Anton Schleiss

Anton J. Schleiss is an Honorary Professor at EPFL's School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), leading the Laboratory of Hydraulic Constructions (LCH). He holds dual roles as Guest Professor and Honorary Professor, emphasizing his enduring contributions to academic and industrial hydraulics. His career includes over 40 years of expertise in hydraulic structures, hydropower systems, and dam engineering, with a focus on innovation in reservoir management, sediment dynamics, and disaster risk mitigation.

• Affiliations:
  • EPFL ENAC IIC PL-LCH, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Former Director of LCH (1997–2018) and Head of Civil Engineering Program (2006–2012)
  • President of ICOLD (2015–2018) and EU Hydropower Coordinator (ETIP Hydropower)

Education: Graduated in Civil Engineering from ETH Zurich (1978), earned a Doctorate in Technical Sciences from ETH Zurich (1986). His doctoral research focused on pressure tunnel design, laying the foundation for his later work in hydropower infrastructure.

Research Interests: Schleiss specializes in hydraulic structures, including dam design, spillway hydraulics, and sediment management. His work integrates numerical modeling and physical experiments to address challenges like reservoir sedimentation, flood protection, and energy transition. Recent projects emphasize the role of hydropower in climate resilience and the mitigation of hydropeaking effects on river ecosystems.

Publications: Over 200 peer-reviewed articles and conference papers since 1986, covering topics such as turbine aerator performance, stepped spillway design, and the economic impacts of sediment removal. Recent work highlights hydropower's critical role in Europe's energy transition and the need for unified policy frameworks.

• Awards:
  • ASCE Hilgard Hydraulic Prize (2006)
  • ASCE-EWRI Hydraulic Structures Medal (2015)
  • IAHR Honorary Membership (2021)
  • Grand Prix SHF (2018)

Grants & Projects: Coordinated the EU-funded Hydropower Europe Forum (2018–2022) and current ETIP Hydropower initiatives. His research has been supported by international bodies like the Swiss National Science Foundation and the European Commission.

Labs & Teams: Directs the LCH, a hub for education and applied research in hydraulic engineering. Collaborates with global institutions like ETH Zurich, TU Munich, and the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD).