Into the lion’s den

ETH alumna Karin Iten, prevention officer of the diocese of Chur. Karin Iten knows there are limits to human knowledge - and limits to what we can accomplish. But that hasn't stopped this ETH environmental scientist and agnostic from taking on the seemingly impossible task of bringing about a culture change in the Catholic Church. From studying poisoned rivers and polluted soil to taking samples from litter-strewn meadows, environmental scientists are used to working in contaminated areas - and Karin Iten is no exception. This ETH alumna is in no doubt that she works in a "toxic" environment, yet her respirator mask is nowhere to be seen. And instead of rubber boots and a hazmat suit, she is kitted out in red leather shoes and a jet-black leather jacket. Employed by the Catholic Church's office in the Canton of Zurich, Iten works as a prevention officer in the diocese of Chur.