We are the largest scientific network in Switzerland and provide advice to policy-makers and society on knowledge-based and socially relevant issues. About us

All Publications

  • Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT

    Insights from the Global South for the Revision of the KFPE Guide

  • Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences a+

    Lighthouse Programmes in Sustainability Research and Innovation

    Wuelser G, Edwards P (2025)
    Lighthouse Programmes in Sustainability Research and Innovation
    Swiss Academies Reports 20 (4)

    DOI: doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15599260

  • Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences a+

    Ethical guidelines for animal experiments

    The Swiss Animal Welfare Act permits the use of animals for certain scientific purposes; at the same time, however, it requires that the dignity of animals be respected and their welfare protected. For researchers, reconciling these various societal interests can be challenging. The ethical guidelines for animal experiments (2025) are designed to clarify the margin of discretion left by the legislation and to encourage researchers to reflect on the handling of animals in their experiments. The decisive factors for updating the previous version from 2005 were new scientific knowledge and research methods on the one hand, as well as changes in the legal framework on the other.

  • Swiss Young Academy SYA

    On Science for Policy and Diplomacy Education in Switzerland and Beyond: A Brief Overview

    Some of the most pressing challenges worldwide, from global pandemics to the climate and environmental crisis, require efforts at the interface of science, policy, and diplomacy. To this end, skills development for scientists engaged with science for policy and diplomacy is increasingly important, yet relevant educational offers in Switzerland and worldwide remain limited. The Swiss Young Network for Science Policy and Diplomacy, in collaboration with the Geneva Science-Policy Interface and the Franxini Project of Reatch, considered educational offers in science for policy and diplomacy available for early-career academics, including courses, workshops, and webinars in Switzerland, across Europe, and beyond.

  • Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT

    Roles of Scientists in Sustainability Transformations: A Guide for Reflection and Workshop Facilitation

    Scientists, scientific experts, and knowledge brokers often find themselves in situations where they need to play new roles in society or are criticised for positioning themselves at the interface between science and other societal fields of action. The present guide aims to stimulate reflections on, and discussions of, various different roles that scientists perform.

  • European Academies Science Advisory Council EASAC

    Changing wildfires: policy options for a fire-literate and fire-adapted Europe

    There is an increased probability of extreme fires, due mainly to climate change (droughts and declining summer precipitation), rural depopulation, and land-use changes. To respond to this, a new European Academies report is calling for an urgent shift in wildfire policy – from reactive fire suppression to proactive, risk-based land management.

    Already today, wildfires burn half a million hectares in the EU yearly on average, i.e. nearly twice the size of Luxembourg. While the Mediterranean remains the highest-risk region, the report warns that continental, alpine, and boreal regions must also prepare for a new era of fire. Instead of focussing on fire suppression and emergency response, the report advocates for an integrated EU framework for landscape fire-risk governance that prioritises prevention alongside these three elements: climate and land-use policies that focus on restoring carbon-rich peatlands and managing forests sustainably; integrate fire risk into biodiversity and tree-planting plans; and educate for a fire-resilient society.

    The report under the auspices of the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) was drafted by scientists from across Europe. On behalf of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, Marco Conedera, forest engineer at the WSL Campus in Cadenazzo, contributed as a reviewer of a draft version.

  • European Academies Science Advisory Council EASAC

    Security of sustainable energy supplies

    Growing geopolitical tensions combined with high dependencies on imported fuels, mainly oil and gas, increasingly threaten Europe’s energy security. A well-managed transition to sustainable domestic energy and innovative technologies made in Europe can offer a secure and prosperous future. Written by 27 scientists from across Europe, this new academy report aims to support European decision-makers with facts, analyses and recommendations for action.

    The weaponising of energy by autocratic regimes through trade disruptions, attacks on infrastructure, and growing numbers of cyber-attacks increase both the risk of interruptions to Europe’s energy supplies and also energy prices. High and volatile energy prices reduce investor confidence, jeopardise the competitiveness of European industries, and drive millions of households into energy poverty.

    Since Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022, the EU has done a lot to reduce Russian energy supplies by diversifying its gas supplies and increasing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). However, it is particularly important not to shift import dependence from Russian gas to import dependence on LNG from another third country, such as the USA, with all the associated risks.

    On behalf of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, Russell McKenna (ETH Zurich) contributed to this European Academy report.

  • Swiss Young Academy SYA

    Podcast "Spark - Stories from Advocates for Global Change"

    Spark offers young listeners (ages 16–23) an accessible entry point into the world of transdisciplinary research, showcasing how collaboration across different fields of study is essential to solving complex real-world problems. Through engaging storytelling, the podcast highlights how careers in science can take many shapes, offering insights into the diverse paths within this field. By connecting young listeners with the stories behind the research, Spark aims to foster public engagement with science, encourage deeper connections between established experts and young audiences, and inspire greater involvement in global issues.

Contact

Kommunikation

House of Academies
Laupenstrasse 7
P.O. Box
3001 Bern