To Michael Michael. The University Council wishes to have it, at least. The successor to the ever popular Michael Hengartner as the rector of the University of Zurich (UZH) is to take over Michael Schaepman, Vice-rector of research.

The University Council, the Supreme body of the University, proposes Schaepman for the nomination – there is no Alternative. "He is the right man for the job," says Sebastian Brändli, head of the Higher Supervisory school authority of Zurich. His academic performance was not convincing. The former Vice President also has a direct relation to the economy, so he had founded, for example, of his scientific activity out of a company.

Also, on a personal level, the 54-have Years of the University's Board of governors is convinced: "He is very reflected and an integrative personality, a team player," says Brändli. As Vice President he had convinced with his social skills.

No wife

nominated, The nomination Schaepmans has a small flaw: He is a man and many would have liked to see a woman. Last and only UZH rector Verena Meyer, who was from 1982 for two years, was in office. Now the Chance stood for a second rector in the history of the UZH actually good. As Michael Hengartner, resigned last February, took over Gabriele Siegert, ad interim. Pro-rector of teaching and studies was considered internally some as suitable for a successor.

However, Siegert waived. In the "world week", she said as a reason: "The rector is also for all International and for representation tasks, they must travel a lot, this is me less." Brändli says: "The University Council would have been glad to nominate a woman". Unfortunately, we had not been able to find.

UZH-own greenhouse

Schaepman is a University's own greenhouse. He studied in Zurich, geography, experimental physics and computer science and a PhD in 1998 at the Geographical Institute. After a Post-Doc stay in the USA, he returned in 2000 as head of the research group to the Institute of geography of the University of Zurich. Three years later he was appointed Professor. Since 2009, Schaepman, Professor of remote sensing. Among his research areas are the earth observation, remote sensing and spectroscopy to measure biodiversity from space.

Now he reaches to the stars, but to the Rector. His choice, however, is not carved in stone. The last word of the University Senate, consisting of all the professors has. Also representatives of non-professorial academic Staff and students have a voice. The Senate is in at 11. May are about it.

Created: 03.03.2020, 12:33 PM