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The in-person event is fully booked
“When science optimism wins over technology pessimism”
Monday, November 10th, 2025 at 5:15pm
Forum Rolex + online
REGISTRATION (in person or online) - Registration open until Monday, November 3
In French
I have worked in the field of science and engineering across four decades, and it is time for me to take stock. My field – and in particular information sciences – is the liaison between science and technology, a bridge that can be crossed both ways, and the scientific discoveries and technological advances within it have transformed the world.
In order to set the scene, I will begin with some of the history of science before focusing on data compression, in particular MP3, which we all use, and which both occupied my researcher side as well as my musician side. I intend to talk about digitalisation in general, in fact, and its impact on the information society.
This will of course bring me onto the subject of artificial intelligence and its influence on scientific practice and i shall share my view on the epistemological challenges it leads to.
I will then conclude with some thoughts on the role science has to play in society.
Martin Vetterli
Professor and President Emeritus of EPFL
PROGRAMME
5:00 PM Doors open
5:15 PM
Opening words
Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, President of EPFL
Speech
Guy Parmelin, Federal Councillor
Presentation of Martin Vetterli
Joël Mesot, President of ETHZ
“When science optimism wins over technology pessimism”
Martin Vetterli, Professor and President Emeritus of EPFL
Acknowledgements and diploma presentation
Anna Fontcuberta i Morral
~6:30 pm Aperitif
For more information:
events-inscriptions@epfl.ch
Image: Variation on ‘’Drawing Hands” by M.C.Escher (1948), by Annette Unser (2025)
Team EPFL Alumni
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