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The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences is the alliance of the four academies of sciences in Switzerland. It encompasses the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAGW), the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMA / SAMW) and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW). In addition, it consists of the two centers of excellence - the center for technology assessment (TA-SWISS) and Science et Cité - as well as other networks of science.
The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences links scientists and science associations in different regions, within Switzerland and with organizations from abroad. They represent the scientific community independently from institutions and disciplines, their work is both intra- and interdisciplinary. The network has a long term perspective and strives for scientific excellence. It counsels politicians and society in questions of scientific concern and societal relevance.
Year founded: 2006
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 92 20
SCNAT and its network are committed to a sustainable science and society. They support policy-making, administration and business with expert knowledge and actively participate in public discourse. They strengthen the exchange across scientific disciplines and promote early career academics.
The Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and its network of 35 000 experts works at regional, national and international level for the future of science and society. It strengthens the awareness for the sciences as a central pillar of cultural and economic development. The breadth of its support makes it a representative partner for politics. The SCNAT links the sciences, provides expertise, promotes the dialogue between science and society, identifies and evaluates scientific developments and lays the foundation for the next generation of natural scientists. It is part of the association of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences.
Year founded: 1815
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 00
The platform unites researchers from 18 scientific societies and 5 national committees in the field of biology. It promotes the transfer of knowledge and networking opportunities. Through the provision of expertise, the platform generates and maintains a dialogue to the benefit of society and politics.
The Platform Biology nourishes biological sciences as a cultural asset of Switzerland. It campaigns for the preservation of the diversity in biological studies and promotes the circulation of knowledge, exchange and networking within the field. Additionally, the platform cultivates international cooperation and represents Switzerland in various international unions. The platform values and aims at an early recognition of crucial developments at the intersection of multiple disciplines. In addition, it provides expert knowledge to young academics and aims to improve their networking opportunities with fellow scientists.
The platform encourages society and politicians to take an increased interest in biology. By offering expertise and maintaining a dialog, the platform provides impartial, factual knowledge to politicians and members of society. With activities designed especially for primary and secondary schools, as well as the support of teachers (which includes connecting them with experts), the platform intends to win young talents for science, with a special focus on the field of biology.
Year founded: 2007
Platform Biology
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 38
The Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (ECAE) is a body of expertise and consultation in the field of "animal experimentation". The tasks of the ECAE include the development of positions on key issues in the field of animal testing and the review of legal dictates.
The committee consists of eleven members from sectors such as fundamental research, veterinary medicine, animal welfare, law and ethics. The ECAE is a joint committee of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).
Year founded: 2013
c/o Sibylle Ackermann
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 92 73
LS2 is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing biological sciences within the Swiss academic community, and to addressing the social, ethical, and economic issues raised by the rapid progress of the biomedical and life sciences.
Originally founded around Prof. Eward Weibel as USGEB (Union of Swiss Societies in Experimental Biology) in 1969, the society has a history of nearly 50 years in federating researchers from various Life Sciences disciplines and in promoting their interests towards the public.
USGEB was the umbrella society for the Swiss Societies of Biochemistry, Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Physiology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Experimental Pharmacology.
In 2012, USGEB changed its name to LS2 (Life Sciences Switzerland) under the presidency of Prof. Gisou van der Goot (EPFL), and in 2016 three of the founding societies merged to become the largest Life Sciences Society in Switzerland.
Year founded: 1969
Number of members: 1'104 (2017)
Life Sciences Switzerland (LS2) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
University of Zurich Institute of Molecular Life Sciences
Winterthurerstrasse 190
8057 Zürich
The National Committee of the International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (NC IUPAB) is a working group within the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). It is the Swiss representative within IUPAB, the international organisation supporting research and teaching in biophysics worldwide.
NC IUPAB is a working group within the Platform Biology.
c/o Prof. Dr Aleksandra Radenovic
Station 17
1015 Lausanne
Biochemists and Molecular Biologists around the world are united in the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB). As a member of the Union, the Life Sciences Switzerland Section Molecular and Cellular Biosciences represents the interests of the Swiss community via the National Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NC IUBMB).
The IUBMB is devoted to promoting research and education in biochemistry and molecular biology throughout the world and gives particular attention to areas where the subject is still in its early development. Every three years the IUBMB organizes the "International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology", with the NC IUBMB participating in the General Assembly of the IUBMB, held at the congress.
NC IUBMB is a working group within the Platform Biology.
c/o Prof. Dr. Marcus Thelen
Università della Svizzera italiana USI
Institute for Research in Biomedicine
Via Vincenzo Vela 6
6500 Bellinzona
+41 91 820 03 17
The National Committe of the International Union of Biological Sciences (NC IUBS) of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) represents the biological community of Switzerland in the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS).
IUBS is the only international body that covers all disciplines of Biological Sciences. As an umbrella organisation for international scientific associations, IUBS is developing approaches how scientific disciplines can more successfully interact. The National Committee on the one hand coordinates and forsters activities and the communication with IUBS and on the other hand assigns representatives for the institutional responsibilities within IUBS.
NC IUBS is a working group within the Platform Biology.
c/o Prof. Dr. Christoph Scheidegger
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
+41 44 739 24 39
The "National Committee of the International Union of Food Science and Technology" (NC IUFoST) is a working team of the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences (SCNAT) in the framework of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST). It represents interests of Swiss field associations working in the field of food research.
This national committee comprises four representatives, each stemming from one field association. Those include the Swiss Association of Food-Science and Technology (SGLWT), the Swiss Association of Food Hygiene (SGHL), the Swiss Society for Food Chemistry (SSFC) and the Swiss Association of Nutrition.
NC IUFoST is a working group within the Platform Biology.
Year founded: 1972
NC IUFoST
c/o Prof. Dr. Felix Escher
Robänkli 9
8607 Aathal-Seegräben
+41 44 932 31 00
The "National Committee of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences" (NC IUNS), a member of the Swiss Academy of Science (SCNAT), represents Switzerland's interests within the "International Union of Nutritional Sciences" (IUNS) and acts as a coordination and exchange platform for all Swiss institutions, which are involved in the nutritional field.
As a non-governmental umbrella organisation, the IUNS promotes the nutritional sciences, supports the exchange of research results and forms task forces to tackle current challenges on a worldwide basis. The NC IUNS is the link between the IUNS and the Swiss institutions. The NC IUNS holds regular meetings to guarantee a flawless information exchange and the national committee represents Switzerland at the IUNS conferences.
