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Department of Geography

The Aesthetics of Wonder

Take a fascinating and surprising look at Earth! Located directly in front of the UZH main building, the exhibition transforms space research into an emotional and visual experience – a dialogue between science and art that sparks curiosity and inspires innovation.

The exhibition brings together scientists from many disciplines, including many from the Department of Geography. See the «eye of the sahara», a visualization of Alpine snowmelt, a false-color image of the world's largest mangrove forest, or an annual nighttime lights image of Europe!

Are you a student who wants to learn more about the universe?

This exhibition encourages you to imagine your own future in space research. Whether you're interested in geography, Earth system science, data science, or art, there's plenty of space for you at UZH! Use the QR codes next to the panels or visit the website to find information about courses where you can learn all about our universe!

Are you interested in this research? 

Find a lot of information about research and the involved people at GIUZ (and beyond) on the respective web pages.

  • Eye of the Sahara

    The Richat Structure, also nicknamed the "Eye of the Sahara," is a geological wonder located in the Maur Adrar Desert of Mauritania. Initially mistaken for a possible impact crater, it is now known to be an eroded circular anticline (structural dome) of layered sedimentary rocks.

  • Wet Snow in the Alps

    Optical sensors can see snow clearly in the absence of clouds, but they are not able to differentiate between dry and wet snow. C-band radar sensors like on the Sentinel-1 satellites, provide an extra layer of information: the signal can look through clouds and the backscatter they receive is modulated strongly by wet snow, while dry snow is often nearly transparent.

  • Sundarbans Mangrove Forest

    Sundarbans Mangrove Forest

    Sundarbans is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal. It is the largest mangrove forest in the world. The bright red appearing Sundarbans mangrove forests span ca. 150 km east to west!

  • Bright Night

    This is an annual nighttime lights image over a large part of Europe. This image shows the yearly maximum light radiation for the year 2022. Sunlit, moonlit and cloudy pixels are removed.

  • Algal Galaxy

    The Baltic Sea regularly turns a vibrant blue-green in summer. This is caused by the bloom of cyanobacteria, in this case off the eastern coast of Götland, Sweden. These microscopic organisms concentrate in locations where the vertical and horizontal water movements generate the best nutrient and light conditions for algal growth, and these hotspots are then drawn out by the water circulation.

The Aesthetics of Wonder exhibition is a collaboration between the University of Zürich and Switzerland Innovation Park Zürich. It will be on display in front of the UZH main building until September 25. It will then be exhibited in the atrium (Lichthof) of the Irchel campus until October 9, 2025.

Exhibition catalogue

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