News EPFL

Launching phase two of EPFL's Valais expansion

Published:31.08.17 — The Canton of Valais, the City of Sion and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) held their annual strategy committee meeting on Wednesday, 30 August. Building on the achievements of the EPFL Valais Wallis campus over the past three years, the parties have officially launched the second phase of EPFL’s Valais expansion. At the committee meeting, the Canton of Valais and EPFL signed the second amendment to the 19 December 2012 agreement on the creation of the EPFL Valais Wallis campus, thereby formalizing the agreement in principle reached in December 2016. A new EPFL building that will host a research center on alpine and extreme environments will be constructed on the Energypolis campus in Sion. The rehabilitation and health cluster and the green chemistry and energies-of-the-future hub will also be strengthened.

New soft robots really suck

Published:30.08.17 — EPFL scientists have created the first functional robot powered entirely by vacuum: made up of soft building blocks, it moves by having air sucked out of them. The robot can be reconfigured to perform different tasks, like climbing vertical walls and grabbing objects.

Drones will take center stage this weekend at EPFL

Published:29.08.17 — EPFL is preparing for its first Drone Days, which will be held on campus from Friday, 1 September to Sunday, 3 September. The program includes drone races, a robotics showcase and a conference. The event will be open to the general public, and visitors will be able to try their hand at flying a drone themselves.

Worm infection reveals cross-talk in the lymph nodes

Published:28.08.17 — By studying a worm infection, EPFL scientists have discovered how lymphatic vessels grow within lymph nodes, with major implications for cancer and inflammation.

A drone to rescue fawns

Published:28.08.17 — Using a thermal camera mounted on a drone, an EPFL student has found a way to spot fawns before the harvester passes through. He does not charge for this service, which effectively eliminates the risk of animals being accidentally killed in the fields.

Fundamentals of life: How centrosomes direct early embryos

Published:24.08.17 — Summer Series: Sarah Herrman is visiting Pierre Gönczy’s lab at EPFL from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her project looks at how the cell’s centrosomes help organize the polarity and function of the developing embryo. 

Using compost to preserve forests in Madagascar

Published:23.08.17 — Research by an EPFL PhD student has found a way to boost Madagascar’s corn crop yields up to five times while decreasing deforestation at the same time.