Theme: Holding On or Letting Go

Evolving, adapting, improving and innovating... are actions strongly related with the decision-making skill that we, as humans, possess and make use of, when encountering (1) ideas, values or actions, that have transcended through time to become the norm and/or (2) having to leave behind old methods, concepts or paradigms.

In this event, leaders of diverse backgrounds will share with us some of the decisions they have taken during unique and extraordinary situations they have faced in their respective fields, which have triggered new or modified behaviors, practices or solutions.

CEMEX Research Group
13 Römerstrasse
Brügg, Bern (de), Berne (fr), 2555
Switzerland

Bertrand Lemoine

Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research

Engineer graduated at Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris, architect, holds a doctorate in History of Paris. He`s a consultant in sustainable and digital strategies and development, and director of the architectural magazine Acier. He is currently involved in the Grand Paris Project. Bertrand is author of numerous articles and 43 books on history and actuality of architecture, construction, cities, and Paris.

Christoph Holliger

Director of the Project Oriented Learning Environment (POLE) at University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland

Ph.D. in Physics from ETH Zürich and M.Sc. degree in Biomedical Engineering from Stanford University. After coming back from the U.S., Holliger held a position at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, where he taught at the School of Engineering and the Academy of Art & Design. He is the founding director of the Project Oriented Learning Environment (POLE), the international and transdisciplinary platform for learning and teaching at University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland

Christopher Broeg

Project Manager of the Institute for Space Research and Planetary Sciences at the University of Bern

Christopher is currently working at the CHEOPS (Characterizing ExoPlanet Satellite), which is the first joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Switzerland, and the first ESA S-mission, dedicated to the search of ExoPlanetary transits on bright stars already known to host planets.

Davide Zampini

Head of the CEMEX Research Group AG (CRG), Switzerland

With over 27 years of experience in the construction materials industry, Davide Zampini is on a continuous and relentless quest to push the limits of innovation when it comes to cement-based products and building solutions. Through the adoption of a Design and industrialization-Driven innovation approach, Davide leads a multi-disciplinary and culturally diverse team at CEMEX's Center for Innovation and Technology. Davide's team in Switzerland does not limit itself to developing novel functionalities in cement-based materials, but CEMEX's adaptive research and development model has been conceived with a given versatility, and thus allows for the incorporation of customer-centered strategies that are designed to create strong emotional ties to a material that for ages has been considered "grey."

Jamie Edwards

Youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion, from Preston, UK

Born in Preston, UK, 13-year-old Jamie attempted to become the youngest person ever to achieve nuclear fusion. When he told his headmaster about his plan to build the nuclear reactor and asked for funding, the reply was “Will it blow up the school?”. Jamie got the funding and, rest assured, the school still stands. He plans to be a nuclear engineer or work in reactor physics when he is older. He is currently 15 years old and his fusion attempt has been verified by the Open Source Fusor Research Consortium.

Karsten Seiferlin

Planetologist and Project Manager at the Physics Institute of the University of Bern

He is responsible for the coordination of various space instrument developments and teaches Physics. Karsten participated in the development of the MUPUS, a multipurpose-sensor which is currently aboard of the Philae comet lander, in the Rosetta space mission (first-ever landing robot on a comet).

Matthias Schranner

CEO of the Negotiation Institute in Zurich

Matthias was a member of the Crisis Negotiation Task Force of the German police department, where he managed negotiations in hostage situations like kidnappings, bank robberies, and suicide attempts. Today, he works as a consultant of difficult negotiations for executive managers of global organizations.

Thomas Steinemann

Owner and CEO of Dubois et Fils SA, the oldest watch factory in Swtzerland

Thomas is a watch aficionado, owner and CEO of Dubois et Fils. Thomas took his first steps in the watch industry during apprenticeship. Years later, after bringing Fossil watches to Switzerland, he sold his two companies to this brand and began his career within the group. One day, he broke out of the daily grind to fulfill his lifelong dream: the rebirth of Switzerland's oldest watch factory, Dubois et Fils. The company is currently celebrating its 230th anniversary.