Swiss Roots, Stellar Futures
Q7.
After nearly three decades abroad, you’ve returned to Switzerland. How did you experience the country and what has changed?
The return was surprisingly complex. I left as a young, unknown scientist and returned as a public figure. Yet at first, I felt like an immigrant: many everyday things felt unfamiliar, expectations had shifted. Switzerland has become more international, more entrepreneurial, more ambitious and noticeably warmer. At the same time, I’ve noticed that questions of identity and integration are becoming more relevant again. I remember well, when I was growing up, Italians were considered immigrants and some of the top students in my school came from exactly those families. You see the same globally: in the US, over half of successful tech start-ups have immigrants on their founding teams.
Q8.
You now lead the ETH Space Center and helped initiate a new Master’s programme. What is your vision for it?
Our aim is to open doors for young people into the international space sector at the level of the world’s best programmes, but tailored to today’s industry, not yesterday’s. Many jobs are no longer in government agencies, but in start-ups. It’s about data, artificial intelligence, flexible applications. Our goal is that in five to ten years, our graduates will be among the most sought-after specialists in Europe because they’ll have the right expertise.
Q9.
Space research never happens in a vacuum. How can science maintain its integrity in such a complex world?
By not focusing solely on efficiency or data, but placing values at the centre: responsibility, transparency, ethics. Science must also be aware of its impact: socially; politically; ecologically; and we need more people with a technical background in political roles. The world needs decision-makers who don’t just use technology, but understand it, including its consequences.
Q10.
What would you say to a young person today who dreams of a future in space?
There’s never been a better time. Space offers answers to questions that concern us all – from climate change to infrastructure security. And it opens up new perspectives on Earth, on other worlds, on what it means to be human. My hope is that Switzerland will lead the world in technologies like timekeeping, sensor systems, and data analysis. This country has always been a launchpad for ideas, for innovation, for the future.