Welcome to this special edition of the ETH Ambassadors Blog during the coronavirus lockdown. Over the coming days and weeks, we will be featuring your stories to highlight how the ETH community is dealing with the crisis. We are part of the Community & Outreach Team in the Office of the President of ETH Zurich. Our mission is to increase the visibility of ETH, and we support the institution on strategic projects and events that contribute to this effort.
The dedicated series on this Blog is part of the broader togETHer campaign launched during this unprecedented time. Click here to find out how Your Stories link to the other 2 pillars in this initiative: Information and Support.
A Welcome Note from the Editors
by Elisabeth Pöschl, Viktoria Ivarsson & Simone Bucher, 27 March 2020
What are we looking for?
There are many ways in which you can contribute your story. Below is a selection, but we welcome any other creative suggestions!
Write an article: you can put together a blog post detailing your story, in which case we request that your text addresses a broad audience and is maximum 3000 characters including spaces. We need at least one photograph to accompany your piece.
Send in a picture: if you’re an amateur photographer, you can send in an entire photo series with captions, or if you have a single photo which you think captures a moment, we will also run a Photo of the Day section. You must include all photo credits and send us text for captions.
Make a video: if your story is very visual, you can consider sending in video footage. We are not film producers or editors, your contribution must be ready-to-post please!
Write an article: you can put together a blog post detailing your story, in which case we request that your text addresses a broad audience and is maximum 3000 characters including spaces. We need at least one photograph to accompany your piece.
Send in a picture: if you’re an amateur photographer, you can send in an entire photo series with captions, or if you have a single photo which you think captures a moment, we will also run a Photo of the Day section. You must include all photo credits and send us text for captions.
Make a video: if your story is very visual, you can consider sending in video footage. We are not film producers or editors, your contribution must be ready-to-post please!
What are the topics you can cover?
We would like to feature how the ETH community is responding to the crisis in different ways. These may include thoughts from both a personal and professional angle on the following topics:
How we respond creatively: personal, inspiring stories about how you are dealing with the current situation.
How we reflect: have you had a major setback that has made you rethink things? Are you using different tools and methods to make time to think about life in general?
How we cope: describe some of the challenges this situation has created, and how you are working to overcome them.
How we connect: please share any useful observations and experiences about exchanging in a virtual world. Are you getting online with your relatives? Have you hosted virtual dinner parties?
How we learn and work: do you have any top tips for structuring digital interaction and engagement with your stakeholders? Are you piloting new software that you think others may be interested in? What are your go-to resources for distracting content online? Are you doing any cool online courses?
How we respond creatively: personal, inspiring stories about how you are dealing with the current situation.
How we reflect: have you had a major setback that has made you rethink things? Are you using different tools and methods to make time to think about life in general?
How we cope: describe some of the challenges this situation has created, and how you are working to overcome them.
How we connect: please share any useful observations and experiences about exchanging in a virtual world. Are you getting online with your relatives? Have you hosted virtual dinner parties?
How we learn and work: do you have any top tips for structuring digital interaction and engagement with your stakeholders? Are you piloting new software that you think others may be interested in? What are your go-to resources for distracting content online? Are you doing any cool online courses?
What we’re not looking for: Scientific articles or news pieces – please refer to the Zukunftsblog and ETH News, and contact the relevant person in the editorial team as listed at https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/editorial-team.html
Our publishing terms:
Our editorial team will decide whether the article is appropriate for the ETH Ambassadors Blog. We will proofread and edit all contributions before publishing them, and we reserve the right to make modifications to your original submission. This includes the body of the text, but also titles, subtitles and captions.
You may also find all information on our template which you can download here. Please use it to share your story!
Click here to submit your idea:
To contact the Editors:
My favourite place to relax at the moment is this corner of my couch (photo credit: Elisabeth Pöschl)
Elisabeth Pöschl
elisabeth.poeschl@sl.ethz.ch
The thing that keeps me most busy at the moment is: Thankfully my work, especially designing this blog. And getting better at my bagpipes play, my left hand doesn’t do what I’m telling it to do…
My favourite app is: Amazon Music – I put together a "good mood" playlist featuring amongst others Natacha Atlas, The Sugarhill Gang, Simon & Garfunkel and Homebound
One book or movie I recommend: “Ohne Flugzeug um die Welt” – a book written by two of our ETH Ambassadors, Giulia Fontana and Lorenz Keysser. Here’s the link to their blog.
