The University of Geneva has founded a new inter-faculty institute called "iGE3 - Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva". It offers a single organisational structure to 50 research groups and is expected to build bridges between basic and clinical research. The new institute emrges from the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Genetics – Frontiers in Genetics – Genes, Chromosomes and Development", which will come to an end next year.
The SNSF received 63 pre-proposals in response to a call for proposals for the fourth series of National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs). The evaluation of the pre-proposals will be completed by the end of October 2012.
Researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "SYNAPSY - The Synaptic Bases of Mental Diseases" are presenting their research work to families and young adults at the exhibition "Les doigts dans le cerveau" in Lausanne.
In mid-December, the publishing house Palgrave Macmillan will publish the first book of a new series entitled "Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century". The series was initiated by the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Democracy".
While water alone has not yet been the cause of a major war, water issues can lead to diplomatic tensions. The upcoming North-South Forum, organised by National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "North-South – Research Partnerships for Mitigating Syndromes of Global Change" (Monday 28 November 2011 in Berne), brings together representatives from international NGOs, the natural and the social sciences, and the diplomatic sector to discuss the links between water and diplomacy, and explore the opportunities these links provide.
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has issued a call for proposals for innovation projects within the scope of ongoing National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs). The call is part of the Swiss Confederation's package of measures for 2011. A total amount of 10 million Swiss francs has been made available for the projects. The deadline for the submission of project proposals is 15 February 2012.
The November study week of "Schweizer Jugend forscht" (Swiss Youth in Science) is dedicated to the humanities and social sciences: its topic is "(Un-) Freiheit" (Freedom/lack of freedom) and it takes place from 13 to 19 November. Young researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Democracy – Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century" are involved in the study week.
Researchers are sending out invitations for an exciting journey on 18 November: from the infinitely large to the infinitely small. Researchers from the National Centre of Competence (NCCR) "Nanosciences - Impact for life sciences, perennity, new information and communication technologies" will be on board.
What significance do images, visualisations and modes of illustration have for the understanding and construction of the world? What role do they play in determining concepts and representations? These are some of the questions raised at the annual conference of the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Iconic Criticism" in Basel (17 – 19 November 2011).
The new edition of the 6-page "SNSFinfo print" with the latest institutional information of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has been published. The October edition is devoted to the topic "Enlargement contribution: co-operation with researchers from Bulgaria and Romania".
The revolutions in the Arab world have surprised more than a few. However, the consequences and perspectives of these movements remain unclear. A conference on this topic will be held at the ETH Zurich in late October.
The National Centre of Competence (NCCR) "CO-ME - Computer Aided and Image Guided Medical Interventions" has founded the Swiss Institute for Computer Assisted Surgery (Sicas) in order to be able to maintain and develop its network even after the conclusion of the NCCR in 2013.
How did Santiago de Compostela become the most important Christian pilgrimage site? Historian Manuel Cecilia explains how some wondrous propaganda played an important part. In the context of the National Centre of Competence in Research "Mediality - Historical perspectives", he studies the use of images and text in the "Historia Compostellana".
As of 19 August, the Brain Bus, a mobile exhibition on brain research, will be heading towards Romandy on the next leg of its 2011 tour of Switzerland. This year, it focuses on the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Synapsy - Synaptic Bases of Mental Diseases".
The Montreux Jazz Festival provides an ideal platform for the National Research Programme "Affective Sciences" (NRP "Affective Sciences") to present and explain its activities and the topics of its research. This year the NRP organised two workshops aiming for a dialogue between the affective sciences, music and sculpture.
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is launching a fourth call for National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR). The available budget is sufficient for five or six new NCCRs.
A flying scooter, strawberry sweets and a humanoid robot... those were the objects at the centre of workshops run by NCCRs "IM2", "MaNEP" and "Affective Sciences" at the "Hérisson sous gazon" festival.
No other National Centre of Competence in Research can boast global connections as wide-ranging as NCCR North-South. In nine centres on four continents, researchers are analysing the problems of global change. The emerging results are characterised by great cultural and topical diversity, which presents a special challenge when it comes to bringing results to the attention of decision makers and experts.
In July the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) will launch the fourth call for National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR).
The new edition of the 6-page "SNSFinfo print" with the latest institutional information of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has been published. The June edition is devoted to the categorisation of scientific research, especially to “use-inspired basic research”.
In 2010, researchers submitted substantially more projects to the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) than in previous years. A steep increase of 17% compared to 2009 means that competition for research funding has become very intense. With overall funding of 726 million Swiss francs, the SNSF supported more projects than ever before (+2.7 % compared to the previous year).
