News from the Executive Board 2024/8
A partially revised financial regulation, the establishment of a new technology platform and elections to various commissions: these were among the topics discussed by the Executive Board of ETH Zurich at its last meeting.
Partial revision of the financial regulations
The Executive Board has approved a partial revision of the financial regulations, which will come into force on 1 January 2025. The changes mainly concern reserve management:
- The valuation of reserves will be standardised. The externally prescribed measure ‘reserves without earmarking’ will also be applied to the internal valuation of reserves.
- Reserves are held exclusively by academic units and are managed centrally. (The existing reserves of the members of the Executive Board will be transferred to the central reserves as of 31 December 2024.)
- Reserves of a professorship, an institute or other departmental facilities may show a deficit for a maximum of two years.
- Reserves that remain with a professorship after retirement will be transferred to the department (no longer to the President).
The amendments have already been approved by resolution of the Executive Board on 28 March 2024 and therefore did not require any consultation. In addition, editorial changes have been made, e.g. with regard to gender-neutral language.
New ETH technology platform for cell analyses
ETH Zurich is establishing an independent technology platform for flow cytometry. From 1 January 2025, the "Flow Cytometry Core Facility (FCCF)" will operate under the authority of the Vice President for Research. Flow cytometry is used in Biology, Environmental Monitoring and Materials Science. The technology helps to examine cells, analyse water samples or test new material properties. It allows over 10,000 cells - or other particles - to be viewed and analysed individually every second. As the method has become more versatile, it is increasingly being used in other areas of research. In future, the number of FCCF users will continue to grow accordingly.
Today, the FCCF supports over 200 active users from D-BIOL, D-CHAB, D-HEST, D-MATL and Eawag as well as ETH spin-offs and other education and research institutions in the greater ETH Zurich area. The FCCF has been part of the ETH Phenomics Centre since 2012. However, the service portfolios differed so much that the FCCF now provides its expertise to the ETH community independently. Florian Mair will manage operations, supported by a Steering Board under the designated chairmanship of Nina Cabezas-Wallscheid, Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Ageing at D-HEST.
Investment Commission members re-elected
The members of the Investment Commission are elected for a term of four years. As of 1 November 2024, the Executive Board has confirmed all current commission members for a further term:
- Isabel Günther, Professor of Development Economics and Academic Director of NADEL (D-GESS)
- Katharina Poiger (Secretary General)
- Peter Egger, professor of applied economic research at the KOF Swiss Economic Institute (D-MTEC)
The Vice President for Finance and Controlling is an ex officio member and chair of the Investment Commission.
Elections to the Ethics Commission
At the last Executive Board meeting, one replacement, re-election and new election each were held for the Ethics Commission:
- Daniella Laureiro-Martinez, Senior Scientist at the Technology and Innovation Management Group (D-MTEC) and Alessandro Blasimme, Senior Scientist at the Health Ethics and Policy Lab (D-HEST) joined the Commission as of 1 November. Daniella Laureiro-Martinez will complement the Ethics Commission in the areas of cognitive science and experimental behavioural studies. Alessandro Blasimme will support the Commission in the areas of human research, bioethics and the regulation of medical innovation.
- The term of office of Isabel Günther, Professor of Development Economics and Academic Director of NADEL, has been extended by four years.
Note on the translation
This text has been translated for your convenience using a machine translation tool. Although reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, it may not be perfect. If in doubt, please refer to the German version.
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