From the misconception of ‘mechanical engineering’ to a clear mission: engineering doesn’t just build machines, it helps in the fight against the climate crisis.
For Anna Remund (27), the climate crisis was the catalyst that led her to pursue a career in the renewable energy sector. It was the question of who actually develops and operates these technologies that first drew her towards studying physics and electrical engineering. However, a conversation at a family gathering opened up new perspectives. She learnt that the field of mechanical engineering is much broader than the name initially suggests. It encompasses all engineering disciplines with the exception of pure electrical engineering, materials science and civil engineering.
This information gave her a new perspective: mechanical engineering encompasses many technical disciplines relating to energy, machinery and systems – from robotics and medical technology to energy and building services engineering. On this basis, Anna decided to study mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich, thereby setting her career path.
Misconceptions about mechanical engineering
“The name of the mechanical engineering degree puts people off,” says Anna. But the reality turns out to be diverse, digital and full of possibilities. Anna is right at the heart of the action, where innovation takes shape: she observes start-ups that filter CO₂ from the air and designs systems that allow houses to think for themselves. In this way, she experiences first-hand how technology makes our lives more comfortable and sustainable.
“A technical career is the best starting point you can have,” she says with conviction. “You can later move into business, go into research, teach or bring your own idea to life. You’ve learnt to understand systems – and you can apply that to anything.”
The huge potential of our buildings
After completing her bachelor’s degree, she had the opportunity to work at Enerdrape, a start-up that develops geothermal panels. It was there that she heard a figure that stayed with her: 35% of global CO₂ emissions come from the building sector.
“Our homes are a huge climate problem,” says Anna. To make our buildings climate-friendly, we need renewable technologies, efficient heating systems and smart controls. Today, Anna’s mission is clear: she wants to harness the enormous, often underestimated potential of our buildings for climate protection. Not as an abstract task, but as a tangible challenge.
When engineering meets coding
“To be honest, we didn’t do much computer science during our mechanical engineering degree,” says Anna. But these days she often sits at her computer and writes code. She builds her own tools to calculate how buildings can be made more energy-efficient. “I knew exactly which physical formulas I needed. But how do I structure the code for that in a way that makes sense? I had to teach myself that.”
Is that a disadvantage? Quite the opposite. It proves that technology today is all about teamwork. Anna shows us that you don’t have to choose between being a ‘tech person’ or a ‘computer person’. The most exciting jobs lie right in between.
Whether you learn to code first or understand the physics behind it first – both will take you a long way.
A role model for young women
“We need visibility,” says Anna Remund. “Young women need to see: Hey, there’s someone just like me. She can do it; it’s exciting and it changes the world.”
Perhaps you’ll be the one designing energy-efficient ventilation systems in the future. Perhaps you’ll be developing the software that controls robots. It’s all about taking that first step – in a direction that sparks curiosity and fascination. The technology sector needs ideas and the courage to do things differently.
Technology with heart and soul
Anna Remund is more than just an engineer. She shows us that technology isn’t dry and boring, but is full of creativity, responsibility and urgent necessity.
Her message is simple: the world needs women in technical professions. It needs people who want to understand how things work. Who have the courage to improve them. And who know that, in doing so, they can make a real difference.
So, what are you waiting for? Take a look at the engineering courses at ETH or, alternatively, 42 Zurich. Get in touch. Or contact Anna directly 🙂
About Anna Remund
Anna is a mechanical engineer specialising in building services engineering. She combines technical expertise with software solutions to make our homes climate-friendly. As a passionate advocate for getting more women into STEM careers, she demonstrates that technology can help tackle the climate crisis.
The interview was conducted by Corina Schedler
This profile is featured on the 42 Zurich blog as part of the “Gender Equality in IT Education” project, in collaboration with the Federal Office for Gender Equality.
