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Alumnae and alumni from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) will travel to the fascinating world of hydropower, waterfalls, alpine lakes and storage dams, to Switzerland's water catchment area at the Grimsel Pass in the Alps. Experience and understand hydroelectricity. How is electricity produced? Why storage dams? How does electricity get into our sockets? The answers to these and more questions will be explained. We start our field trip with a showcase of the enormous energy potential of water. Itinerary: Meet at the Sihlquai Coach Parking (Carparkplatz Sihlquai, view on map) at 07:00; Zurich to Lucerne by private coach 07:10- 08:00; pick up additional field trippers at the corner Frankenstrasse and Zentralstrasse (view on map) next to the train station in Lucerne at 08:00; continue by coach to Meiringen. The Organizing Officer, Marcel Bigger, can be reached by e-mail or on his private mobile phone (079 124 65 40).

The Haslital, one of the large valleys in the Central Alps, stretches from the Grimsel Pass to Lake Brienz. The flat valley floor of the lower Haslital is separated from the upper valley by a transverse rock formation. Over thousands of years, the Aare River eroded a path through this rock formation resulting in a gorge which is 1'400 metres long and up to 200 metres deep. We take a leisurely walk through this famed gorge from West to East. Itinerary: Meet additional field trippers at the Meiringen entrance of the Aare Gorge (view on map) at 09:00; enter the Aare Gorge at 09:10 and exit it on the Innertkirchen side at 10:00. Continue by coach to Handeck / Gelmerbahn 10:10 - 10:30.

Those looking for an adrenaline shot will get it here! You'll feel completely electrified during a ride on the thrilling Gelmer funicular. A gradient of maximum 106% makes this the steepest funicular in Europe. Built to transport the heavy construction materials for the Gelmer dam, the funicular will transport us up in no time to 1860 meters above sea level. Once at the top, we explore the dam and its turquoise colored lake. Itinerary: First group ascends 11:00 - 11:12, second group ascends 11:24 - 11:36, first group descends 12:45 - 12:36 and second group descends 12:48 - 13:00.

Noted as a place of interest in the world famous travel guide by Karl Baedeker in 1850, the Handeck waterfall continues to offer a natural spectacle. 70 metres above the Handeck Gorge, the suspension bridge offers a fantastic view of the waterfall. Itinerary: Short walk to the canteen Handeck over the foot bridge 13:00 - 13:15. Lunch 13:15 - 14:15.

Deep inside the solid granite mountains is a pulsating underground world where turbines revolve year-in, year-out, reliably producing hydroelectricity. The hydroelectric power complex Grimselwelt produces around 2'350 Gigawatt hours of electricity annually in its 9 power plants. This is enough electricity to cover the annual consumption of roughly one million people. Built between 1973 and 1980, the 4 Francis turbines of the Grimsel 2 plant are powered by a water inflow of 100 cubic meters per second. We will drive 3 km into the mountain to enjoy a guided tour in German through the plant and will also view the Crystal Cavern. Itinerary: Coach transfer to Gerstenegg 14:15 - 15:00, ride with the tunnel vehicle to the power plant, guided tour in German and visit of the Kristallkluft 15:00 - 16:30; return journey to Lucerne and Zurich 16:45 - 17:45/18:45.

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