Dear Colleagues, Students, and Friends of Science,
How did life emerge on Earth? Is there life elsewhere in the universe?
We are delighted to invite you to the official inauguration of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) “Genesis”, funded by SNF and lead by ETHZ and Unil.
This ambitious project brings together around 100 researchers from institutions across Switzerland to connect earth sciences, astronomy, chemistry, biology, and planetary sciences in pursuit of one of science’s greatest questions: how life first emerged, and whether it might arise elsewhere in the universe.
Event Details
- Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
- Time: 14:00 – 19:00
- Location: Audi Max (HG F30), ETH Zürich (Hauptgebäude, Rämistrasse 101, Zürich)
Highlights of the Afternoon
The event will feature a keynote lecture titled “Life as a Planetary Phenomenon: From Origins to Prevalence” by Prof. Betül Kaçar (University of Wisconsin-Madison), followed by “Science Dialogues” between our research teams. We will also be honored by addresses from the leadership of ETH Zurich and Unil.
The formal program will conclude with an Apéro at 17:00, providing an opportunity for networking and further discussion.
We look forward to welcoming you to Zurich for this landmark celebration of Swiss research and the quest for our origins.
Best regards,
Prof. Didier Queloz & Prof. Johanna Marin Carbonne, Directors of NCCR Genesis