Effy Vayena: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2020

Name Prof. Dr. Effy Vayena
FieldBioethics
Address
Dep. Gesundheitswiss. und Technol.
ETH Zürich, HOA H 12
Hottingerstrasse 10
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 83 01
E-maileffy.vayena@hest.ethz.ch
DepartmentHealth Sciences and Technology
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
376-0303-00LColloquium in Translational Science (Autumn Semester)1 credit1KM. Ristow, A. Alimonti, N. Cesarovic, C. Ewald, V. Falk, J. Goldhahn, K. Maniura, J. Mitchell, R. M. Rossi, S. Schürle-Finke, G. Shivashankar, E. Vayena, V. Vogel
AbstractCurrent topics in translational medicine presented by speakers from academia and industry.
ObjectiveGetting insight into actual areas and problems of translational medicine.
ContentTimely and concise presentations of postgraduate students, post-docs, senior scientists, professors, as well as external guests from both academics and industry will present topics of their interest related to translational medicine.
Prerequisites / NoticeNo compulsory prerequisites, but student should have basic knowledge about biomedical research.
551-1299-00LIntroduction to Bioinformatics Restricted registration - show details 6 credits4GS. Sunagawa, M. Gstaiger, A. Kahles, G. Rätsch, B. Snijder, E. Vayena, C. von Mering, N. Zamboni
AbstractThis course introduces principle concepts, the state-of-the-art and methods used in some major fields of Bioinformatics. Topics include: genomics, metagenomics, network bioinformatics, and imaging. Lectures are accompanied by practical exercises that involve the use of common bioinformatic methods and basic programming.
ObjectiveThe course will provide students with theoretical background in the area of genomics, metagenomics, network bioinformatics and imaging. In addition, students will acquire basic skills in applying modern methods that are used in these sub-disciplines of Bioinformatics. Students will be able to access and analyse DNA sequence information, construct and interpret networks that emerge though interactions of e.g. genes/proteins, and extract information based on computer-assisted image data analysis. Students will also be able to assess the ethical implications of access to and generation of new and large amounts of information as they relate to the identifiability of a person and the ownership of data.
ContentEthics:
Case studies to learn about applying ethical principles in human genomics research

Genomics:
Genetic variant calling
Analysis and critical evaluation of genome wide association studies

Metagenomics:
Reconstruction of microbial genomes
Microbial community compositional analysis
Quantitative metagenomics

Network bioinformatics:
Inference of molecular networks
Use of networks for interpretation of (gen)omics data

Imaging:
High throughput single cell imaging
Image segmentation
Automatic analysis of drug effects on single cell suspension (chemotyping)
Prerequisites / NoticeCourse participants have already acquired basic programming skills in Python and R.

Students will bring and work on their own laptop computers, preferentially running the latest versions of Windows or MacOSX.
701-0901-00LETH Week 2020: Health for Tomorrow Restricted registration - show details
Does not take place this semester.
This lecture is cancelled for 2020. If possible the lecture will be conducted in Autumn Semester 2021.
1 credit3SS. Brusoni, A. Burden, R. Knutti, I. Mansuy, K. Stephan, A. Vaterlaus, E. Vayena
AbstractETH Week is an innovative one-week course designed to foster critical thinking and creative learning. Students from all departments as well as professors and external experts will work together in interdisciplinary teams. They will develop interventions that could play a role in solving some of our most pressing global challenges. In 2020, ETH Week will focus on the topic of health and well-being.
Objective- Domain specific knowledge: Students have immersed knowledge about a certain complex, societal topic which will be selected every year. They understand the complex system context of the current topic, by comprehending its scientific, technical, political, social, ecological and economic perspectives.

- Analytical skills: The ETH Week participants are able to structure complex problems systematically using selected methods. They are able to acquire further knowledge and to critically analyse the knowledge in interdisciplinary groups and with experts and the help of team tutors.

- Design skills: The students are able to use their knowledge and skills to develop concrete approaches for problem solving and decision making to a selected problem statement, critically reflect these approaches, assess their feasibility, to transfer them into a concrete form (physical model, prototypes, strategy paper, etc.) and to present this work in a creative way (role-plays, videos, exhibitions, etc.).

- Self-competence: The students are able to plan their work effectively, efficiently and autonomously. By considering approaches from different disciplines they are able to make a judgment and form a personal opinion. In exchange with non-academic partners from business, politics, administration, nongovernmental organisations and media they are able to communicate appropriately, present their results professionally and creatively and convince a critical audience.

- Social competence: The students are able to work in multidisciplinary teams, i.e. they can reflect critically their own discipline, debate with students from other disciplines and experts in a critical-constructive and respectful way and can relate their own positions to different intellectual approaches. They can assess how far they are able to actively make a contribution to society by using their personal and professional talents and skills and as "Change Agents".
ContentThe week is mainly about problem solving and design thinking applied to the complex world of health and well-being. During ETH Week students will have the opportunity to work in small interdisciplinary groups, allowing them to critically analyse both their own approaches and those of other disciplines, and to integrate these into their work.

While deepening their knowledge about health and well-being, students will be introduced to various methods and tools for generating creative ideas and understand how different people are affected by each part of the system. In addition to lectures and literature, students will acquire knowledge via excursions into the real world, empirical observations, and conversations with researchers and experts.

A key attribute of the ETH Week is that students are expected to find their own problem, rather than just solve the problem that has been handed to them.

Therefore, the first three days of the week will concentrate on identifying a problem the individual teams will work on, while the last two days are focused on generating solutions and communicating the team's ideas.
Prerequisites / NoticeNo prerequisites. Programme is open to Bachelor and Masters from all ETH Departments. All students must apply through a competitive application process at www.ethz.ch/ethweek. Participation is subject to successful selection through this competitive process.
851-0745-00LEthics Workshop: The Impact of Digital Life on Society Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 40.

Open to all Master level / PhD students.
2 credits2SE. Vayena, A. Blasimme, C. Brall, F. Gille, M. Schneider, J. Sleigh
AbstractThis workshop focuses on understanding and managing the ethical and social issues arising from the integration of new technologies in various aspects of daily life.
ObjectiveExplain relevant concepts in ethics.
Evaluate the ethical dimensions of new technology uses.
Identify impacted stakeholders and who is ethically responsible.
Engage constructively in the public discourse relating to new technology impacts.
Review tools and resources currently available that facilitate resolutions and ethical practice
Work in a more ethically reflective way
ContentThe workshop offers students an experience that trains their ability for critical analysis and develops awareness of responsibilities as a researcher, consumer and citizen. Learning will occur in the context of three intensive workshop days, which are highly interactive and focus on the development and application of reasoning skills.

The workshop will begin with some fundamentals: the nature of ethics, of consent and big data, of AI ethics, public trust and health ethics. Students will then be introduced to key ethical concepts such as fairness, autonomy, trust, accountability, justice, as well different ways of reasoning about the ethics of digital technologies.

A range of practical problems and issues in the domains of education, news media, society, social media, digital health and justice will be then considered. These six domains are represented respectively by unique and interesting case studies. Each case study has been selected not only for its timely and engaging nature, but also for its relevance. Through the analysis of these case studies key ethical questions (such as fairness, accountability, explain-ability, access etc.) will be highlighted and questions of responsibility and tools for ethical practice will be explored. Throughout, the emphasis will be on learning to make sound arguments about the ethical aspects of policy, practice and research.