VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
Research Design for Global Sustainable Development
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:21:53
Abstract
The course is for doctoral students who are developing a technology/concept to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and are interested in testing/piloting it in a real-world setting. Building on a proposal that participants develop in advance, the course covers the practical and theoretical considerations involved when taking a technology/concept into a real-world context.
Objective
Students understand the concepts of co-evolution of technology and policy and can evaluate the external validity of a case study. They understand how to determine user needs and design their technology/concept to meet them. They understand how to test the social impact of a technology/concept. They can identify potential ethical issues and develop a mitigation strategy.
Content
This course is for doctoral students from all ETH departments who are developing a technology or concept to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of their PhD and are interested in testing/piloting it in a real-world setting. Building on a short proposal that participants will develop before the course, the 4-day program will address the practical and theoretical considerations involved when taking the technology/concept out of the lab into a real world context. The skills developed will allow participants to iteratively develop their proposal such that it could be competitive if submitted to a funding call. Special attention will be paid to the common pitfalls of technology testing in complex environments, user-centered design, quantitative evaluation, as well as the fundamentals of project management in an international multi-partner project, paying particular attention to the KFPE principles. Students will come with a short project proposal that is further developed over the course of the four days and learn the necessary background, theory, and methods to implement and evaluate their technology/concept. Content will be delivered through lectures, workshop sessions and presentations . The success of the course will depend on the student's willingness to apply the material to their own proposal, integrating the feedback of peers and lecturers along the way. Each morning will consist of a lecture and practical session. The afternoons will include time for workshopping the proposals, as well as a feedback session and group discussion. Topics covered include: Innovation/Research Theory: How to think about technological impact ex ante and how to select case studies Needs-Driven Technologies: How to define the problem/need for which a solution is to be designed/tested Impact Measurement: How to design a research project that can analyze the social impact of a technological or social innovation Partnership Administration and Ethics: How to set up and maintain equitable partnerships We welcome students from all departments, particularly from engineering, computer and natural sciences. Ideally, PhD students are already advanced enough to already have a (first) proposal but not too advanced so that this course only creates afterthoughts. As such, we recommend that students take the course in the first or second year of their doctoral studies. Importantly, this course is not meant as a comprehensive introduction to the research design skills that a doctoral student should have; rather this is a short overview that will provide insights into the specific methodologies used to translate lab-based research into more complex environments.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DR
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 15
- Signup End
- 03.03.2023
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
Research Design for Global Sustainable Development
Does not take place this semester.
Block course
|
No time listed | 32 h semesterly |
Offered In
-
Doctorate Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (More Information at: )