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Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT
News
Commodity trading could be a particularly strong lever for sustainable development
Trade in raw materials represents one third of total trade in goods and has a considerable impact on sustainable development. In the most comprehensive scientific study to date conducted by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), researchers analysed the influence of trading companies on economic, ecological and social development and show how Switzerland, as a major trading hub, can exploit opportunities and minimise risks worldwide.
News
Zweite Durchführung des CAS Citizen Science und Public Engagement, erneut mit Beteiligung des td-net
Diesen Herbst bietet Citizen Science Zürich zum zweiten Mal den CAS Citizen Science und Public Engagement an. Die berufsbegleitende und praxisorientierte Weiterbildung ist zusammengesetzt aus fünf Basis- und zwei wählbaren Spezialisierungsmodulen, von denen eines unter der Beteiligung stattfinden wird.
Swiss Young Academy SYA
News
New workshop on teaching tools for bridging science and societal partners
The Young Academy, in collaboration with td-net, invites lecturers and teachers to the workshop ‘teaching tools for bridging science and societal partners’ on 23 June 2026 at PROGR in Bern. The focus is on innovative teaching approaches at the interface between science and society. The half-day workshop (09:15–13:00) combines an interactive marketplace for teaching materials and formats with thematic group discussions on challenges, opportunities and transdisciplinary methods. The registration deadline is 5 June 2026.
Current publications
Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT
Beyond the transaction: commodity trade and sustainable development
This factsheet maps the sustainability links of commodity trade, identifies knowledge gaps, and outlines options for commodity hubs, including Switzerland, to reduce economic, environmental and social sustainability risks.
Swiss Young Academy SYA
Impact of AI on Early Career Researchers: Challenges, Opportunities and Responsibilities
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming science and is therefore profoundly reshaping the work of Early Career Researchers. Against this backdrop, the publication Impact of AI on Early Career Researchers: Challenges, Opportunities, and Responsibilities, developed by members of the Swiss Young Academy, namely Emmanuel Senft, Sabrina H. Kessler, Pamela Delgado, Devi Bühler, and Alexandre Bovet, offers a timely interdisciplinary reflection on these changes. The booklet examines both the opportunities and risks of AI across five key areas – research, teaching, science communication, policymaking, and sustainability – while also addressing critical issues such as research integrity, data privacy, misinformation, governance, and environmental impact. It further highlights the responsibilities of Early Career Researchers and higher education institutions in promoting AI literacy, transparency, ethical standards, and responsible use of AI in science.
Swiss Young Academy SYA
Innovative Teaching Formats at the Science-Society Interface: Reflections and Future Directions in Swiss Higher Education
Science-society dialogue is crucial for addressing pressing societal challenges. One important avenue for strengthening this link, in an inter- and transdisciplinary perspective, is teaching formats that encourage students to engage in the public sphere. However, an illustrative collection of best practices in Swiss higher education has been lacking so far. This practice-driven report draws on a non-exhaustive stocktake of existing courses in Switzerland and participatory workshops among lecturers. It features illustrative examples from Swiss higher education institutions and introduces a new typology of science-society teaching formats, offering educators a structured way to design and analyze courses across six dimensions. In addition, the publication discusses both the opportunities and challenges of implementing such teaching formats. To further advance science-society education, the report identifies three priority areas for action.