Climate and the City: Technical solutions and innovations for climate sensitive city planning

• Understand: Gain in-depth knowledge of urban climate adaptation– on approaches, solutions, scaling – from top experts in the field of environmental engineering/sciences, economics, urban design/planning, health and social/behavioural sciences.
• Expand your network: Get valuable insights from startups and industry leaders.
• Teamwork: work in interdisciplinary teams, with students from diverse backgrounds, including business, architecture, engineering, communication, health and environmental sciences.
• Apply: learn creative ideation and entrepreneurial skills to develop innovative ideas for new products and services.
• Pitch to experts: Present your innovative idea to an expert audience and receive practical feedback from them

… and maybe discover a potential topic for your bachelor’s or master’s thesis?

2024 was the warmest year on record 🌍🔥! Adapting to the effects of climate change is therefore becoming increasingly important – especially in cities. Hot summerdays pose a particular problem in densely populated urban areas, thus innovative solutions for urban climate adaptation are needed.

In this hands-on summer school, you will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to develop real-world solutions and business ideas for more resilient and liveable urban spaces in the cities of Winterthur and Zurich, Switzerland. From small scale adaptation measures such as green facades and water management, urban energy and mobility solutions to larger scale social innovations, you will explore practical interventions that make a difference –leveraging an inter- and transdisciplinary approach to drive innovation for climate mitigation and adaptation.

Take action on climate change, build your skills, and expand your network. Apply now and be part of the solution!

Your course co-organizers are:

• Dr. Nina Boogen / Center for Energy and the Environment / School of Management and Law
• Tal Hertig / Institute of Natural Resource Sciences / School of Life Sciences and Facility Management
• Prof. Vicente Carabias-Hütter / Institute of SustainableDevelopment / School of Engineering

‍Faculty:

• Dr. Stephan Brenneisen / Lead Urban Ecology Research Group / Institute of Natural ResourceSciences / School of Life Sciences and Facility Management
• Moira Trüb / Institute of Public Health / School of Health Sciences
• Dr. Manuel Grieder / Center for Energy and the Environment / School of Management and Law
• Prof. Regula Iseli / Co-Lead Institute Urban Landscape / School of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering
• Dr. Devon Wemyss / Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship / School of Management and Law
• Adrian Burri, Salome Berger / Institute of Product Development and Production Technologies/ School of Engineering  
• Martina Rechsteiner and other lecturers from the Institute of Sustainable Development / School of Engineering   

Key Contributors & past Jury-Members: Debora Heitz (EBP Switzerland), Yanna Thinnes (Holinger AG), Sandra Probst-Rüd (City of Winterthur), Xenia Katharina Meier (innovation expert), Julien Gérard Anet (Urban climate specialist at City of Zurich), Members of the WinLab Community

The Summer School is open for BSc, MSc and PhD students from all departments and disciplines at ZHAW, the EELISA Partner universities and other institutions of higher education.

The number of participants is limited to 24-30. All applications will be evaluated after the application deadline. You will be informed by calendar week 15 whether you can take part in the Summer School. After the acceptance to the Summer School, students will receive course materials and further information.

Important: Please check with your study program lead if the Summer School of 3–6 ECTS can be credited.

All attendees are required to dedicate their full attention to the program for its duration. Please makesure to pause other obligations to ensure a fully engaging experience.

Documents required for the application

–      CV in English including English level and BSc GPA and

–      A motivation letter

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Course days      

• 24.08. – 01.09.2026 (3 ECTS)
• 24.08. – 04.09.2026 (6 ECTS)

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