Going east In 2002 when Berhard Egger graduated from ETH Zurich, he saw his classmates going to America for their PhD studies. “I thought it might be more interesting and challenging to go east instead of west”. But why Korea and not, say, China or Japan? In addition to its friendly, hard-working image, Egger saw one practical advantage: its rather simple alphabet. Now firmly rooted in South Korea with his wife and two children, he is comfortable bridging divides, whether within an industry or across continents. He collaborates with a colleague at ETH Zurich, allowing students to join research exchanges. And his work with Samsung keeps him grounded. “I like to do things that are not just vapourware, but something that is actually out there and works”, he says. “Coming to Korea has allowed me to do that”. Photo: Aaron Choe
Swiss National Science Foundation – Swiss Academies: Horizons No. 108
17