The online magazine of the University of Bern

Path to university set early

Educational research

With the same performance, children from academic families have twice as much chance of obtaining a university degree as children from non-academics.

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Sustain-
ability

All articles about sustainability

Biodiversity

Two new fish species discovered in Swiss waters

The public can take part in a survey to decide on the names of two fish species discovered by Bárbara Calegari and her colleagues. In this interview, the biologist explains where they live and how to make the diversity of our waters visible.

Explainer video

Unstable Atlantic current?

We owe the mild climate in Europe to the North Atlantic Current. But it could weaken as a result of climate change. Climate researcher Jens Terhaar explains in the video whether this is already the case.

Nils Tinner

The mind behind the warning system for tropical nights

The "Bernometer" weather app helps the people of Bern to cope with heatwaves. The initiator of the project is Nils Tinner, a Master's student at the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research.

Cereal cultivation in arid regions

Microbes, algae and genetic engineering for more stable yields

Lorena Ramirez Gonzales is working to make maize and teff more drought-tolerant. In the interview, she explains how her work is helping to stabilize agriculture in arid regions and improve food security.

Politics and administration

All articles about politics and administration

World Trade Institute

Will Trump derail world trade?

The World Trade Institute (WTI) has been a major influence on international trade law for 25 years. Founder Thomas Cottier and director of studies Isabelle Van Damme discuss what the Trump presidency means for world trade and what the WTI can contribute to solving the current challenges.

Guest lecture

Edward L. Glaeser asks: what makes cities competitive?

In a lecture at the University of Bern, American economist Edward L. Glaeser discussed the question of how cities can better prepare for challenges. After all, urbanization is increasing, which means there is a need for sufficient housing and efficient infrastructure.

The research project

Working with Africa to optimise administrations

Researchers at the Centre for African Smart Public Value Governance (C4SP) study practices in Africa and aim to use this knowledge to strengthen African governments and administrations through local cooperation.

In focus

Can we achieve the energy transition?

Renewable energies are to be expanded, but there is resistance to specific projects. How can we achieve the energy transition by 2050? An interview with political scientist Isabelle Stadelmann, economist Doina Radulescu and Cornelia Mellenberger, CEO of Energie Wasser Bern.

Economics

“Switzerland doesn’t need a big bank”

Economics cannot predict bank crashes or crises, says Professor of Economics Aymo Brunetti. But their insights would help us to mitigate the adverse effects of financial crises and fight inflation.

Intercultural knowledge

All articles about intercultural knowledge

Places at the University of Bern

Ancient treasures in industrial charm

Hidden in the Länggasse district, two stories below a university building, is the University of Bern’s Collection of Classical Antiquities – a place with over 200 plaster casts of statues from ancient times that invites you travel back into the past.

Postcolonial studies

“Afrotopia” – postcolonial perspectives for the entire planet

A new generation of intellectuals is further developing the postcolonial debate – from an African perspective and from the perspective of the African diaspora. This gives rise to utopian plans for the future of the African continent, but also far beyond it.

Afrofuturism

Under the sign of Sankofa

The Djiboutian novelist Abdourahman Waberi reflects on his Dürrenmatt Guest Professorship in World Literature in Bern. Together with his students, he pondered the possibilities: Could the future be African? His vision, symbolised by a West African animal, is clear and optimistic.

Educational science

“Those who feel comfortable and belong learn better”

Motivation and emotion are two key success factors in the learning process, as educational scientists Tina Hascher and Julia Mori explain in the interview. They have organized an international conference on this topic in Bern.

University and studies

All articles about university and studies

A question for Katrin Karl

Research and teaching – how do you manage the balancing act?

Balancing research and teaching is challenging. A professor of Slavic linguistics explains what exciting things can come out of it and why she values the exchange with students.

Top athlete Sascha Lehmann

From the climbing wall to the lecture course

The European champion in lead climbing and Olympic participant maintains a balance between top athletic performance and intellectual inquisitiveness. How does he manage to combine his passion for climbing with a challenging course of study at the University of Bern? A glimpse into the everyday life of the athlete.

