Eawag Newsletter: Stream sediments more toxic than expected

Stream sediments more toxic than expected

Pesticides in sediments cause adverse effects on benthic organisms. This was shown by a monitoring study conducted by the Ecotox Centre and Eawag on five streams in agricultural areas. Crustaceans were particularly affected. Concentrations of several insecticides, including chlorpyrifos and the pyrethroid cypermethrin, exceeded effect thresholds, indicating impaired sediment quality. Read more

Improved health check for running waters

Invertebrates on the beds of water bodies are observed closely, for they serve as indicators for the ecological status of running waters. A new study shows which species are especially good indicators, and how the monitoring and management of surface waters can be further improved. Read more

Digitalisation in wastewater management

What developments do urban water researchers and professionals see as important? A pioneering horizon scan indicates that digitalisation is a particular concern. Frank Blumensaat, an environmental engineer at ETH Zurich and Eawag, discusses the opportunities and risks it creates in the urban water field in this interview.

Homing in on pyrethroids

The measurement of trace concentrations of pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides – now possible thanks to a newly developed analytical method – shows that these compounds can pose a greater threat to aquatic organisms than all other pesticides. Read more

Opportunity makes species

There may be hundreds of species of char living in Greenland’s lakes and rivers, according to a team from Eawag and the University of Bern, that has discovered the largest known diversity of char species in the catchment area of the Eqaluit River. Read more

Helmut Bürgmann and Davide Ciccarese from Eawag have produced the short film "The Power of the Small" together with Flurin Sturzenegger and Mashid Gazorpak from the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The idea and the concept were developed during the Science Filmmaking Marathon. In the short film, the filmmakers spotlight the microorganisms and their significance in our everyday lives.

Lenny Winkel receives "Golden Owl"

Lenny Winkel has been awarded the teaching award "Golden Owl" by the Association of Students at ETH Zurich. The Golden Owl honours lecturers who have provided exceptional teaching and motivates them to continue with their excellent teaching. Lenny Winkel leads the group Environmental Inorganic Geochemistry within the Department Water Resources and Drinking Water and is until today Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich.

The new video series “Towards Citywide Inclusive Sanitation” by Eawag's department Sandec portrays African and Asian cities moving towards citywide inclusive sanitation. Sanitation experts give personal insights into their work, provide background information about the current sanitation situation in their cities, share their visions and highlight inspiring initiatives. All videos

Four Eawag researchers awarded Four Eawag researchers are on the Web of Science Group's "Highly Cited Researchers 2019" list: Congratulations to Bernhard Truffer, Juliane Hollender, Ole Seehausen and Urs von Gunten. Each year, the list lists researchers whose publications are among the top 1 percent of the most cited papers in their field worldwide. Learn more

Win-win for master’s students and supervisors
Besides research and consultancy, teaching is the third major aspect of Eawag’s work. Around 140 master’s students are supervised every year at the Institute, some of whom are directly involved in research projects. This integration of teaching and learning, along with the flat hierarchies and Eawag’s interdisciplinary culture together create a unique environment that is greatly valued by students and supervisors alike, and which results again and again in outstanding master’s dissertations. Read more

28.-29.4.2020 Moose in Fliessgewässern: Erkennen und Kartieren - eine Methode des MSK Makrophyten Practice-oriented course Eawag Dübendorf

16.1.2020 Nährstoffkreisläufe in blau-grüner Architektur Swissbau, Basel

Methods for the investigation and assessment of watercourses: Macroinvertebrates The updated publication by the FOEN describes a method by which running waters can be assessed on the basis of their colonisation with invertebrate microorganisms at the bottom of water bodies. (only in German and French)

Small watercourses: Ecological function and importance for fish In a new brochure, the Advisory service and training for fishermen explains why small watercourses are important, how they are threatened and how their situation can be improved. (German only)

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