Eduard Schellhammer was born in Lucerne on November 14, 1947, at 2:40 in the morning. From an early age, he showed curiosity and bravery. He loved traveling, meeting new people, spending time with friends, and seeking knowledge. One of his favourite memories from childhood was fishing at the Reuss River, where once, lost in thought, he was pulled into the water by a large fish. Though rescued by a passerby, his focus remained on catching the fish rather than his close call.

Despite the demands of military service, which continued until he became an officer in 1974, Eduard began his university studies in 1970. He graduated in 1973 with a degree in Educational Science, Anthropology, Psychology, and Computer Science from the University of Freiburg. His dissertation, “Educational Needs of the Elementary School Teacher,” was highly praised, and he was encouraged to dive into the emerging field of automation. This led him to Kiel, where he studied IT programming and data analytics, positioning him at the forefront of what would evolve into AI and computer science.

In 1974, he pursued his Ph.D. in Zurich, completing a dissertation titled “Performance Assessment and Selection in Primary School.”

At 16, Eduard ran away to France, where he attended the Alliance Française in Paris to learn French. He spent his evenings working in the school kitchen to earn pocket money and formed lasting friendships, including with an aristocratic family who welcomed him into their home, calling him “Swiss Edi.” Although this was one of the happiest times of his life, he was eventually brought back to Lucerne by the police to finish his schooling.

From 1964 to 1970, Eduard stayed in Lucerne, diligently completing his education in Latin, Ancient Greek, and philosophy while also fulfilling his mandatory military service. He worked after school to support himself, saving his earnings to travel and maintain his connections in Paris. In 1970, after years of effort, he successfully passed his “Matura” with excellent results.