Mining the Atmosphere at Scientifica 2026

This year I represented Empa’s Mining the Atmosphere research initiative at Scientifica, the science festival of ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich.

The initiative looks at how excess CO₂ can be taken from the air, water or biomass and turned into long-lasting materials. Examples include building materials such as concrete, insulation and road pavements that store carbon over the long term. At the booth in Dübendorf, visitors could explore material samples from Empa’s labs, short animations and molecular models covering the whole chain, from CO₂ capture to conversion and use.

I enjoyed the many conversations with visitors of all ages about how a greenhouse gas could become a resource for building the world of tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who stopped by, and to the Empa team for organizing the exhibition.

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