NC IUNS is a working group within the Platform Biology.
c/o Dr. Isabelle Herter-Aeberli
ETH Zürich
Schmelzbergstrasse 9
8092 Zürich
+41 44 632 74 81
The main objectives of IUPHAR are to foster international cooperation in pharmacology by:
promoting cooperation between societies that represent pharmacology and related disciplines throughout the world;
sponsoring international and regional congresses and meetings, and helping in their organization by establishing advisory committees;
encouraging international coordination and free exchange of scientists and of ideas in research,
adhering to the ICSU Statute 6 concerning non-discrimination without regard to race, religion, political philosophy, ethnic origin, citizenship, language or gender;
acting as a body through which pharmacologists can participate with other branches of science in international activities, either directly or under the aegis of international scientific bodies such as ICSU, WHO and UNESCO;
helping in all ways the development of pharmacology throughout the world;
promoting programs of public awareness on pharmacological issues.
NC IUPHAR is a working group within the Platform Biology.
c/o Prof. Dr. Urs T. Rüegg
University of Geneva
Section des sciences pharmaceutiques
Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30
1211 Genève 4
+41 22 379 34 29
The mission of IUPS is to foster the study of physiology worldwide. IUPS works with physiological societies and other organizations worldwide to facilitate initiatives that strengthen the discipline of physiology.
NC IUPS is a working group within the Platform Biology.
c/o Prof. Dr Nicolas Demaurex
University of Geneva
Rue Michel-Servet 1
1211 Genève 4
+41 22 379 53 99
The umbrella organisation of anthropologists in Switzerland represents the interests of the discipline to the general public and the authorities. Its members are mainly composed of experts with a focus on natural science.
There is close contact between the society and related sciences, such as palaeoanthology, human anatomy, zoology, ecology, ethnology, archeology, forensic medicine and medical history. Once a year, the SSA carries out a General Assembly, which is usually complemented by a scientific section. It is part of the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences (SCNAT), which raises funds to financially support students with regard to any travelling expenses their participation at national and international congresses might entail.
Year founded: 1920
Number of members: 89 (2017)
Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Anthropologie (SGA) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Dr. Martin Häusler
Universität Zürich
Institut für Evolutionäre Medizin (IEM)
Winterthurerstrasse 190
8057 Zürich
+41 44 635 05 30
The members of the SGW-SSBF have a common interest for the diversified world of wild mammals and birds, as well as their relation to the environment. The SSWB is particularly committed to the protection and the promotion of these animals and their habitats, to the education and the research in this field.
To ensure an active exchange, the board members of the SSBF are active in commissions, in councils of foundations and company working groups, as well as in national and international institutions. In collaboration with the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the SSBF organises "The Lyss wildlife days", which are an annual exchange platform of two days on the topics of biology and wildlife management. These meetings are a good opportunity for persons from different professional circles (research, administration, practice and other) to share their experience beyond the language barrier. In collaboration with the FOEN, a graduation certificate program (CAS) in mammal biology is offered in Zurich and Geneva. The information report "CH-FAUNE-INFO" is the official communication body of the society and is published six times a year.
Year founded: 1980
Number of members: 400 (2017)
Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Wildtierbiologie (SGW) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Universität Zürich
Wildtier Schweiz
Winterthurerstrasse 92
8006 Zürich
+41 44 635 61 31
The Swiss Association of Scientific Ornithology (Association suisse d'ornithologie scientifique (ASOS)) gathers together four societies whose publications and offers are dedicated to ornithology and bird protection in Switzerland.
The ASOS represents the interests of its four members (Ala -- Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Vogelkunde und Vogelschutz, Ficedula, Société romande pour l'étude et la protection des oiseaux -- Nos Oiseaux and Schweizerische Vogelwarte Sempach) and acts as a link to the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). The members' organisations cover three linguistic regions of Switzerland and independently organise meetings, lectures and courses. Among the societies' many activities, the editing of various publications such as «Ornithologischer Beobachter» (Ala), «Nos Oiseaux» and «Ficedula» and the administration of the ornitho.ch platform are important tasks.
Year founded: 1993
Schweizerischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für wissenschaftliche Ornithologie (SAWO) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Dr. Olivier Biber
Brunngasse 2
3011 Bern
Bryolich gathers botanists devoted to the diffusion of knowledge on bryophytes and lichens, and to their protection and conservation in Switzerland.
The promotion of research and training in bryology and in lichenology in Switzerland is put forward. The society raises awareness for the subject among the general public via the diffusion of knowledge. To reach its aims, the association organises excursions and other events (courses, lectures, etc.). In the periodical "Meylania", Bryolich informs about observations of bryophytes and lichens, and publishes discoveries, lists of excursions' collections and identification keys. One of the most important commitments is the protection and the conservation of bryophytes and lichens species and their habitats. In this context Bryolich supports the development of national data centres for bryophytes and lichens.
Bryolich also maintains collaborations with corresponding national and international organisations. The association supports the scientific succession in the field, and promotes international exchange by financial contributions to students' travel costs.
Year founded: 1956
Number of members: 182 (2017)
Swiss Association of Bryology and Lichenology (BRYOLICH) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Dr. Ariel Bergamini
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
+41 44 739 23 32
The SBS gathers together the Swiss professional and amateur botanists. The society enables the exchange of skills and promotes the botanical research in Switzerland. Additional key aspects are the commitment for field botany and the conservation of the flora and its habitat.
To do so, the society organises botanical excursions and scientific conferences. The internal circular of the society informs the members about the ongoing activities. The official journal "Alpine Botany" (previously called "Botanica Helvetica") is published twice a year and contains original scientific papers and short communications on all domains of the botany. In order to encourage young students, the SBS offers travel grants to financially support PhD students. The working group "Vegetatio Helvetica" takes care of the development of vegetation studies through phytosociological methods as well as scientific exchange on the national and the international level.
Year founded: 1890
Number of members: 736 (2017)
Swiss Botanical Society (SBG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o PD Dr François Felber
Musée et Jardin botaniques de Lausanne
Avenue de Cour 14bis
1007 Lausanne
021 316 99 95
The SES fosters cooperation among both professional and amateur entomologists and promotes the scientific study of indigenous insects.
The publications are made since 1862 in the journal "Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft", which presents original scientific articles on the theme of insects. Furthermore, since 1959, documentations on the taxonomy and the distribution of indigenous species are published in the collection "Insecta Helvetica" (since 1998, in collaboration with the Swiss Biological Records Centre (CSCF/SZKF), under the title "Fauna Helvetica"). Currently, ten regional chapters are affiliated with the SES: Alpstein, Basel, Berne, Fribourg, Geneva, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Vaud, Wallis and Zurich.
