Research

In 2006, I wrote: "My general scientific interest was and still is the control of gene activity by hormones, particularly insect hormones i. e., ecdysteroids and juvenoids, with a special emphasis on the role of chromatin structure in that control and on non-canonical signaling pathways. New aspects of the ecdysteroid receptor, a nuclear hormone receptor, have recently been revealed. A word concerning my retirement: In contrast to the situation in other countries e.g. USA, members of ETH, even professors, have to retire, usually at the age of 65 (for personal reasons I myself wanted to retire with 62). In practice that means that I have no more lab, no collaborators, no research grant, and that my "office" is at home. Fortunately, I also have no obligations what so ever in terms of teaching, administration etc. However, retirement in my case does not mean that I lost my scientific interest. To the contrary, thanks to my still existing connection to the ETH Library and excellent contacts to colleagues at my old Institute and all over the world, I still can pursue research i.e the "mental way" (see recent review articles). And I love doing it!" In 2008, my situation changed. I realized that I can no longer pursue experimental biology without a lab and writing reviews is of limited fun. Therefore, I switched to an other field i.e. musicology. Presently, I am investigating the use of Tango rhythms in German operas and operettas from 1912 to 1942. March 2010, I could present my preliminary findings to the Emeriti of ETH in a talk entitled "Der Tango in der Musik - mit politischen Assoziationen".