Swiss Young Academy SYA
Who gets heard? Scientific experts at the Hearings of Parliamentary Specialist Committees
How science scores points with politicians
How do scientific insights find their way into parliament? Researchers in Switzerland often do not have a clear answer to this question. A new publication by the Swiss Young Academy provides practical tips, insights and background information on the legislative process. This orientation guide is intended to enable (young) scientists to successfully contribute their knowledge to parliamentary deliberations.
Ammann O., Farman D., Grüninger S., Maier S., Wyss R. (2023): Wer wird gehört? Wissenschafter:innen in den Anhörungen der parlamentarischen Sachbereichskommissionen.
Swiss Academies Communications 18 (3).
Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT
Swiss Glaciers. State, projections and significance
The Swiss Alps are characterised by glaciers. Their retreat influences the landscape and tourism, harbours natural hazards, lowers the volume of water available in summer and even has an impact on the ocean. The extent to which the Alpine glaciers are retreating and whether they will eventually disappear depends on climate change and, consequently, global climate protection. The factsheet outlines the level of knowledge concerning glacial melting and its impact on society and, additionally, illustrates available options and courses of action.
Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences SAHS
All-day childcare and schooling
This report analyses the attitudes of parents in Switzerland regarding all-day childcare, based on data collected from an online panel of 2,161 parents. Providing high-quality childcare is essential for child development, equal educational opportunities, and increasing female participation in the workforce, all of which contribute to Switzerland’s economic sustainability. The analyses presented in this report are based on primary data covering various aspects of general parental attitudes towards all-day schooling, contrasted with specific views on the own family. They differentiated between German- and French-speaking parents to shed more light on potential regional differences.
Duchêne, Cédric, Marieke Heers and Laura Bernardi (2025): All-day childcare and schooling. A survey of parental attitudes in Switzerland, ed. by the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (Swiss Academies Reports 20,1).
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
Ethical problems for research institutions collaborating with commercial entities
This statement by ALLEA, the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, calls for safeguards in research collaborations with commercial entities. As part of ALLEA’s longstanding commitment to research integrity, it emphasises the need for policymakers, academic institutions and funding bodies to adopt clear guidelines for collaborations with industry partners. The key considerations concern: preserving academic independence, ensuring transparency and accountability, managing conflicts of interest and aligning research with the public interest.