Observe natural phenomena in the city with "Jahreszeiten-Expeditionen"
When you combine scientific information with theatrical improvisations, a guided tour turns into a unique experience. A project funded by the SNSF's Agora scheme is touring the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
Despite cool temperatures and persisting rain, a dozen people met up on the Rathausbrücke in Zurich to discover natural phenomena in urban habitats. Experts were offering an urban nature walk that highlighted hidden aspects of natural life in the city and promised to be both interesting and entertaining. The Zurich tour focused on the linden trees of the Lindenhof. While Maria Schmitt of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research shared scientific information about the trees, the improvisations of two actors brought nature into a different focus yet again. The participants took a closer look at the trees and entered their observations on the platform opennature, which allows members of the public to record their nature observations.
Experiencing the excitement of natural sciences
The platform "OpenNature", to which all participants of the "Jahreszeiten-Expeditionen" are introduced, is funded by the SNSF's Agora funding scheme, which is dedicated to science communication and to fostering dialogue between researchers and the public. To celebrate its 200 year anniversary, the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) initiated the idea of sharing the fascination of science with the Swiss public with a series of events entitled "Forschung live". The Institute of Geography of the University of Berne and Science et Cité then launched the project "Jahreszeiten-Expeditionen", which aims to share urban natural phenomena with the public in an entertaining way. Further guided tours, partially financed by Agora, are planned in Berne and Basel in September. Participating in the tours is free.
Programm of "Forschung live – Naturwissenschaften erlebbar nah"Web plattform OpenNature(Recording nature observations via tablet or smartphone)Project OpenNature on p3
Further "Jahreszeiten-Expeditionen":
5 September 2015, Berne
11 am till 12 noon and 2 pm till 3 pm
A guided tour through the seasons:
Discover nature in the city - a theatrical tour through Berne
19 September 2015, Basel
11 am till 12 noon and 2 pm till 3 pm
A guided tour through the seasons:
Discover nature in the city - a theatrical tour through Basel