Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT
Bees and other pollinators: their significance for agriculture and biodiversity
SWISS ACADEMIES FACTSHEETS, VOL. 9, NO. 1, 2014
Honeybees and other insects are responsible for pollinating large numbers of plants, making them vital to the achievement of productive agriculture and functioning ecosystems. These pollinators are faced with a wide range of problems, however, and have suffered severe losses in terms of their overall numbers and the diversity of their species. The decline has affected not only honeybees, but also wild pollinators such as certain bumblebees and butterfly species. The factsheet highlights the various possible courses of action.
Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz (2014) Bienen und andere Bestäuber: Bedeutung für Landwirtschaft und Biodiversität. Swiss Academies Factsheets 9 (1).
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.
Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT
Strategy for natural history collections in Switzerland
Thirty-seven institutions, take a decisive step towards unlocking the full potential of natural history collections in Switzerland. Together, they publish and endorse a strategy based on 6 pillars and 52 key activities to better preserve collections, ensure their accessibility and promote their use for science and society.
