The Foundation
The Bois Chamblard Foundation, which is based at EPFL, was established as a bequest of Mr. Erico Nicola. The Foundation’s purpose is to promote biodiversity by encouraging fundamental and applied research aimed at understanding and preserving the biosphere. To these ends, the Foundation supports research, training of engineers and scientists, public awareness of biodiversity as well as meetings and seminars.
Erico Nicola
Mr. Charles-Erico Nicola, of Dutch nationality, was born in 1907 in Basel. He studied geophysics, and investigated atmospheric processes and microclimate. Following war service in the Dutch army, he returned to Switzerland and lived at the Bois Chamblard Estate, where he pursued his interests in biodiversity, ecology and human-environment interactions.