Year founded: 1858
Number of members: 269 (2019)
Swiss Entomological Society (SEG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Dr. Oliver Yves Martin
ETH Zürich
Universitätsstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
+41 44 632 36 60
SGV is dedicated to the promotion of laboratory animal science, as well as the furthering of animal protection and ethical considerations in animal experiments. These aims shall be attained by organising education and the flow of information within the scientific community.
Empty summary - please fill in now, before updatingThe society represents the members' views vis-a-vis the authorities and the general public, and collaborates with other societies based in Switzerland or in foreign countries, where the SGV is committed to the Swiss interests. Different commissions support the management committee in the scientific activities, the preparations of training and the field of the laboratory animals' protection. Twice a year, the members receive the informal information newsletter, as well as the official newspaper "Laboratory Animals" published in collaboration with European partner societies. A symposium and a two-day training or workshop on a SELECT_ed topic are the basic elements of the annual program. Every year, the society attributes an award to a significant contribution in the field of laboratory animals. A financial support can also be supplied to young researchers participating to training classes or congresses.
Year founded: 1987
Number of members: 239 (2013)
Swiss Laboratory Animal Science Association (SGV) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o PD Dr. Birgit Ledermann
PO Box
4056 Basel
The Swiss Society for Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology (SSAHE) is a national, non-governmental scientific organisation of members working in various fields of morphological science such as topographical, functional and clinical anatomy, integrative neuroscience, cell and molecular biology or developmental biology. The SSAHE is committed to the future of anatomy as a multidisciplinary growing field in terms of research and education.
The society is promoting the exchange between the Anatomical Institutes in Switzerland both at the level of research and of anatomical education. It provides a platform to exchange experience, ideas and problems related to these issues and has the major goal to promote communication between its members. SSAHE is member of the Life Sciences Switzerland (LS2) network and is participating actively at the LS2 meetings. The annual meeting of SSAHE is organised by one of the Anatomical Institutes in Switzerland. A second important activity of the society is to foster young anatomical investigators and to support and encourage them to adapt a professional career in anatomical research and teaching. This is being pursued by a travel GRANT_program for young investigators and by the scientific awards both to young and advanced investigators awarded by the society. Within the SSAHE, the Swiss Network for Gross Anatomy (SNGA) forms a subgroup of members specialised in the organization of teaching gross anatomy.
Year founded: 1934
Number of members: 70 (2017)
Swiss Society for Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology (SSAHE) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Prof. Dr. Lukas Sommer
Universität Zürich
Anatomisches Institut (Zürich)
Winterthurerstrasse 190
8057 Zürich
+41 44 635 53 50
The Swiss Society for Microbiology (SSM) is a professional association with members working in the field of human and veterinary medical microbiology, fundamental and general microbiology (food production and safety, environment), biotechnology, virology and mycology. The SSM is dedicated to the advancement of microbiology both as a medical and scientific discipline.
These aims are achieved by organising an annual meeting, workshops, conferences, courses in continuous education, and by taking part in current microbiology debates. Special attention is given to promoting young scientists by supporting them with travel grants. The Society has also established the «SSM encouragement award» to promising microbiologists for achievements that are outstanding in terms of their originality and scientific value. The SSM is a privileged partner of the Swiss Federal Office for Public Health with respect to medical microbiology issues. Furthermore, the SSM actively contributes to the program of postgraduate training for specialists in medical laboratory diagnostics, as it is responsible for the training in microbiology. The society's news are published on the web site and sent by electronic newsletters to SSM members.
Year founded: 1942
Number of members: 700 (2015)
Swiss Society for Microbiology (SGM) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
Nathalie Mermoud / Secrétariat SSM
Champ-Pamont 12
1033 Cheseaux-Lausanne
The Swiss Society for Phytiatry (SSP) is a broad forum for specialists in plant pathology, entomology and weed science, allowing them to connect together and enjoy each other's experiences. Its members are dedicated to the study of factors related to the maintenance, alteration and improvement of the health of plants, while taking into account the impact on humans and the environment.
The exchange of information between experts from research, development and consulting is encouraged. Every spring and autumn, the SSP organises a scientific meeting on a specific topical focus. The committee members participate in international congresses, collaborate in the planning and implementation of international events and represent the Swiss interests at the European Forum of Phytopathology, within the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) and other international societies. The members are kept abreast of information about current activities of the SSP, upcoming meetings and new publications in the field of phytiatry in the «SGP Info» bulletin.
Year founded: 1982
Number of members: 235 (2017)
Swiss Society for Phytiatry (SGP) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Joël Meier
Syngenta Agro AG
Agrobiological development
Rudolf-Maag-Strasse 5
8157 Dielsdorf
+41 44 855 82 29
Year founded: 1963
Number of members: 266 (2001)
Swiss Society for Plant Physiology (SGPP) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Prof. Dr. Thomas Boller
University of Basel
Section of Plant Physiology
Hebelstrasse 1
4056 Basel
+41 61 267 23 11
The SSA aims at promoting the scientific exchanges between the different centres and institutions in agronomy on a national and international level. The SSA addresses researchers, teachers, as well as advisors.
In the committee of the society representatives of organisations such as the ETH, universities, universities of applied sciences and other research institutions are involved in order to obtain a common direction of the institutions. The SSA maintains collaborations with different societies linked to agronomy and with the network «Swiss Plant Science Web». On an international level, the SSA guarantees the contacts with the "European Society for Agronomy" and the "International Society for Horticultural Science". Within the SSA, there are several working groups dealing with diverse current topics such as, for instance, the project "Vision Crop Farming 2050" dedicated to the challenge of the upcoming years regarding the development of plant production in Switzerland.
Year founded: 1992
Number of members: 180 (2017)
Swiss Society of Agronomy (SGPW) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Dr. Roland Kölliker
ETH Zürich
Molecular Plant Breeding c/o Agroscope
Reckenholzstrasse 191
8046 Zürich
+41 58 468 73 45
The SSPT promotes and supports all interests of pharmacology and toxicology in Switzerland. It organizes scientific meetings of general interest for all associated societies.
The SSPT is a union of the "Swiss Society of Experimental Pharmacology" (SSEP), the "Swiss Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology" (SSCPT), the "Swiss Society of Toxicology" (SST) and the "Swiss Society of Pharmaceutical Medicine" (SGPM). The society organises scientific meetings of general interest for all associated societies. It keeps its members informed on upcoming events of pharmacological and toxicological interest and represents the Swiss community within the following national societies and associations, respectively: Life Sciences Switzerland (LS2) and Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). Exception can be defined by the associated societies.
