Historical review of the development of Eawag
| 1936 |
The Swiss Angling Association
approaches the Swiss Interior Ministry in 1933 to demand that measures be taken
to combat the increasing water pollution and that an advisory centre for
effluent treatment be set up.
The establishment of the Advisory Centre for Effluent Treatment and Water Protection at the ETH Zurich signals the creation of Eawag. At the start, one chemist, one biologist and one engineer work for the Advisory Centre. |
| 1946 |
The Advisory Centre becomes Eawag
(Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology), an institute that is affiliated to
the ETH.
Dr. Ulrich Corti is appointed Director of the affiliated institute.
Eawag is organised into four specialist areas:
|
| 1952 |
Professor Dr. Otto Jaag is appointed
the new Director of Eawag. Under his leadership Eawag concentrates on its
advisory activities. The objective is to resolve problems as rapidly as
possible. Above all, treatment plants are to be built to prevent untreated
effluent reaching waterways.
The new “Hydrobiology/Limnology” department is created.
|
| 1955 | Creation of the “Solid Waste Products” department. |
| 1957 |
Eawag plays a decisive role in the implementation of the first water protection legislation in Switzerland, by assessing projects concerned with sewage systems, treatment plants and other water protection measures.
|
| 1960 |
Acquisition of the Hydrobiological
Laboratory in Kastanienbaum by Eawag from the Naturforschende Gesellschaft
Luzern (Lucerne
Society of Natural Science).
--> Expansion of research activities in the fields of limnology and hydrobiology. |
| 1961 |
Criticism from the Federal Office for Water Protection that Eawag carries out too little research and concentrates too much on consultancy leads to research projects in the fields of eutrophisation of lakes, self-cleaning powers of waterways, and biological treatment plants. |
| 1962 |
Otto Jaag publishes many articles in specialist journals on water protection and waste water treatment. During his time as Director of Eawag he makes many international contacts. |
| 1969 |
Creation
of the “Fishery Sciences” department.
|
| 1970 |
Professor Dr. Werner Stumm, a
chemist, becomes the new Director of Eawag. Until then an institute in the ETH Zurich, Eawag now becomes
an affiliated institute within the ETH system.
Fundamental research activities come to the fore.
Eawag moves into its new premises in Dübendorf. |
| 1975 | Eawag supports the quantification of water protection goals. |
| 1977 | Eawag moves into the new facilities in Kastanienbaum (Canton of Lucerne). |
| 1979 |
The “Urban Water Management and Water Protection” postgraduate course is created at the ETH Zurich. |
| 1987 |
The Aquatic Ecotoxicology Research group is founded. |
| 1992 |
Professor Dr. Alexander Zehnder, a
biochemist, is appointed Director of Eawag. He initiates discussion of
sustainability in terms of water and energy.
Eawag also concentrates more on interdisciplinary projects. |
| 1993 | Practice-oriented Eawag courses (PEAK) are offered for the first time. |
|
2004 |
Creation of the Fishery Advisory Centre at Eawag |
| 2006 | Eawag moves into the new Forum Chriesbach building in Dübendorf |
| 2007 | Professor Dr. Janet Hering is appointed Director of Eawag. |
| 2008 |
Establishment of Water Agenda 21
The headquarters of Water Agenda 21 are located at Eawag. Creation of the Ecotox Centre at Eawag. |