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: Chocolate. It’s a cliché, but I just can’t live without it.
elisabeth.poeschl@sl.ethz.ch
The thing that keeps me most busy at the moment is: Thankfully my work, especially designing this blog. And getting better at my bagpipes play, my left hand doesn’t do what I’m telling it to do…
My favourite app is: Amazon Music – I put together a "good mood" playlist featuring amongst others Natacha Atlas, The Sugarhill Gang, Simon & Garfunkel and Homebound
One book or movie I recommend: “Ohne Flugzeug um die Welt” – a book written by two of our ETH Ambassadors, Giulia Fontana and Lorenz Keysser. Here’s the link to their blog.
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: Chocolate. It’s a cliché, but I just can’t live without it.
Although the Polyterrasse is deserted, ETH still stands on week two of the lockdown, awaiting our return very soon… (photo credit: Viktoria Ivarsson)
Viktoria Ivarsson
viktoria.ivarsson@sl.ethz.ch
The thing that keeps me most busy at the moment is: Figuring out a routine that balances work and virtual contact with my loved ones whereby I don’t overdose on screen time…
My favourite app is: Sonos, with which I stream BBC Radio 2 all day every day. As I am alone in my small city apartment, I like the sound of voices chatting in the background interspersed with music.
One book or movie I recommend: Before the ETH Library closed I managed to grab These Truths by Jill Lepore. It is a history of the United States that Bill Gates put on his reading list.
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: An online fitness class. I have been joining the MixStudio live on Instagram, but you can also subscribe to the Body Coach and Fitness Blender on YouTube for free videos.
viktoria.ivarsson@sl.ethz.ch
The thing that keeps me most busy at the moment is: Figuring out a routine that balances work and virtual contact with my loved ones whereby I don’t overdose on screen time…
My favourite app is: Sonos, with which I stream BBC Radio 2 all day every day. As I am alone in my small city apartment, I like the sound of voices chatting in the background interspersed with music.
One book or movie I recommend: Before the ETH Library closed I managed to grab These Truths by Jill Lepore. It is a history of the United States that Bill Gates put on his reading list.
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: An online fitness class. I have been joining the MixStudio live on Instagram, but you can also subscribe to the Body Coach and Fitness Blender on YouTube for free videos.
Working on my balcony (photo credit: Marianne Lucien)
Marianne Lucien
marianne.lucien@hk.ethz.ch
The thing that keeps me most busy at the moment is: Supporting my colleagues and media contacts in developing relevant content.
My favourite app is: WhatsApp. It is my life line to family, friends, and colleagues in an otherwise solitary existence.
One book or movie I recommend: Especially in a pandemic, it is important to realize that “No matter what he (or she) does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world…” – a quote from The Alchemist, by Paulo Coehlo
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: Run or long walk with a view or a chat with my Mom
marianne.lucien@hk.ethz.ch
The thing that keeps me most busy at the moment is: Supporting my colleagues and media contacts in developing relevant content.
My favourite app is: WhatsApp. It is my life line to family, friends, and colleagues in an otherwise solitary existence.
One book or movie I recommend: Especially in a pandemic, it is important to realize that “No matter what he (or she) does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world…” – a quote from The Alchemist, by Paulo Coehlo
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: Run or long walk with a view or a chat with my Mom
At home. Coffee break with myself. (photo credit: Simone Bucher van Ligten)
Simone Bucher van Ligten
simone.bucher@sl.ethz.ch
The thing that keeps me most busy at the moment is: Wrapping my head around the new abnormal. Time for us to catch up on the simple things.
My favourite app is: Anything that streams jazzy grooves.
One book or movie I recommend: “Design by Nature” by Otmar Bucher and “Ich komme mit” by Angelika Waldis.
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: Our two sons (almost 17 and 20 years) make sure we don’t forget to laugh.
simone.bucher@sl.ethz.ch
The thing that keeps me most busy at the moment is: Wrapping my head around the new abnormal. Time for us to catch up on the simple things.
My favourite app is: Anything that streams jazzy grooves.
One book or movie I recommend: “Design by Nature” by Otmar Bucher and “Ich komme mit” by Angelika Waldis.
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: Our two sons (almost 17 and 20 years) make sure we don’t forget to laugh.