Year founded: 1979
Number of members: 550 (2016)
Swiss Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology (SSPT) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o PD Dr. Gabriele Weitz-Schmidt
AlloCyte Pharmaceuticals AG
Hochbergerstrasse 60C
4057 Basel
+41 61 633 30 78
Swiss Society for the History of Medicine and Sciences (SSHMSN) gets the doctors and the Swiss naturalists interested in the history of their disciplines together. Nowadays the SSHMSN is the professional association of historians of medicine and the natural sciences and aims to promote the rise of the history of medicine and the natural sciences in Switzerland and to be a place of scientific cooperation.
The SSHMSN holds an annual scientific meeting that addresses current topics and publishes the periodical journal "Gesnerus". To promote young researchers, the society - together with the the "Dr Markus Guggenheim-Schnurr Foundation" – grants financial support and confers the Henry E. Sigerist prize to young scholars in history of medicine and sciences. Further, the SSHMSN maintains national and international relationship with similar institutions and organisations.
Year founded: 1921
Number of members: 123 (2017)
Swiss Society of the History of Medicine and Science (SGGMN) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Prof. Dr. Hubert Steinke
University of Bern
Institut für Medizingeschichte
Bühlstrasse 26
3012 Bern
+41 31 631 84 29
The overall goal of the Swiss Society of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology (SSTMP) is to represent the integrating basis for the common interests of all people in Switzerland working in the fields of tropical medicine and parasitology.
The SSTMP is open for all activities in basic and applied research in parasitology as well as in tropical medicine. The activities within these three domains represent the driving force of the SSTMP.
The committee of the SSTMP encourages and coordinates if necessary individual initiatives and activities within and interactions between these domains. The annual assembly and the annual scientific meeting form the integrating forum where the emphasis is laid on the interdisciplinary aspects of and the critical dialogue between the three domains.
The SSTMP represents the interests of its members towards other scientific societies, political and educational institutions. To foster young scientists, the SSTMP awards outstanding achievements in research on tropical diseases and/or parasitology with an annual prize and supports the attendance of scientific meetings.
Year founded: 1943
Number of members: 224 (2012)
Swiss Society of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology (SSTMP) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Prof. Dr. Jürg Utzinger
PO Box
4002 Basel
+41 61 284 81 29
Under the umbrella of the SSS, biologists from different fields are dedicated to the interests of systematics and taxonomy. The SSS serves as a competent contact for the scientists and the society, and maintains an international exchange.
The SSS is a scientific society open to researchers but also to any person interested in the topic. It aims to promote systematics as a science in all fields of biology. It also tries to highlight the importance and usefulness of systematics for the society to politics and the general public. In recent years, aspects of systematics and taxonomy relevant in biology have been rather neglected at the level of education of young scientists in Switzerland. The SSS attempts to act against this trend to ensure the long-term transfer of knowledge in the field.
Year founded: 2005
Number of members: 142 (2017)
Swiss Systematics Society (SSS) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Dr. Seraina Klopfstein
Naturhistorisches Museum
Augustinergasse 2
4001 Basel
The Swiss Zoological Society (SZS) aims at the promotion of scientific research in all fields of zoology, the encouragement of the publication of new discoveries and the facilitation of the exchange of ideas, particularly between young scientists.
The SZS is open to people who are interested in zoology and is a member of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). In collaboration with botanic and systematic societies, the SZS organises an annual two-day conference on a specifically SELECT_ed topic, in the framework of their common interests in ecology, behavioural biology and evolution. The «Revue Suisse de Zoologie», published in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of Geneva, is an internationally renowned specialised journal and, at the same time, the official publication of the SSZ. In addition, the SSZ offers several travel grants to its active students each year, allowing the young scientists to participate in international conferences.
Year founded: 1893
Number of members: 483 (2016)
Swiss Zoological Society (SZS) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology
c/o Prof. Dr. Walter Salzburger
University of Basel
Zoologisches Institut (BS)
Vesalgasse 1
4051 Basel
+41 61 267 03 03
Together with national and international societies, the platform supports the exchange of expertise and promotes young academics in the various fields of chemistry.
Independent, scientific associations in the field of Swiss chemistry comprise the members of this platform. It finds support within a broad network and embraces its tasks in society, economics and politics. Furthermore, it works in close contact with national committees of international unions focusing on chemistry within the framework of the International Council of Science (ICSU).
The Platform Chemistry seeks to firm the recognition of chemistry as a science as part of society, economy and politics. It focuses on the promotion of young scientists and aspires to foster the dialogue between society and politics. For this reason, it annually organizes the "Young Faculty Meeting" or marks historical sites relevant to chemistry as "Chemical Landmarks".
Year founded: 2007
Platform Chemistry
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 30
The National Committee of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (NC IUPAC) is the representative of the interests of the Swiss chemical community within the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
The IUPAC serves to advance the worldwide aspects of the chemical sciences and to contribute to the application of chemistry in the service of Humankind. Historically, the international, non-governmental and objective body IUPAC has fundamentally contributed to the standardization of weights, measures, names and symbols and keeps addressing global issues involving the chemical sciences.
NC IUPAC is a working group within the Platform Chemistry.
c/o SCNAT
Platform Chemistry
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 30
The SCS represents chemists and scientists from chemistry related fields in national and international organizations. The society supports the exchange of scientific and technical know-how and offers corresponding networking possibilities to the academic and industrial community.
Key activities of the SCS include ...
• Scientific meetings, congresses and courses to assist, inform and educate the community in all fields of pure and applied chemistry.
• Awards for outstanding contributions in a wide range of chemical fields.
• Representation of interests of Swiss scientists in national and international organizations.
• Publication of the scientific journal CHIMIA and the involvement in associated journals, e.g. HCA, Journal of ABC, PCCP and the journals of ChemPubSoc.
The SCS is a member of European Chemical Sciences (EuCheMS), the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW). It is also connected to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, IUPAC (with the Platform Chemistry of the SCNAT being the Swiss representative)
Year founded: 1901
Number of members: 2'510 (2017)
Swiss Chemical Society (SCS) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Chemistry
Swiss Chemical Society (SCS)
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 92 92
The Swiss Society for Food Chemistry (SFC) is a multidisciplinary association of active persons in different fields of the food and environmental chemistry and in related subjects, such as food technology, food science and food security. Generally, the SFC members are interested in analytical issues.
