He is involved in numerous scientific associations and committees including the Swiss Association of Geography, the American Association of Geographers and the Société suisse d’études africaines.
In his research Etienne Piguet has examined issues of asylum policies, entrepreneurship and immigration, discrimination in the labour market, “decent work and migration” (for Int. Labour Office), international and internal migration flows, socio-economic integration of immigrants and the mobility of international students, migration intentions, and environmental migrations. He acted as Review Editor for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fifth report and is still involved as reviewer for IPCC.