Science that matters

Eawag is one of the world’s leading aquatic research institutes. With its professional diversity, close partnerships with practitioners and an international network, Eawag offers an excellent environment for the study of water as a habitat and resource, for identifying problems at an early stage and for developing widely accepted solutions.

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The latest news from Eawag

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The latest news from Eawag

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The global «plastosphere» contains more than 16,000 chemicals. The new study published iprovides a comprehensive overview of all chemicals that can be present in plastics. (Image: Adobe Stock)
News
Identifying chemicals of concern in plastics – and ...
July 10, 2025

To curb global plastic pollution and to make plastics safer and more sustainable, countries are currently negotiating a global treaty. A new study with participation from Eawag and Empa published in Nature provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of all chemicals that can be present in plastics, their properties, uses, and hazards. Moreover, the study also provides a scientific approach for identifying chemicals of concern. This allows scientists and manufacturers to develop safer plastics and policy makers to promote a non-toxic circular economy.
Excursion during the workshop on urban development and biodiversity with experts from cantons and municipalities. (Photo: Tural Aliyev)
Publication
The cities of the future are blue-green
July 3, 2025

Two workshops on urban development and biodiversity with participants from research and politics show how cities can be designed to be biodiversity-friendly, inclusive and resilient.
News
How much water is left for nature? – The search for the ...
July 2, 2025

After water is diverted for hydropower, rivers are often left with very little streamflow for nature. A new report provides an overview.
The thermal spa in Lavey-les-Bains uses naturally warm groundwater (Photo: Alain Baschenis).
News
Underground microbial life more stable than expected
July 1, 2025

Microbial communities living deep underground in the groundwater of Lavey-les-Bains remain surprisingly stable throughout the year, even though the composition of the water changes seasonally. This is the finding of a study by Eawag researchers that contributes to a better understanding of geothermal systems and microbial life deep underground.
Cover picture: Abishek Narayan (Photo: Leonardo Biasio, Eawag).
News
Abishek Narayan becomes a member of the Swiss Young ...
June 26, 2025

The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences have elected eight new members to the Swiss Young Academy, including Abishek Narayan, a Scientist in the Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec) at the aquatic research institute Eawag.
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Info Day 2025

Groundwater – utilising and protecting the resource drinking water

Thursday, 4 September 2025

AKADEMIE, Empa-Eawag Campus, Dübendorf

Topics in focus

Other topics
Other topics

Events – visit us

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18. - 22.08.​2025
Summer School
ENHANCE Alliance Summer School: Inter- and Transdisciplinary Integration in Science, Policy and Practice
10.00 am
ETH, Zurich, Switzerland
24. - 29.08.​2025
Summer School
Summer School: Blue-green biodiversity. Research and practice at the interface of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
1.00 pm
Davos, Hotel Shima
26.08.​2025
Dialogtag Oekotoxzentrum
9.00 am
Bern, Kongresszentrum Allresto
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New Publication

Changes in Water

The publication Changes in Water illustrates how Eawag contributes to the developments of solutions in the areas of health, cycles, biodiversity and the climate crisis through teaching, consulting, excellent basic research and applied research. You can now view the publication online or order your personal copy.

Learn more about our main interests

Drinking water

we are investigating the basis for clean drinking water and sustainable management of drinking water resources.

Wastewater

we are investigating how to optimise wastewater infrastructures and overcome new challenges.

Biodiversity

our research contributes to understanding and conserving aquatic biodiversity.

Ecosystems

we are investigating biotic communities and their habitats in order to conserve ecosystem services for us humans.

Pollutants

we are investigating the effect of chemical substances on the environment and developing methods to remove them from drinking water, wastewater and bodies of water.

Water and development

our research supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, first and foremost the objective of “clean drinking water and sanitation facilities”.

Societal decision-making

we are developing strategies and methods to support politics, administration, the economy and society in complex decisions.

Climate Change and Energy

we are exploring solutions to make the energy transition environmentally friendly and reduce the impact of climate change.