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Making science understandable: What experts recommend
The expert group "Communicating Sciences and Arts in Times of Digital Media” has now examined the state of science communication in Switzerland for the first time and published a report. Their conclusion: There is strong support for science among the Swiss population and a variety of formats for dialog between science and society. But there are also challenges to overcome, such as insufficient support for researchers communicating with the public, the erosion of science journalism, and the spread of Fake news. On this basis, the expert group of the Swiss Academies has formulated 20 recommendations for improving science communication.
Stellungnahme zur Revision des Natur- und Heimatschutzgesetzes
Die Akademien der Wissenschaften begrüssen es sehr, dass der Bund Natur und Landschaft verstärkt schützen will. Dies entspricht auch den Zielen der Strategie Biodiversität Schweiz, der Strategie Nachhaltigen Entwicklung und dem Landschaftskonzept Schweiz. Mit den vorgeschlagenen Änderungen des Bundesgesetzes über den Natur- und Heimatschutz (NHG) wird zudem die Strategie Baukultur eine gesetzliche Fundierung auf Bundesebene erhalten.
Adoption of the Open Research Data Strategy
White Paper: Seven goals for clinical research
What does publicly funded clinical research need to increase its benefit for patients and society? The SAMS White Paper Clinical Research presents a roadmap with seven goals to strengthen the impact of clinical research in Switzerland. It suggests ways on how to use resources more efficiently and how to align efforts on common priorities.
Science Communication in Switzerland: Assessment Report and Recommendations
What is the current state of science communication in Switzerland? Answers to this question are provided by an assessment report published by the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. Together with a description of the actual situation, the report offers concrete recommendations on how science journalism in our country could be strengthened.
Twelve MD-PhD grants awarded
The national MD-PhD program has awarded twelve grants to young physicians engaged in research to complete a doctorate in natural sciences, public health sciences and clinical research at a Swiss university. The synopsis of grantees gives an overview of the supported projects.
New speaker elected
Following the Members' Assembly, the members elected Lucas Mueller as the new speaker of the Swiss Young Academy for the year 2021/2022. We thank Estefania Cuero for her commitment as the first speaker and look forward to a successful collaboration with Lucas Mueller.
New faces on the SAMS Executive Board
The Executive Board is renewing itself. At its meeting on 1 July 2021, it welcomed three new members recently elected by the Senate: Professor Luca Crivelli (Ticino), Professor Nicole Probst-Hensch (Basel) and Professor George Thalmann (Bern).
Prix Média Newcomer: Jetzt geht’s an die Arbeit!
Die Jury hat entschieden: Mit je 3‘000 Franken fördern die Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz wissenschaftsjournalistische Recherchen für eine neue Folge der «Galactic Chloé Show» (von Chloé Carrière) sowie für den Dokumentarfilm «Dati dimenticati: gli scarti della scienza» zum Umgang mit biologischen Daten aus der Forschung (von Simone Pengue).
Bis zum 22. August haben die jungen PreisträgerInnen Zeit, ihre Ideen umzusetzen. Danach wird im Public Voting der Siegerbeitrag gekürt und anlässlich der Science Comm'21 am 16. September in Fribourg geehrt.
The medical-ethical guidelines «Decisions on cardiopulmonary resuscitation» have been revised
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) decisions and their consequences involve considerable burdens for all concerned. The revised SAMS medical-ethical guidelines offer recommendations for medical professionals on how to proceed in various situations and provide guidance for discussing CPR with patients and relatives.
Health and environment co-benefits: what does the literature say?
Anthropogenic climate change jeopardises medical progress made in recent decades and may lead to a rise in malnutrition, threaten mental health, increase the incidence of cardiovascular, pulmonary and infectious diseases, and cause premature deaths. Following the publication in 2019 of its position paper on sustainable development of the health system, the SAMS is seeking to raise awareness of the relationship between health and the environment.
KZS Fund call for proposals: Access to care under resource scarcity
The SAMS is providing a total of CHF 250’000.– from the Käthe-Zingg-Schwichtenberg Fund (KZS Fund) for research in bio-medical ethics on the topic of «Access to medical and nursing care under resource scarcity». The submission deadline is 31 August 2021.
Nine Centres for Rare Diseases recognized
In May 2021, the National Coordination for Rare Diseases (kosek) recognized three Centres for Rare Diseases in addition to the six structures approved in 2020. These nine Centres ensure comprehensive geographical and linguistic coverage in Switzerland. As a founding member of kosek, the SAMS welcomes these developments.
Gesellschaftliche Herausforderungen disziplinenübergreifend angehen
Die Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz und das Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation haben ihre Leistungsvereinbarung 2021–24 mit einem Betrag von 196.6 Mio. Fr. unterzeichnet. Im Zentrum stehen gesellschaftliche Herausforderungen wie nachhaltige Entwicklung, Food 4.0 oder Gesundheitssysteme. Themen, die dank dem Netzwerk von über 100'000 Milizpersonen disziplinenübergreifend angegangen werden können.
The SAMS pays tribute to Peter Meier-Abt
It is with sadness that the SAMS learned of the death of Peter Meier-Abt on 27 May 2021. A member of the Senate since 2000, Prof. Meier-Abt was President of the SAMS from 2011 to 2016 and Vice President from 2004 to 2011 and 2016 to 2018. He was the driving force behind the Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN), which he chaired from its inception.
SPHN has launched calls for «National Data Streams» and for cohorts
The Swiss Personalized Health Network has launched with the Personalized Health and Related Technologies (PHRT) initiative from the ETH Domain a joint call for «National Data Streams» (NDS). A second call enables Swiss cohort studies to present their metadata in an international catalogue.
Prix Schläfli 2021 award for the four best dissertations in natural sciences
Projektausschreibung MINT.III - 2021
Das Förderprogramm «MINT Schweiz» des Bundes unterstützt Projekte und Initiativen zur Förderung von MINT-Kompetenzen von Kindern und Jugendlichen in der Schweiz (MINT steht für Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften und Technik) unter anderem mit besonderem Fokus auf die Vermittlung digitaler Kompetenzen, die über die reine Anwendung hinaus gehen.
Das Gesuchsverfahren erfolgt in 2 Schritten: Aufgrund einer kurzen Projektdarstellung (Stufe 1) werden aussichtsreiche Vorschläge zur Einreichung eines vollen Antrags (Stufe 2) eingeladen.
National Working Group on Advance Care Planning
Health, illness and quality of life are decisive aspects of a dignified end of life. Addressing treatment options and dying at an early stage are essential for promoting self-determination. At the beginning of May, a national working group run jointly by the SAMS and the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) started its work with the aim of improving the framework conditions and quality standards in Switzerland.
Young Talents in Clinical Research: 14 grants for young medical doctors
With the «Young Talents in Clinical Research» programme launched in 2017, the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation and the SAMS aim at encouraging young medical doctors to start out in clinical research. 14 grants have been awarded among the 61 proposals submitted within the 2020 call, which was extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.