Swiss luxury skincare house La Prairie has made a donation to the ETH Foundation to provide support to the Section of Glaciology of Continental Europe’s number-one ranked university, ETH Zurich.
The funds will help ETH Zurich’s internationally renowned glaciology department continue its important research in the field. This includes the study of glacier motion, the modelling of future glacier changes, and the analysis of various ice processes. The university’s study is integral to the preservation of the glaciers on the Swiss Alps, which are melting at an alarming rate.
According to La Prairie CEO Patrick Rasquinet, the donation is part of the brand’s commitment to protecting Switzerland’s natural resources. He said: “We firmly believe that it is essential to support and encourage academics working in the field of environmental research in order to protect, not only the natural beauty of La Prairie’s birthplace, but to preserve its resources for generations to come.”
Saving our planet La Prairie is committed to protecting the beautiful landscapes and rich natural resources of Switzerland, the land of its origins. The glaciers of the Swiss Alps are particularly impacted by climate change as they are witness to the effects of global temperature increases. The immediate impact in Switzerland itself includes melting and receding of these ice masses at an alarming rate. Over the long term, receding glaciers will eventually mean less water resources from ice melt. Beyond the Swiss border, ice melt from glaciers and ice caps also contributes to sea level changes. Global average sea levels have risen between 10 and 20 centimeters (4 to eight inches) in the past hundred years, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. |
“We are very honoured to support ETH with this donation,” added Rasquinet. “Their pioneering work in the field of climate studies, glaciology, and environmental conservation is in line with La Prairie’s overarching value of ‘Swissness’. A value centred on excellence and innovation, and its heritage of applying scientific advancements to the preservation of natural beauty.”
ETH Zurich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule/Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) is one of Continental Europe’s most important educational institutes. It ranks second in Europe and sixth worldwide according to 2019’s QS World University Rankings. It has produced 21 Nobel Prize Laureates, most notably, Albert Einstein.
The university’s partnership with La Prairie was brought about by the ETH Foundation. The foundation builds key partnerships with brands and companies that support the university’s various scientific endeavours.
For the experts at ETH Zurich, glacier studies are essential to understanding the effects of climate change. ETH Glaciology Section Head Professor Daniel Farinotti said: “This knowledge is not only essential to quantify and understand ongoing changes, but also to design and plan strategies for mitigating and adapting to changes yet to come. La Prairie’s support is a welcome contribution to our efforts.”
