2011 Magistrale attended by Didier Burkhalter

An audience of over 2500 attended the EPFL graduation ceremony, which for the fourth consecutive year was held in a marquee set up on the Place Cosandey – a location that is associated with the importance of the event, which marks the end of the many years of studies completed by the 657 new alumni. As well as the parents, personalities from the realms of science and politics, including State Councilors Anne-Catherine Lyon and Gisèle Ory, gathered to witness the ceremony, which was punctuated with interludes provided by the Hallet Eghayan dance company. It was “a day of rich emotions” as Philippe Gilet, Vice-President for Academic Affairs described it. For the first time, the event was broadcast live on the School’s homepage.

“Life is like a bicycle”
After a soothing dance performance, serving as an introduction, the President of EPFL, Patrick Aebischer, congratulated the graduates, emphasizing the fact that “day after day, they have experimented with a new type of life and environment”, in that the School has become a true campus, shared with the University of Lausanne, and buzzing seven days a week. He took advantage of this opportunity to remind the audience of the importance of the many EPFL projects linked to the challenges of the forthcoming years, such as energy issues, the progress of developing countries, or brain research. “Guardian Angels” and the “Human Brain Project” have in fact been selected to be included in the European Flagship projects. “Life is like a bicycle – you must keep going if you don’t want to fall off.” With this quote from Albert Einstein, addressed to the new graduates, the President of EPFL concluded his speech.

“The mammoth of worldwide science”
The ritual of “the three knocks”, theater lighting effects, and the Master of Ceremonies – all the elements associated with the best shows were present. Didier Burkhalter, Federal Councilor, brought out in his speech the analogy between risk-taking, the performances of the artists, and the lives of students who have to find the right balance between personal obligations, studies, and paid work. Extending the comparison further, the Councilor for Home Affairs described the School as a “mammoth of worldwide science, demanded everywhere and not surprised to be there”.

The new Honoris Causa doctorates
However, the atmosphere of the Magistrale would not be complete without the awarding of the Honoris Causa doctorates. Four internationally renowned scientists were honored this year.

Hanna and Antonio Damasio founded the Institute for the Study of the Brain and Creativity at the University of Southern California. These world-renowned scientists use technological developments in brain-imaging and the latest research on the functioning of the latter to discover the neurological bases of a wide range of mental functions (from emotion and decision-making to innovation and creativity).

Roberto Car, who was also awarded an Honoris Causa doctorate, co-developed the “ab-initio” molecular dynamics approach, also known as the Car-Parrinello method. This theory has had an enormous impact on the creation of molecular simulations with practical applications in basic science. This approach represents a major breakthrough in computational physics and influenced the methodology for the calculation of the structure of solids, liquids and molecules. Currently professor at Princeton University (United States), he was actually an assistant at EPFL at the end of the 1970s.

The fourth Honoris Causa doctorate was awarded to Subra Suresh, Director of the National Science Foundation, the American government agency which supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical domains of science and engineering.

The eagerly expected “Polysphères” reward in each faculty the teachers most appreciated by the students. The gold polysphère, presented by Agepoly, was awarded this year to Arjen Lenstra of the School of Computing and Communication.

Many prizes rewarded scientists and alumni, of which the Fondation Credit Suisse prize was awarded to Francesco Mondada.

The research awards, presented by Benoît Deveaud-Plédran, Dean of Research, rewarded scientists who have made special contributions. Thus, the Prix Fondation Latsis internationale was awarded to Emmanuel Abbé, the Prix ABB 2011 to Mosaddeghi Seyed Abbas, and the Prix ZKS to Kevin Sivula.

Lastly, the Alumni Awards rewarded once more this year two EPFL graduates with exceptional career paths:
- Alain Fuchs, who has become CEO of the CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research), the most important French government-funded scientific research organization
- André Borschberg, former Swiss army fighter pilot, who successfully managed the first international Solar Impulse flight, from Payerne to Brussels.