On Saturday, 18 June 2011, the festival for children "Hérisson sous gazon" will take place in Charrat (Valais). The three National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs) "IM2", "Affective Sciences" and "MaNEP" will participate with science workshops for children. Their topics being smells, robots and a levitating scooter.
A scientist and a politician meet on 5 May 2011 in one of a series of debates entitled "Who's got the say? Democracy today", jointly organised by the Schauspielhaus Zürich (the Zurich Theatre) and the German weekly newspaper "Die Zeit". The scientist is Hanspeter Kriesi, Director of the NCCR "Democracy - Challenges to democracy in the 21st Century", and he will be facing Markus Notter, a member of Zurich's governing council.
Researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "IM2 - Interactive multimodal information management" have developed a software that automatically captures and analyses eye movements. This opens up new avenues for market research. The researchers are currently presenting the new software in Hannover at the world's largest trade fair.
Researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "MICS - Mobile Information and Communication Systems" have developed a wireless sensor system to monitor the environment. They are currently presenting this system at the world's largest trade fair in Hannover.
In the context of federal measures to stabilise the economy, researchers of the EPFL have developed a robot which helps surgeons to perform operations on ears, noses and throats not only with more precision, but also much quicker. They are presenting a prototype of the robot at the world’s largest trade fair, which is currently taking place in Hannover.
Researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "MaNEP - Materials with Novel Electronic Properties" have developed a high pressure system which allows the production of kilometre-long superconductive high performance wires. They are presenting the new system at the world’s largest trade fair, which is currently taking place in Hannover.
Researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "MaNEP - Materials with Novel Electronic Properties" have further developed the method of spark erosion to coat conducting materials and to improve their properties. They are presenting the method at the world’s largest trade fair taking place at the moment in Hannover.
Researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "MICS – Mobile Information and Communication Systems" have developed a sensor system to help determine free inner city parking spaces and to improve traffic flows. They are presenting the system at the world’s largest trade fair taking place at the moment in Hannover.
Researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "CO-ME - Computer Aided and Image Guided Medical Interventions" working with a start-up company created in the context of federal measures to stabilize the economy, have developed a software which helps surgeons to plan and perform craniomaxillo facial (CMF) surgery with more precision. They are presenting the platform at the world’s largest trade fair taking place at the moment in Hannover.
Basic research can transmit a wide range of impulses to the economy. This is shown by the interim evaluation of 28 technology transfer projects from the National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR). Seven projects are on display from 4 to 8 April 2011 at the world's largest industrial fair, held in Hannover.
The twelfth edition of the 6-page "SNSFinfo print" with the latest institutional information of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has been published. The March edition is devoted to the SNSF’s language policy and other topics and is also published in English for the first time.
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) issues a monthly newsletter with current institutional information as well as specific newsletters on the National Research Programmes (NRPs). Starting this month, all of these newsletters are also available in English. You can subscribe to them on the SNSF website (see link under “On this subject”).
Switzerland’s future climate is likely to be warmer with longer dry spells during the summer months. Sessile oak trees and – somewhat surprisingly – ash trees are pretty frugal and can cope with water shortages better than others. Copper beeches and wild cherry trees are slightly more vulnerable to dryness, while sycamore maples and broad-leaved limes find patches of dry weather the most challenging.
The National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "QSIT – Quantum Science and Technology" started work earlier this year. The scientists of this network are studying the principles of quantum physics in order to develop applications for quantum computing together with industrial firms.
The National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "LIVES – Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives" began its research activities at the end of last year. The NCCR examines how postindustrial economies and societies contribute to the development of social exclusion and precariousness.
The National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Robotics – Intelligent robots for improving the quality of life" aims to develop robot technologies for the benefit of human beings. The programme has recently got underway, with the ETH Lausanne as its headquarters.
The Guide 2011 brochure is now available. It provides an overview of the current status of the 27 ongoing National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR). The 99-page English publication supplies useful information on the topics, projects, participants, results and funding of these research networks.
The National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Chemical Biology – Visualisation and Control of Biological Processes Using Chemistry" has got underway. It uses chemistry tools to obtain a better understanding of life at the molecular level and is engaged in establishing a platform for chemical screening aimed at developing a new generation of molecules with biological effects.
How democratic is Switzerland? And how does its democracy compare with other established democracies? What factors actually distinguish a democracy? Researchers at the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) "Democracy" have developed a new Democracy Barometer that provides answers to these and other questions.