A little more than a year from now ETH Zurich will be celebrating a major anniversary – its 150th. Such a celebration is generally seen as a fitting occasion to look back on what has been achieved. A review of the university's long (and successful) history will surely not be wanting. But we would like to use this jubilee year to fix our attention on ETH's main area of concern: the future. Teaching and research at ETH Zurich are oriented to the future. After all, research results are the basis for tomorrow. And our students are being educated to work in tomorrow's world – they will make an important contribution towards society's future development.

What is the point of departure? – ETH Zurich is a university with national and international appeal, it is a leader in teaching and research and it stakes everything on expanding its standing. ETH sees itself as an important location factor in science and the economy in Switzerland. The university is open-minded, it seeks dialogue with society at large and creates discernable added value. The jubilee year should be seized to strengthen awareness of these principles among the ETH community and associates, but also among those who show little interest in ETH or its affairs.

A jubilee year calls for celebration, and there will be ample opportunity for this aspect. Personally, I also hope that something lasting will result from the jubilee year 2005, specifically that it will help to anchor ETH within society. Someone who pays taxes needs to be convinced that the considerable sums entrusted to us are well spent and produce added value for society. The jubilee projects under consideration, some of permanent character, are vital elements to ensure a prosperous future for our institution.

Former PSI Director, new Jubilee Manager and ETH Life columnist, Meinrad Eberle

By focusing our attention on the inner life of ETH we want to try and enhance the community spirit and extend both inter- and transdisciplinary co-operation as a new element in the university's culture.

Some people at ETH might ask, "Wouldn't it be better to distribute the money being spent on the Jubilee (which is not being taken from regular funds) amongst departments?" My answer to this would be that the one-off sum ensuing from such a distribution would hardly be noticed in today's departmental budgets.

Another possible objection is that professors' workloads are felt to be increasingly heavy and now additional work must be done for the Jubilee. Admittedly, it is an added burden. We must learn to adapt to the changed requirements that society demands of us. The sellers' market has evolved to a buyers' market; this is also true in academe, whether we like it or not. We must ask ourselves if we can make do with less paper (including e-mails), if we could deal with more tasks by the means of direct contact and whether we can work more efficiently by respecting common values. And we could consider whether we could achieve more by better division of tasks. It hardly makes sense that all of the above be carried out by everyone at the price of quality.

I hope I have convinced you that "150 years ETH Zurich" is a timely chance for an honest, constructive bout of self-inquiry. We shall be celebrating with the organisation of various events for our most important "clients"; opinion-leaders and the public at large, who will be visiting in person or "virtually", potential future students at secondary schools, and last – but never least – you, who teach, study or work at ETH Zurich. In forthcoming columns I shall describe the development of our plans in more detail. I hope to succeed in awakening your interest and enthusiasm for the Jubilee, for the future of our ETH. You are our institution's capital – help to shape the event!