Originally formed as a networking and discussion platform for the chemists working in cantonal laboratories, the SFC quickly spread to chemists of other fields and to pharmacists using chemical analysis methods. The SFC aims at promoting the understanding of the food and environmental chemistry basis in order to protect people and their environment. To do so, congresses, excursions and workshops are organised by the society. The SFC maintains close relations to universities, universities of applied science and vocational schools and gives its advisory for the installation of directive lines in education and study plans. The SFC maintains contacts to corresponding societies and national as well as international authorities, and is member of the analytical chemistry section of the "Swiss Chemical Society", the "Swiss Food Net" and the "Swiss National Committee of the International Union for Food Science and Technology".
Year founded: 1886
Number of members: 250 (2017)
Swiss Society for Food Chemistry (SFC) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Chemistry
c/o Dr. Pius Kölbener
Amt für Verbraucherschutz und Veterinärwesen
Blarerstrasse 2
9001 St. Gallen
+41 58 229 28 00
The Swiss Society of Science Teachers (Verein Schweizer Naturwissenschaftslehrerinnen und –lehrer (VSN)) is a group of Swiss teachers who are teaching or have taught biology and/or chemistry. The society's aim is the promotion of collaborations among its members as well as the support of their professional development.
The VSN regularly offers classes and supports its members in the development and the publication of appropriate didactic teaching methods. To do so, four permanent commissions track the interests of the society, each being responsible for a specific field and language. Further, the society represents the needs of its members towards the centre of professional development (WBZ), industry and other partners. The VSN publishes its own journal "Chemistry and Biology" (c+b) three times a year, where information and precious helps for teaching are provided.
Number of members: 465 (2017)
Verein Schweizerischer Naturwissenschaftslehrerinnen und -lehrer (VSN) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Chemistry
c/o Prof. Dr. Klemens Koch
Gymnasium Biel-Seeland
Ländtestrasse 12
2503 Biel
The platform unifies societies and scientific bodies that are active in the field of geoscience. It acts as an interface between the various academic disciplines of geosciences as well as between research, practice, administration, politics and the public.
Geoscientists deal in research and practice with everything that the system Earth entails; from the earth's core to its outer atmosphere: They study the structure, the emergence and the evolution of our planet, as well as the processes that occur within or between the spheres rock, soil, water, ice and air. The interactions that take place between the components of the geosphere and the biosphere are of another interest.
The impact of human activity on the system Earth and the resulting consequences of the social, economical, technological and territorial changes are increasingly investigated.
Year founded: 2007
Platform Geosciences
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 25
CPS promotes research on recurring seasonal phenomena and builds a platform for an inter- and transdisciplinary dialogue between researchers and users of phenology.
In the context of climate and environmental changes, accurate and continuous observations of the appearances of development and recurring periodic changes in the flora, fauna and still life are important bases for the determination of various indicators. The CPS encourages both the registration and the networking with existing institutions of national and international observations and the research on the evaluation and the use of phonological data.
The CPS is a competent coordination office formed by an optimal network of experts available for politicians, media and the general public.
The CPS introduces the amateur observers of phenology in the scientific community and encourages the recruitment and training of new observers. The exchange between science and the public is a central concern of the CPS.
In education, the CPS is committed to include a training in phenology in the university of pedagogy as well as at any levels of schools and supports the academic training, particularly regarding the succession in research, via the participation in university courses, internships, fieldworks, summer schools and scientific congresses.
Year founded: 2011
c/o Dr. Sibylle Stöckli
Ackerstrasse 113
5070 Frick
CSJP publishes the scientific journal "Swiss Journal of Palaeontology". The peer-reviewed journal contains freely accessible research papers in all areas of palaeontology.
The journal is published as a biannual volume and contains internationally peer-reviewed papers of research on topics concerning paleontology. The commission also supports the organisation of congresses and awards the "Palaeoprize" to a young scientist every year at the Swiss Geoscience Meeting.
Year founded: 1940
c/o Prof. Dr. Christian Klug
Universität Zürich
Paläontologisches Institut und Museum
Karl Schmid-Strasse 4
8006 Zürich
+41 44 634 23 37
The Committee for Scientific Speleology (CSS) is a committee of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and of the Swiss Society of Speleology (SSS), which is specialised in scientific speleology.
The CSS promotes the training of speleologists on scientific questions and supports their work. The publication of scientific results is fostered by the committee, which is also responsible for the publishing of the Swiss inventory of cave. Further, the committee is committed to an exchange in the field on a national and an international level and ensures the link between the Swiss Institute for Speleology and Karst Studies (ISSKA). If needed, the CSS develops position statements and provides access to the knowledge of its experts to the interested public. Moreover, the CSS is the representative of the international umbrella organisation, the International Union of Speleology (UIS) and takes care of the publication of the "Speleological Abstracts" (BBS).
Year founded: 2010
c/o Dr Anamaria Häuselmann
Giebelweg 6
3323 Bäriswil BE
The task of the CC is to observe the changes of the alpine cryosphere. Furthermore, supervises all long-term cryospheric monitoring networks of Switzerland.
The Cryospheric Commission monitoring networks was founded in 1893 as the glacier commission and is integrated within the Platform Geosciences of SCNAT.
Year founded: 2006
c/o Dr. Hugo Raetzo
Landslides, Avalanches and Protection Forest Section
PO Box
3003 Bern
+41 31 324 16 83
The "National Committee of the International Geographical Union" (NC IGU) represents Swiss interests in the field of geography and promotes its international governing body, the IGU, in Switzerland.
The National Committee consists of representatives from the "Association suisse de géographie" (ASG), the Swiss association for geography, which is a member - and receiver of funds - of the Swiss Academy of Science (SCNAT).
As the coordination of the union lies within the responsibility of its various panels, the national committee is tasked predominantly with administrative duties, which also include participating in the biennial general assembly. NC IGU is also responsible to report relevant information from the Union and its resolutions back to ASG-members in Switzerland.
NC IGU is a working group within the Platform Geosciences.
Year founded: 1989
c/o Prof. Dr Etienne Piguet
University of Neuchâtel
Institut de géographie
Espace Louis-Agassiz 1
2000 Neuchâtel
+41 32 718 19 19
The "International Seismological Centre" (ISC) represents an international data center, where arrival times of earthquakes are collected and made accessible on a global scale. The "National Committee of the International Seismological Centre" (NC ISC) comprises researchers working at the Swiss seismological service, located at ETH Zürich SED. While members collaborate with ISC on a daily basis, they also represent Switzerland as an institution in the framework of ISC.
Alongside 130 agencies worldwide emitting data to ISC, SED transmits information previously collected from the Swiss seismological measuring network. Furthermore, it localizes seismological events, focusing on regional and local earthquakes. Apart from its representational function within ISC, NC ISC maintains close contact with ICS representatives amongst other European seismological organizations (i.e. ORFEUS or EMSC) working in collaboration with ISC.
