Scientifica 2021: Synthetic naturally
At Scientifica, visitors talked with researchers joining the World Food System Center and ETH4D exhibit about innovations for sustainable development and food systems.
Our world is facing major challenges that require innovative solutions – both locally and globally. What contribution can digital technologies make to prevent food waste? How can the global population be supplied with clean drinking water? And what innovative approaches are there to recycle waste and close nutrient cycles?
At the collaborative booth of the ETH for Development (ETH4D) initiative and the World Food System Center of ETH Zurich, researchers were on hand during the weekend of 04 and 05 September at external pageScientifica, the public science event of ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich.
Four interactive displays showed a variety of current projects from the fields of agricultural, food and water supply research that contribute to global sustainable development in both “natural” and “artificial” ways. Visitors could test an app that helps to keep food fresh longer in home refrigerators, developed by the Simulating Biological Systems Group at Empa. A chlorination device from the groups of Safe Water Promotion and Water Supply and Treatmentand Eawag Sandec was pumping to demonstrate how drinking water is treated in the Global South with the help of low-cost technologies.
The Phenoliva project team from the Food Biochemistry Group of ETH Zurich were on hand to show how natural antioxidants can be extracted from supposed waste from olive oil production, which can then be added to foods or cosmetics. The Sustainable Agroecosystems Group of ETH Zurich helped visitors of all ages create a sustainable circular economy using a 3D model.
We thank all the research groups for their contributions and time for this great public event. And, of course, to all those visitors that came by to chat!
The Phenoliva Project Team test visitors' knowledge on what new products can be made from the "waste" after the oil is pressed from olives (Image: ETH4D).
The Safe Water Promotion and Water Supply and Treatment Groups from Eawag Sandec show visitors a running chlorination device to be used to supply drinking water (Image: ETH4D).
Where to store fruit and veggies at home to reduce food waste? Visitors check if their answers are correct with the Simulating Biological Systems Group from Empa (Image: WFSC).
Booth participants:
Laboratory of Food Biochemistry, ETH Zürich
Safe Water Promotion Group, Eawag Sandec
Simulating Biological Systems Group, Empa
Municipal Solid Waste Management Group, Eawag Sandec
Sustainable Agroecosystems Group, ETH Zürich
Sustainable Food Processing Group, ETH Zürich
Water Supply and Treatment Group, Eawag Sandec
Booth organizers:
World Food System Center, ETH Zürich
ETH for Development, ETH Zürich