We are very happy to welcome 6 new members to our Lead Team in October. From a team of 9, we are now 15!

We take pride in coming from very different areas of study. Just like all the Lead Teams since the beginning in 2013, the new members study a variety of disciplines like theoretical physics, regnerative food sytems and materials science. Sustainability brings us together and helps us learn from each other.

Together, our new members represent ZHAW, UZH & ETH pointing to another unique aspect: that we are an inter-university association. We are the only student run sustainability association in Zurich containing members from five major public universities, also including ZHdK and PHZH. 

Meet Leah Michelsen who studies Preneurship and Regenerative Food Systems at ZHAW. Leah’s interest in sustainability began at a young age and later inspired her to volunteer on organic farms and take part in ecosystem restoration opportunities around the world. Her passion for entrepreneurship and regeneration led her to pursue a master’s degree in Switzerland, where she is now developing a board game for youth that encourages collective climate action. In her free time, Leah enjoys singing and making music, petting fluffy animals, working on creative projects, and making new friends.

Meet Ronja Schürch, who is a Bachelor Student in Biodiversity at UZH. Growing up, Ronja learned more and more about how humans are destroying the environment — and why it’s everyone’s duty and will to protect it. Today, she still loves spending time outdoors and has become fascinated by insects and all kinds of plants during her biology studies. For her, organizing the NHWZ means bringing the sustainability discussion into society, showing that there are accessible ways to act more sustainably, and giving hope — because that is absolutely necessary to make a change.

Meet Christiane Mayer. Christiane, or Tia for short, is currently doing her PhD in theoretical particle physics at UZH. Outside of working hours, you can most likely find her browsing the local second-hand stores or cosy at home with a hot cup of tea and one of her various craft projects. Learning how to sew and crochet in the last few years has not only become one of her favourite hobbies, but also made her more mindful about the work and resources necessary to produce clothing in an ethical and sustainable way.

Meet Sophie Becker who studies Materials Science at ETH. Having just moved to Zürich, Sophie actually decided to join the NHWZ Lead Team at the very first meeting of a student organization she attended. Back at home in Germany, she already organized some smaller sustainability related events like a waste paper collection and is therefore very exited to now be part of such a great event like Sustainability Week Zürich. In her (sometimes rare;) free time, Sophie also enjoys reading and cooking, although her skills in the latter still require some improvement.

Meet Eric Richter, who has been at the Mechanical Engineering Department at ETH. Eric has been involved in sustainability on and off in the past years, mainly as a member and leader of a "Do Well Do Good" student consulting association, and by removing heavy metals from vineyards in the IGEM synthetic biology competition. At ETH, his Master thesis has been on carbon capture, where he also organised a panel discussion on carbon pricing. His newest venture happens to be the Sustainability Week Zurich, which is where he will spend more of his free time. Of what is left, he will be spending it dancing, hiking and playing music with his people.

Meet Ting Tang who is at the Department of Geography at UZH. Ting is an ecologist whose work explores forest biodiversity and its connections with  people. She’s also a passionate swing dancer who finds pure happiness on the dance floor. Ting loves observing and recording the life around her — from small, passing thoughts to deep, meaningful conversations. A big fan of second-hand fashion and upcycling, she finds sustainability is something truly beautiful in this often overwhelming world.

Curation: Ashoka Vardhan Manchala
Photo Credits: Lead Team, Sustainability Week Zurich / NHWZ Nachhaltigkeitswoche Zürich

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