NC ISC is a working group within the Platform Geosciences.
Year founded: 1980
c/o Dr. Stefan Wiemer
ETH Zürich
Swiss Seismological Service
Sonneggstrasse 5
8092 Zürich
+41 44 633 38 57
The International Union for Quaternary Science (INQUA) encourages and facilitates the research of Quaternary scientists in all disciplines. The National Committee of the International Union for Quaternary Research (NC INQUA) is the Swiss representative within the umbrella organisation INQUA.
INQUA's basic goal is to promote improved communication and international collaboration in experimental and applied aspects of Quaternary research, in order to contribute in practical ways to an evaluation of the scale and rates of global environmental changes during the recent geological past. INQUA promotes greater understanding of the importance of Quaternary environmental and archaeological records in two ways, by engaging with international dialogue and activities concerned with modern global environmental problems, and by funding activities that clarify the background context to these problems, within the Quaternary timescale.
NC INQUA is a working group within the Platform Geosciences.
c/o Dr. Naki Akçar
University of Bern
Institute of Geological Sciences
Baltzerstrasse 1+3
3012 Bern
+41 31 631 87 82
The "National Committee of the International Union of Geological Sciences" (NC IUGS) as part of the Swiss Academy of the Natural Sciences (SCNAT) builds a bridge between the Swiss field of research and the "international Union of Geological Sciences" (IUGS).
IUGS is a global umbrella organization for geological matters, which promotes research aspirations in the field of Earth Sciences. NC IUGS therefore represents Switzerland's interests. Moreover, it coordinates and supports Swiss participation in projects such as the «International Geoscience Programme» (IGCP), a joint project of IUGS and UNESCO.
NC IUGS is a working group within the Platform Geosciences.
Year founded: 1980
c/o Prof. Dr Robert Moritz
University of Geneva
Rue des Maraîchers 13
1205 Genève
The "National Committee of the International Union of Speleology" (NC IUS/UIS) represents Switzerland's interests within the "International Union of Speleology" (IUS) and exchanges information between the IUS and Switzerland.
The national committee is part of the Committee for Scientific Speleology (KWS/CSS).
NC IUS is a working group within the Platform Geosciences.
c/o Dr. Hans Stünzi
Weiningerstrasse 79
8105 Regensdorf
+41 44 840 66 39
The "National Committee of the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research" (NC SCOR) represents Switzerland's interest on the international "Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research" (SCOR) board and exchanges information between the board and Switzerland.
The national committee is part of the Swiss Commission of Oceanography and Limnology (KOL/COL).
NC SCOR is a working group within the Platform Geosciences.
c/o Dr Daniel R. Ariztegui
University of Geneva
Department of Earth Sciences
Rue des Maraîchers 13
1205 Genève
+41 22 379 66 18
The SSM promotes the exchange and dialogue between science and practical application of meteorology. It is open to people who are interested in the weather in their studies, research, profession or leisure time.
The description and the modelling of the atmosphere and of the hydrosphere requires natural sciences such as the aeronomy, the hydrology and the glaciology, the oceanography, the meteorology as well as the physics and the chemistry of the atmosphere. Thus, the society actively promotes these sciences. The SGM members have the possibility to present their work, to search for support and to be informed regarding the latest discoveries in meteorology. The annual conference and the events of the "A2P" network (academia meets practice) from the SGM are particularly important for this. The SGM is cross-linked with the Swiss Academy of Science (SCNAT) through ProClim, the Swiss Commission for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and the Swiss Commission for Remote Sensing. The SGM also maintains an international exchange as a member of the "European Meteorological Society" and thanks to the collaboration with the German and the Austrian societies for the joint publication "Meteorologischen Zeitschrift".
Year founded: 1916
Number of members: 170 (2017)
Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Meteorologie (SGM) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
c/o Dr. Michael Sprenger
ETH Zürich
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
The members of the Swiss Forest Society (Schweizerischer Forstverein (SFV)) share their professional activity related to the forest ecosystem, either in the context of practice, research or teaching. Beside the forest engineers from Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH domain) and from universities of applied sciences (UAS) as well as the environmental scientists who obtained a Master in forest and landscape management, the SFS members are biologists, geographers, land planners, legal experts and civil engineers.
The SFS is committed to the conservation of the forest and its divers services, so that future generations will also be able to benefit from it. The commitment emphasizes the forest as an integral part of the landscape, as a producer of wood and other forest products, as a protection against natural dangers, and as a supplier for services such as biodiversity, recovery or drinking water.
The hot topics are discussed within working groups. The topics of these working groups are "vegetation and soil", "forest and wild fauna" and "forest planning and management". The forest society promotes the dialogue between members in order to exchange their experience, identify developments, solve problems in a global way and participate actively at the level of forest polity discussions. The SFS offers numerous events and excursions as well as the publication of the "Swiss Forest Journal".
Year founded: 1843
Number of members: 783 (2017)
Schweizerischer Forstverein (SFV) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
Obstgartenstrasse 27
8006 Zürich
+41 43 343 97 38
The Soil Science Society of Switzerland (SSSS) is sustainably active on the behalf of soil protection - on many different levels.
Exchange: the SSSS is a platform for dialogue between the research community, education, administration, and private industry. It promotes cooperation between research, education and practice.
Commitment: the SSSS is committed to the consolidation and the spreading of knowledge in soil science. Through statements and by collaborating on the elaboration of legal bases, norms, directives, fact sheets and guidelines, the SSSS is actively engaged in quantitative and qualitative soil protection.
Initiative: the SSSS launches projects for the promotion of soil protection and environmental monitoring. It also maintains a database for service providers in the area of pedology.
Awareness: the SSSS regularly organises meetings and field trips. It publishes meeting contributions and reports on various themes in its own publication series.
Year founded: 1975
Number of members: 446 (2017)
Soil Science Society of Switzerland (SSSS) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
c/o Dr. Beatrice Kulli
ZHAW - Life Sciences und Facility Management
Grüentalstrasse 14
8820 Wädenswil
+41 58 934 53 55
saguf is a professional association that has been committed to the promotion of environmental and sustainability research in Switzerland. It is committed to inter- and transdisciplinary, practice- and solution-oriented research.
Saguf is a member both of the «Platform Geosciences» belonging to the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAHS). The saguf initiated the "Network for Transdisciplinary Research" (td-net) and co-publishes "GAIA", the international magazine for an ecological perspective on science and society.
