Chicago Booth alumni and students are cordially invited by the Oxford and Cambridge Alumni Club in Geneva to attend the dinner with Roland Loos, CEO of The SolarStratos Project.
Driving Directions:
The restaurant is about 1 km from the Place des Nations in Geneva, up the hill past the ICRC and opposite the US Mission. There is a car park. The restaurant is on the first floor, up a flight of stairs (there is no lift). By public transport, buses V and Z leave from behind Gare Cornavin or from Place des Nations, get off at Penthes.
Event Details
GUEST SPEAKER – ROLAND LOOS, CEO of SOLARSTRATOS
Switzerland is well known for its innovative spirit and hi-tech engineering skills. Combining advanced aerodynamics with state-of-the-art solar energy technology, Bertrand Piccard's Solar Impulse project last year successfully achieved its objective of flying around the world without fuel, in an aircraft powered solely by the sun.
Now another Swiss team, based in Yverdon, is taking on a new challenge: attempting to reach the stratosphere in a solar-powered airplane – over twice the altitude reached by the average passenger jet. SolarStratos has already flown from Payerne aerodrome, and the plan is to complete the test programme and make the stratospheric flight in 2018.
This is a major challenge, both technically and in human terms. The risks of flying an unpressurised airplane to 80,000 feet are not to be underestimated. But if successful, the spin-off benefits could be substantial.
Roland Loos, the project's CEO, has agreed to present the project to us. A graduate of EPFL, he co-founded NewSat Communications, providing satellite communications to major oil and gas companies. After merging NewSat with ITC Global, he helped manage the sale of the merged company to Panasonic Avionics Corporation. SolarStratos ideally combines his passion for exploration and aeronautics with sustainable development, which he believes will lead to new business opportunities.
Roland's illustrated presentation should appeal to anyone interested in aviation, renewable energy, science and technology, business management and human adventure. Even if you're not interested in any of these things, you will be by the end of the evening!
Program
7:15pm Apéritifs available
20:00 Dinner
20:30 illustrated after-dinner talk on The SolarStratos Project by its CEO, Roland Loos, followed by questions
CHF 80
Including an apéritif, 3-course dinner with wine and mineral water, and coffee or tea.
Please pay in cash to the restaurant on arrival.
No-shows will be charged unless cancellation is received by 25 September.