Day 14, 6/24/05: First up this morning was the University of Zurich, the largest university in the largest city in the country (some 23k students, I think). We got a PowerPoint presentation from the President, did a photo shoot, I personally did an interview with yet another newspaper (where the reporter's first question was "So, what about you, would you come and study in Zurich?"), and then we heard a lecture from a professor on musicology. All in all, the University seems impressive but the country's education system differs dramatically from the US. Most important in my mind is that students must specialize in a discipline right out of high school. I prefer the US style of broad liberal arts exposure in college and then focus in during a master's degree. We were informed today by the President that Switzerland is moving in that direction to clearly delineate btwn a bachlor's and master's. The lecture by the professor was mildy interesting and i guess it was to give us a sense as to a typical lecture at U of Z. After the main university we went to the law school. The architecture of the law school is simply stunning (a famous architect, apparently, same guy that did the Athens buildings for the Olympic games). The "library" and study desks are all stored inside these massive wooden spirals that curve up and up and up. When you walk in the front door all you see are these wooden spirals. Only when you take the glass elevator up through the center do you see all the different floors and study spaces.
After that we went to the famous Zurich Institute of Technology, where Albert Einstein among others studied. We had a knock your socks off presentation from a super start prof on hydrogen fuel cells since a student project just won a big competition in developing an efficient car. AP Environemtnal Science again comes in handy.
Next was a fully catered lunch in the faculy lounge (another huge expense paid for) which students don't usually have access to. It sits on the top of the building overlooking all of Zurich - one of hte best views of the trip.
I should note that this whole day was deadly hot, unbelievably hot. Everyone is dying. 90 degrees F.
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