Science that matters

Pesticides in Swiss streams: much remains to be done

Three recent studies examine pesticide pollution in Swiss streams and rivers. With comprehensive screening of over 250 pesticides, they show which of them occur in water bodies and which pose the highest risks to aquatic organisms The studies also investigated the applications from which particularly risk-relevant pesticides originate and the routes by which they enter water bodies – an important basis for reducing the pollution of water bodies by these substances in a targeted manner. To the news article and summary on Linkedin (in German). 

Indirect effects drive evolution


Natural ecosystems are intricate webs where species can interact directly, like predators and prey, or influence one another through a chain of environmental effects. But can these indirect interactions be powerful enough to permanently alter a species' genetic makeup? Read more

New water quality data available


A new dataset on the water quality in Swiss river catchments is now available. CAMELS-CH-Chem incorporates up to 40 water quality parameters for 115 Swiss catchments between 1981 and 2020. Read more on Linkedin


The next few years in Legionella research


Diseases caused by Legionella bacteria are on the rise, despite national and international efforts to contain them. A joint paper by an international panel of researchers highlights the important steps that need to be taken in the coming years to combat the pathogen. Read more

Trees need water to cool the city



Urban trees are often seen as natural allies in fighting summer heat waves. But how much they actually help to cool their surroundings depends heavily on how moist the soil is. This is the main finding of a new study, led by environmental engineers at ETH Zurich and Eawag, which investigated several urban neighbourhoods in Zurich. Read more






Changing the diet of cell cultures
The use of cell lines has become an invaluable alternative to animal testing in recent years. Research at Eawag, in the context of environmental toxicology, is leading the way. However, one major challenge has remained: the reliance on foetal bovine serum (FBS) to sustain fish cell cultures - at least until now. The team led by Eawag researchers Barbara Jozef and Kristin Schirmer has now developed an alternative. To the news article and the Video. 







Eawag in the media and on social media
Media – the most exciting articles from print media, radio and television
Social media wall – everything at a glance



The lake's services are priceless
The Lake Lucerne Supervisory Commission is celebrating its 40th anniversar. On 26 September, invited guests, including government councillors from the five cantons bordering the lake, met with Federal Councillor Albert Rösti at Eawag. Read more



Serina Robinson receives ERC Starting Grant
The European Research Council awards ERC Starting Grants to researchers who are at the beginning of a promising career. This year, the honour goes to Eawag scientist Serina Robinson. She is investigating how microbial enzymes bind PFAS. Read more


Successful spin-off celebrates anniversary
RANAS celebrated its anniversary in 2025. Over the past five years, the Eawag spin-off has developed into a successful company. RANAS offers support for campaigns aimed at behavioural change and prevention. Read more







October 29, 2025, 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm
Schweizer Felchenvielfalt - was uns ihr Erbgut verrät
Public presentation, Eawag Kastanienbaum
November 6, 2025, 4.00 pm -  5.00 pm
Blue Space, Resilience, and Health: From Nature-based Solutions to Nature-based Therapies
Eawag seminar, Eawag Dübendorf & online

November 19, 2025, 8.30 am - 5.00 pm
Environmental Analytics: Challenges and Advances in Mass Spectrometry
Advanced course PEAK, Eawag Dübendorf & Online
December 4, 2025, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Emissionen von Reifenpartikeln und Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt
PEAK-Basiskurs, Eawag Dübendorf

In our agenda you will find further events as well as our Eawag seminars with internationally renowned researchers.






Groundwater – utilising and protecting the resource drinking water
Info Day Magazine 2025 (Online Magazine in English)


Sandec News 26, 2025
Magazine of the Department Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development Sandec.





Scientific publications from Eawag can be found on DORA Eawag.


Cover picture: Artificial intelligence, data science, modelling and digitalisation are now central elements of water research. Eawag researchers, in particular the Department Systems Analysis, Integrated Assessment and Modelling, use these technologies and develop innovative approaches and algorithms to identify plankton species, predict the toxicity of chemicals, simulate riverine biocoenoses, study insect biodiversity and the development of floods and droughts. Foreground: handwritten notes, formulas and programme codes of Eawag researchers. Background: Shutterstock, Ostranitsa Stanislav.

You can find more articles on our News Portal.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please send us an e-mail to redaktion@eawag.ch
or visit our website eawag.ch.

Publisher
Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

Contact
Eawag
Überlandstrasse 133
8600 Dübendorf
Switzerland
www.eawag.ch
redaktion@eawag.ch


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