Prof. em. Dr. Simon Löw

Simon Löw (Loew) has been full Professor of Engineering Geology at the Institute of Geology of the ETH Zurich since 1 September 1996.

Born in 1956, Simon Löw studied geology at the University of Basel (Switzerland). After completing his dissertation in 1985 on the tectonic and metamorphic history of a crystalline nappe in the Alps, he took up a post as project geologist with an international consulting company working in the area of energy and environmental technology. In the late 1980 Simon Löw became project leader of several large interdisciplinary projects related to the geological disposal of nuclear and toxic wastes, large traffic tunnels (NEAT, AlpTransit) and natural hazards. From 1993 to 1996 he was director of the Profit Center “Groundwater Management and Waste Disposal” in the same company.

In 1996 Simon Löw was appointed as Chair of Engineering Geology at ETH Zurich and started to develop a new research and teaching program in Engineering Geology. The main research interests of Simon Löw at ETH concern hydro-mechanical processes in fractured rocks at project relevant scales. Major ongoing research projects of his group are related to HM coupled rock mass behaviour of deep tunnels and repositories for nuclear wastes; permeability structure, heat flow and regional ground water circulation in fractured rocks; and formation mechanisms and progressive failure of larger rocks slope instabilities. Many research projects involve comprehensive hydro-thermo-mechanical in-situ investigations, both at ground surface and in boreholes, with newest testing and monitoring technologies. Today the Chair of Engineering Geology directed by Simon Löw includes about 20 scientists with background in geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, rock mechanics and engineering, supported by administrative and technical specialists.

Simon Löw is strongly linked to the private industry and public administration sectors. He acts as key note lecturer and international expert/reviewer in the fields of deep tunnelling, geological waste disposal and rock slope instabilities. Currently he is president of the Swiss Commission for Nuclear Waste Disposal EGT and supports the Swiss Site Selection Program.

At ETH Simon Löw is strongly involved in teaching, responsible for the MSc Program majoring in Engineering Geology and the Continued Education Program in Applied Earth Sciences.