Welcome to the International Political Economy and Environmental Politics group!
Professor Bernauer's group is based at the Center for Comparative and International Studies (CIS) and the Institute of Science, Technology and Policy (ISTP). The group’s research and teaching focuses primarily on investigating environmental issues, in Switzerland and across the globe, based on theories and methods of political economy and political science.
New research by Michael Wicki, Sophie Haullera, Thomas Bernauer and David Kaufmann explores the preferences of various stakeholders in transformind railway stations.
Sarah Gomm and Thomas Bernauer found in their research, that people don't perceive environmental stressors equally. Even low-level stressors can harm mental health, so policy interventions should consider individuals' subjective perception. The implication is that accessible green spaces can provide a sense of control and reduce negative impacts.
International and cross university collaborations bring a great potential to improve our ways of thinking and doing research. We are proud to have been able to co-teach a two week course this February in collaboration with the University of Ashesi in Accra, Ghana.
Corona Virus - Special ETH Communication
Information on the coronavirus
The ETH task force headed by the Vice President for Infrastructure is monitoring developments in the coronavirus pandemic and will continue to draw up suitable measures as necessary. You can find constantly updated information on the coronavirus web page.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals often became hubs of infection. Researchers from ETH Zurich, EPFL and the ISI Foundation are developing a wearable tracking system for healthcare facilities that can identify the risks of infections. Initial tests in Switzerland and Africa show its potential.
A new study by various Swiss universities shows that aerosols in indoor air can vary in acidity. This acidity determines how long viruses remain infectious in the air – with profound implications for virus transmission and strategies to contain it.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a method to explore the possibilities of how the pandemic virus could evolve. Thanks to their work, it may be possible to develop antibody therapies and vaccines that are more likely to be effective also against future viral variants.