© 2026 EPFL
Between 5 and 7 March 2026, EPFL will host a day of sustainability-focused scientific activities plus a series of similarly themed public events. The initiative will take stock of existing efforts and chart future steps, both on campus and in research.
A sustainable society is one that safeguards the well-being of current and future generations by seeking to balance economic development with social equity, while keeping human activity within planetary boundaries - especially in response to climate change and biodiversity loss - and ensuring that everyone's basic needs are met.
Scientific progress, especially in artificial intelligence, has a key role to play in making energy systems more efficient, improving agricultural practices and managing resources more sustainably. Yet such technology is itself resource-intensive - a reminder that sustainability ultimately hinges on how carefully and responsibly we deploy it.
The Sustainability Days event on 5-7 March, held on EPFL's Lausanne campus, will explore these issues and more. It will kick off with an opening session on the evening of Thursday, 5 March, followed by a day of activities reserved for EPFL community members on Friday the 6th. On Saturday the 7th, the School will open its doors to the public. The event will provide a unique opportunity to examine how EPFL, through its research, education and innovation, is helping build a sustainable future and tackling the pressing challenges facing modern society.
and the sustainability of AI itself. © BMBF PLS ThiloSchoch
Registration for the conference and roundtable discussion on https://journees-durabilite.epfl.ch/fr/jeudi-5-mars-2026/
The opening session on Thursday - given in English and open to registered participants - will examine how sustainability and AI intersect from environmental, social and ethical standpoints. Aimee van Wynsberghe, an applied AI ethics specialist at the University of Bonn, will speak about both the role of AI in advancing sustainability and how the technology itself can be made sustainable. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion on the environmental, social and ethical dimensions of AI.
On Friday, the campus will host a program of research-focused activities for members of the EPFL community, covering topics such as the energy transition, technology that supports carbon neutrality, and sustainable construction methods. Hands-on workshops and guided tours will run alongside these sessions, offering a deep dive into how sustainability takes shape on campus - from resource-conscious practices and climate and biodiversity adaptation to responsible food choices and our well-being in general.
Registration on https://journees-durabilite.epfl.ch/fr/vendredi-6-mars-2026/
On Saturday, the Rolex Learning Center will open to the public for a full-day's program of talks, "science café" sessions, exhibitions, guided tours, interactive booths and children's workshops. Visitors will get a unique chance to glimpse EPFL research from the inside and learn how science, education and innovation are contributing to a sustainable future.
Highlights of the wide-ranging program will include a film screening followed by a talk on what the climate will be like in a warmer, post-fossil-fuel world where our poles, deserts and forests undergo profound change; a presentation on an innovative, AI-assisted strategy to preserve Red Sea corals; a discussion on sustainability and technology that looks ahead to the future of work and the innovations poised to reshape society; and a presentation on the energy transition that explores the interplay between technological breakthroughs and social change.
At the "science café" sessions, visitors will get the chance to meet researchers face to face and discuss subjects including sustainable housing, plastic pollution, inspiring examples from Africa, and alignment between AI, digital technology and sustainability. Meanwhile, workshops and tours will offer both practical guidance and a closer look at initiatives in action.And throughout the day, EPFL faculty, lab teams and other staff will be on hand to showcase sustainability-related research projects and talk about the School's Climate & Sustainability Strategy.
© 2025 PFL/Alain Herzog - CC-BY-SA 4.0
To learn more https://journees-durabilite.epfl.ch/fr/samedi-7-mars-2026/
Two exhibitions will also run throughout the three days of the event. One turns the spotlight on how scientists are grappling with the climate crisis, featuring interviews with nine of them who will explain how they integrate sustainability into their practice and what it means to conduct research in today's warming world. The other will immerse visitors in the work of the Transnational Red Sea Center in Djibouti, using photography to reveal the scientific, environmental, human and geopolitical challenges involved in preserving coral reefs.
