get informed about the novelties on the market and to cultivate an intensive networking just in front of the doors of EPFL."
Matthieu Paris, Direct procurement buyer, EPFL
Get your free ticket with the SCS prio-code: scs-ilmac17
Ticket shop in French
Ticket shop in English
Website
ILMAC Forum organized by the SCS: Wed, October 4, 2017, 10-12h
«Operational Excellence - Best practice for Chemical and Life Science Companies»
Five OE experts from the chemical and pharmaceutical production will talk about their experiences in process development and how OE was implemented in their daily life and how it influences the workflow for operators, process managers and executives. The talks will be held in French or English.
| 09.00h | ILMAC Opening |
| 10.00h | Key Note lecture: Gérard Waridel, OE Expert, Syngenta CP Monthey SA «Excellence opérationnelle et gestion du changement» |
| 10.35h | Yasser Bin Sabir, ARLANXEO Switzerland S.A., Global IBP Director «Integrated Business Planning (IBP) – A cross functional process to optimize performance across the end-to-end value chain in a business» |
| 10.55h | Silvia Alvarez, Vifor Pharma, OE Manager «Le Lean n’est pas du placebo : bénéfices et effets secondaires dans l’industrie pharmaceutique» |
| 11.15h | Carsten Wangnick, Carbogen Amcis, Head Quality Assurance «Investigation & Reduction of “Human Errors” in API manufacturing» |
| 11.35h | Hellmuth Broda, PerkinElmer, OneSource Enterprise Professional Services «Enabling Operational Excellence for the Lab: The Role of Managed and Automated Services» |
| 12.00h | Déjeuner |
Operational Excellence is an element of organizational leadership and organizational intelligence that focuses on meeting customer expectation, all while stressing the application of a variety of principles, systems, and tools toward the sustainable improvement of key performance metrics. It is based on data driven metrics that are derived from either algorithm, machine learning or artificial intelligence. As simple as it sounds, as cloudy is its implementation in our daily life. When asked exactly what it is, there is always hesitation. Answers such as "It's about process quality (making perfect parts every time)," or "Applying lean tools everywhere to eliminate waste" are common. It is not an easy concept to quantify, and very difficult to explain in simple practical terms to an operator on the production floor, so they know what to do to create and sustain it.
We hope to see you in Lausanne in early October.
Best regards,
David Spichiger, SCS Executive Director
Bernhard Urwyler, President of the Division of Industrial and Applied Chemistry
Michael Bonenberger, Exhibition Manager
David Spichiger, SCS
20.09.2017
Sonia de Andrade was awarded the Dr. Max-Lüthi Prize 2017
On the occasion of the BioTech 2017 conference at ZHAW in Wädenswil on September 8, 2017, Prof. Antonio Togni, President of the SCS Division of Chemical Education, awarded the Dr. Max Lüthi Award 2017 to Sonia de Andrade. Sonia, who did her BSc studies at ZHAW Wädenswil, received the prize in recognition of her Bachelor's thesis entitled «Advancement and validation of printable biomaterials and their potential use as tissue models». After the ceremony, Sonia gave a short lecture about the findings of her research.
We like to take the opportunity to congratulate Sonia de Andrade again for the outstanding thesis.
Dr. Max Lüthi Award
CHF 1'000 and medal in bronze
The Dr. Max Lüthi Award is presented for an outstanding diploma thesis in Chemistry conducted at a Swiss University of Applied Sciences. Nominations must be submitted by the head of the Chemistry Department of a Swiss University of Applied Sciences. The prize is awarded annually.
Past Dr. Max Lüthi Award Winners
- 2016: Flavio Gall, ZHAW Wädenswil
- 2015: Yvan Mongbanziama, HEIA Fribourg
- 2014: Yannick Stöferle, ZHAW Wädenswil
- 2013: Peter Elmiger, ZHAW Wädenswil; Christophe Laporte, EIA Fribourg
- 2012: Lucie Sägesser, ZHAW Wädenswil
- 2011: Michael Brand, ZHAW Wädenswil
- 2010: Benjamin Otter (FHNW)
- 2009: Simon Lang (FHNW)
- 2008: Pitt Almendinger (ZHW); Caroline Emery (Haute Ecole Valaisanne and Washington State University); Daniel Mesitschek (Hochschule für Technik und Architektur Freiburg and Hochschule Offenburg)
- 2007: Ludovic Gremaud (Hochschule für Technik und Architektur Freiburg)
- 2006: Simon Lobsiger, Stefan Koller
- 2004: Cédric Clivaz
- 2003: Benoît Dubray
- 2002: Juan Luis Naveira; Samuel Rentsch
- 2001: Christiane Höfelein
- 2000: Pascal Beer; Thomas Roth
- 1999: Stefan Furrer; Olivier Vorlet
- 1998: Thomas L. Mindt
- 1996: Gottfried Blaser; Michel Houmard; Roger Mazotti
- 1995: Fabrice Greutert; Alexandre Krattinger; Roland Schürmann
- 1994: Daniel Gloor; Cyril Jeannet; Sam Derrer
- 1993: Stefan Lutz; Christoph Wyss
- 1992: Christian R. Hinderling; Marc E. Pfeifer; David Reichenbach
David Spichiger, SCS
14.09.2017
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