• The saguf considers its duties and responsibilities to be in the areas of networking, initiating and bridging. It enables the examination of new and sparsely researched aspects of sustainable development and possible solutions for environmental issues.
• The society facilitates a constructive co-operation of natural, technological, social sciences and the humanities. It supports the exchange of knowledge between research and its practical application.
• The saguf reflects on its experience with interdisciplinary and transdiciplinary approaches and promotes advances in methodology including the establishment of corresponding offers for studies and advanced training.
• The society is politically active in the domain of environmental and sustainability research and participates in consultations as well as the formation of research programs and initiatives.
• The saguf organizes events with a focus on contemporary issues.
• The society is active in spreading information via its web domain, bulletin and the saguf-information section in GAIA.
Year founded: 1972
Number of members: 155 (2017)
Swiss Academic Society for Environmental Research and Ecology (SAGUF) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
Universität Basel
Rheinsprung 21
4051 Basel
+41 43 243 08 17
ACP aims to strengthen and develop atmospheric research in Switzerland and make it better known. It is involved in research policymaking and in higher education and vocational training. It exchanges information with national and international organisations.
The ACP aims to strengthen, develop and raise awareness of the research and teaching of atmospheric sciences in Switzerland. Among others, the topics of the ACP are mainly the issues of air quality, the exchange of trace gases between the biosphere and the atmosphere, aerosols, fine particles, ozone, ammonia, nitrogen oxides, etc., as well as issues of atmospheric physics (research and development in meteorology, basic research in the field of the atmosphere). The commission promotes collaborations in atmospheric research by organising conferences and coordinating the national research and training. The ACP acts as a contact for the administration and the public and it maintains relations to the international network. In collaboration with partners, the ACP awards the ACP Award for excellent doctoral work.
Year founded: 2001
c/o Dr. Ulrich Krieger
ETH Zürich
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
+41 44 633 40 07
COL supports, promotes and coordinates oceanographic and limnological education and research opportunities. It also helps Swiss-based students and researchers in connecting to marine stations.
COL collaborates with international oceanographic commissions such as the Scientific Committee of Oceanic Research (SCOR) or the International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea (CIESM) securing the participation of scientists based in Swiss institutions in these organisations. For the promotion of the field, COL provides an informative website and supports the organisation of symposia or scientific meetings in Switzerland.
Year founded: 1970
c/o Dr Daniel R. Ariztegui
University of Geneva
Department of Earth Sciences
Rue des Maraîchers 13
1205 Genève
+41 22 379 66 18
The SCRS is a body of promotion, coordination and consulting for research and scientific collaboration in the field of remote sensing.
On the national level, the SCRS, in association with the federal authorities, represents and coordinates the interests of research institutions and encourages their collaboration. The commission provides advice of scientific experts to state representatives present in international organisations (eg. in ESA committees or in governing councils) and represents Switzerland in non-state international collaborations, by, among others activities, participating in projects and sitting on international committees. The commission also aims at the improvement of the collaboration between universities of applied science and private companies, as well as the development cooperation of the second world and third world countries through the transfer of technology and the use of remote sensing. The SCRS strengthens and stimulates knowledge transfer by organising and supporting scientific congresses and the exchange of information, such as training programs, courses and symposia, and is committed to the dialogue with the general public.
Year founded: 1991
c/o Dr. Mathias Kneubühler
Universität Zürich
Department of Geography
Winterthurerstrasse 190
8057 Zürich
+41 44 635 52 46
Geodesy experts coming from practice, research, development and education are engaged in the SGC. It promotes and coordinates the activities of all stakeholders and defends their interests in various national and international commissions.
The commission members are active in many ways: in the organisation of conferences, workshops and courses as well as by providing their expertise to advise authorities and institutions. The active Swiss institutions in teaching and research in geodesy are ETH Zurich (Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry), EPFL (Geodetic Engineering Laboratory) FHNW (Institute of Geomatics Engineering), HEIG-VD (Institute of Geomatics, Environmental Management, Building and Structural Monitoring) as well as the University of Bern (Astronomisches Institut). The SGC accompanies and supports both research and the strategic orientation as well as the organisation of geodesy courses in collaboration with other countries.
Year founded: 1861
c/o Prof. Dr. Alain Geiger
ETH Zürich
Robert-Gnehm-Weg 15
8093 Zürich
+41 44 633 32 44
The Swiss Geological Commission (Schweizerische Geologische Kommission (SGK)) of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) is responsible for the quality assurance of the Geological Atlas of Switzerland at the scale of 1:25'000, and for other publications concerning the national geology. For this aim, the commission is working in close collaboration with swisstopo.
The Swiss Geological Commission is composed of geologists coming from universities and from practice. For the quality assurance of the Geological Atlas, the SGK assigns experts from practice, museums, cantonal administrations and universities. The SELECT_ion of these experts depends on specific geological and local conditions. Each page of the Atlas is evaluated by, at least, three experts. In addition, the commission supports the production and the planning of new publications. The commission guarantees a link between the Swiss Confederation and the universities and provides swisstopo with the network of experts from the SCNAT.
Year founded: 1865
c/o Prof. Dr. Neil Mancktelow
Finstergässli 8B
5304 Endingen
+41 56 242 10 23
SGS promotes the geological sciences in Switzerland. It publishes the "Swiss Journal of Geosciences" and organises scientific symposia, meetings of the stakeholders of the scientific community and thematic excursions.
Together with the Swiss Society of Mineralogy and Petrology and the Swiss Palaeontological Society, the SGS publishes the «Swiss Journal of Geosciences», an international journal covering all disciplines of the Solid Earth Sciences, with focus on Alpine geoscientific research and other themes of interest to Swiss society. The SGS also organizes symposia and field excursions on a regular basis, commonly in collaboration with its affiliated groups and/or other geoscientific societies. The society welcomes the participation of young scientists and supports their attendance at its meetings. It also awards a major prize every year to the student considered to have produced the best Masters thesis in Earth Sciences at a Swiss University. Addressing public awareness of geology, the SGS supports the activities of «Erlebnis Geologie» and other popularization efforts.
Year founded: 1882
Number of members: 800 (2017)
Swiss Geological Society (SGG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
c/o Engel Copera AG
Waldeggstrasse 37
3097 Bern-Liebefeld
+41 31 950 25 67
SGmS strengthens geomorphology as a science and its application. It supports young researchers and promotes relations with related sciences and public administration.