Interview with the rector

The university in the social area of conflict

Student numbers are increasing and financial resources are becoming scarcer. Rector Virginia Richter talks about how the University of Bern meets this challenge, defends academic freedom and participates in socially relevant debates.

30 years of the University of Bern Intermediate Staff Association

Politically committed to intermediate staff

The interests of the more than 4,000 doctoral students, assistants, postdocs, research associates and lecturers at the University of Bern are represented by the Intermediate Staff Association MVUB – and have been for 30 years now. What motivates young researchers to take part in this organization and what do they want to achieve?

WWF rating

University of Bern is “ambitious” when it comes to sustainability

Together with three other universities, the University of Bern is ranked in the highest occupied category in the WWF’s 2024 sustainability rating of Swiss universities.

Higher education

“Excellent teaching inspires passion”

The University of Bern wants to educate its students to become competent members of society. For Fritz Sager, Vice-Rector for Teaching, direct contact with students is key to this, and he recommends that students engage in an international exchange.

Equal Opportunities

“Different perspectives are essential for AI”

The initiative Diversity for AI in Medicine teaches how to build fair and equitable AI applications that are helpful for humanity. The team behind the initiative has now been awarded the Prix Lux equal opportunities prize by the University of Bern.

FOKUS

Studying as a launchpad

In focus

“I found my alma mater to be very formative”

Three different generations, three very different student lives. We met with alumni of the University of Bern in the Länggass district for an informal exchange and ended up chatting for much longer than originally planned. So many topics, so many memories!

Educational research

Who makes it to university is often predictable at birth

In Switzerland, a person’s career path depends not only on their academic performance, but also on their parents: With the same performance, children from academic families have twice as much chance of obtaining a university degree as children from non-academics.

Top athlete Sascha Lehmann

From the climbing wall to the lecture course

The European champion in lead climbing and Olympic participant maintains a balance between top athletic performance and intellectual inquisitiveness. How does he manage to combine his passion for climbing with a challenging course of study at the University of Bern? A glimpse into the everyday life of the athlete.

Health and medicine

All articles about health and medicine

Rina Mehmeti

A doctor, researcher - and entrepreneur

Rina Mehmeti combines her passion for medicine and research. Parallel to her doctoral studies at the Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology, she is co-founder of a platform for virtual histopathology staining.

Hans Sigrist Prize 2024

Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire: Vaccines for the Future

Virologist and immunologist Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire will receive the 2024 Hans Sigrist Prize for her contribution to the development of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Her research pushes the boundaries of vaccine technology.

Antibiotic resistance

Overview of antibiotic resistance in India with Bern-based tool

India is facing high levels of antibiotic resistance. A tool further developed by the University of Bern together with an Indian university now offers insights into resistance patterns in northern and western India, laying the groundwork for improved awareness.

Cancer research

AI model generates virtual staining of cancer tissue

Researchers from Bern and Lausanne are making progress in the analysis and diagnosis of cancer. They have developed an AI model that allows virtual staining of cancer tissue, complementing experimental data.

Matter and universe

All articles on matter and universe

Jo Ann Egger

The student who controls a space telescope

"It's really cool to have a space telescope observe what I tell it to observe!" So says doctoral student Jo Ann Egger, the youngest and first student member of the CHEOPS science team. How did she get there?

Jupiter moon Europa

NASA mission with Bernese participation

On October 14, 2024, NASA's Europa Clipper mission began its journey to Jupiter's moon Europa. The aim is to investigate if the icy moon currently has habitable conditions. Four researchers from Bern are part of the mission's scientific teams.

Study on "ecological debt"

Heat extremes cause long-term damage to ecosystems

Ecosystems use different strategies to protect themselves from the negative effects of heat extremes. A study by the University of Bern shows: The full extent of the ecological impact only becomes apparent after the end of a heat extreme.

First electron neutrino measurement

New opportunity to explore the universe

A team including researchers from the Laboratory for High Energy Physics at the University of Bern has successfully measured the interaction rates of neutrinos at unprecedented energies using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN.

Space research

New partnership with NASA

A new network of Swiss research institutions teams up with NASA to accelerate the exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
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