The members of the SGS come from a wide range of disciplines, from universities, administration and also from companies. At annual meetings, in combination with a field trip, ongoing research activities of its members are presented and current issues of a particular geomorphological interest are discussed. Considering the special interest of its members and in response to the present day problems and the science politics the SGS emphasizes investigations related to the development and history of the landscape as well as investigations of the nature and properties of the main land forming processes. Besides the intentions of pure science, the research results are often used in an interdisciplinary context for environment impact assessments in infrastructure projects, the evaluation of land-use potentials in various environments, the assessment of natural hazards and evaluation of safety concepts for vulnerable communities and the designation and description of geomorphological geotopes, that have to be protected. Especially in the context of global change, geomorphologists develop and promote the understanding of natural processes in geosystems, as well as the relationships between societies and geomorphological processes.
Year founded: 1946
Number of members: 200 (2017)
Swiss Geomorphological Society (SGS) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
c/o Cristian Scapozza
Istituto scienze della Terra
Via Trevano
6952 Canobbio
The Swiss Geophysical Commission's (Schweizerische Geophysikalische Kommission (SGPK)) main function is to secure and to coordinate the geophysical surveying of Switzerland. Together with the Federal Office of Topography swisstopo and various research institutions the geophysical data is collected, analysed, compiled, evaluated and then published in map series.
The geophysical parameters apply, among others, to the gravitation field, temperature field and magnetic field as well as the seismicity of the earth. The corresponding data is primarily compiled within the framework of research activities by various institutions of the university. The SGPK concerns itself with the collection, assessment and analysis of the data as well as with the actualisation of the maps and GIS-database. Furthermore, it coordinates major joint projects of national interest. The geophysical expertise of the SGPK is provided, when required, as an advisory capacity to correspondent federal offices. The commission consists of 10 to 20 geoscientists and engineers, who are involved in the academic, commercial or public domain.
Year founded: 1972
c/o Prof. Dr. Eduard Kissling
ETH Zürich
Institute of Geophysics
Sonneggstrasse 5
8092 Zürich
+41 44 633 26 23
The Swiss Hydrogeological Society (Société suisse d'hydrogéologie (SSH)) is an association of scientists, practitioners and government officers, active in the field of hydrogeology. The SSH aims at studying hydrogeology in the context of groundwater use and protection. The SSH acts as a bridge between pure and applied science, also linking administrative issues of hydrogeology.
The SSH is a member of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and of the Swiss forum for hydrogeology. This society represents Switzerland within the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), and forms its national committee. The SSH organises meetings devoted to the further education of members as well as to favour exchange. Working groups are formed and led to study current issues of hydrogeology. The SSH expresses itself in the context of auditions and procedures of consultation linked with the legal guidelines and bases, regarding the groundwater or hydrogeologists' activity.
Year founded: 1967
Number of members: 340 (2017)
Swiss Hydrogeological Society (SGH) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
c/o Michael Sinreich
Hydrology Division
3003 Bern
The Commission aims at coordinating and representing the interest of the Swiss hydrology in the national and international committees and organisations.
Furthermore, it gathers the expertise of the active societies and associations in hydrology to advice the authorities, the politics, the universities, the practice, the media, the general public and the decision-makers on strategic, technical and political questions on hydrology.
The four aims of the CHy are:
- to reinforce the hydrology in Switzerland
- to support innovative projects
- to regularly bring news
- to coordinate the efforts for the practice.
The treated fields are surface and underground hydrology, hydrology of snow and glaciers, hydrometeorology, as well as the integration of these subjects within the water resource management. Thus, the activities of the commission include questions regarding society as well as natural science.
Year founded: 1907
c/o Sanja Hosi
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 55
NC IUGG represents Switzerland within the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) that is dedicated to advancing and promoting knowledge of the Earth system as a whole.
IUGG advocates international support and mediation of knowledge of the earth and its direct surroundings. Induced by the broad range of issues, IUGG is thematically subdivided into eight semiautonomous affiliate associations. Among these, one or two members recruited from corresponding field associations represent NC IUGG. These members represent Switzerland's interests at general assemblies as well as at plenary meetings during which they provide information to qualified Swiss departments about taken decisions.
Year founded: 1970
c/o Dr. Charles Fierz
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL
Flüelastrasse 11
7260 Davos Dorf
+41 81 417 01 65
The specialist society promotes the dialogue between science, practice and society. It supports the exchange of knowledge and cooperation among its members, maintains relations with national and international organisations and promotes young academics.
The SIP highlights the various needs related to research on snow, ice and permafrost and facilitates contacts between glaciological experts, practitioners and society. It promotes the improvement and spreading of glaciological knowledge by organizing excursions and a dedicated symposium as part of the "Swiss Geoscience Meeting". Dialog, collaboration between members and national and international societies are placed at the forefront. The SIP supports the next generation of scientists by awarding travel grants and rewarding high quality work.
Year founded: 2006
Swiss Snow, Ice and Permafrost Society (SIP) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
c/o Dr. Matthias Huss
University of Fribourg
Geography Unit
Chemin du Musée 4
1700 Fribourg
+41 79 752 72 62
SGHL is an organization intended for scientists in the field of hydrology and limnology, who are keen on advising, supporting and sharing their experiences with fellow researchers.
The best basis for a sustainable use of water, the element essential for survival, is comprehensive knowledge of this precious resource. SGHL works towards a compilation of expert knowledge from different disciplines and thus hopes to ensure its purposeful and effective application. Protecting the various bodies of water and promoting sustainable usage of the resource are important goals of the society. In addition, SGHL aims at deepening and spreading knowledge surrounding water. SGHL mediates between different institutions and experts in the field of hydrology and limnology, and yearns to encourage the younger generation to enter academics. SGHL provides a platform for its members and interested individuals from the public, where a vast array of knowledge and experiences can be exchanged. By organizing conferences, colloquia, advanced training courses and excursions, the SGHL enables an intensive dialogue between experts from administration, research and the private sector. The SGHL is a member of the Swiss Hydrological Commission (CHy), which coordinates all associations occupied with studying any aspect of water. The society regularly publishes reports and contributions from the conferences and maintains an index with the services and fields of competence of all its members.
Year founded: 1987
Number of members: 233 (2017)
Swiss Society for Hydrology and Limnology (SGHL) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
c/o Dr Dorothea Hug Peter
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL
Gebirgshydrologie & Massenbewegung
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
CH-QUAT represents a connection point for scientists from different research and applied areas that deal with the Quaternary in particular examining the aspects of human, environment and climate.
The open society– which emerged from the Swiss Commission for Quaternary Research (SKQ) in 2007 - aims to maintain and develop interdisciplinary scientific networks in Switzerland. In collaboration with the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), CH-Quat promotes dialogue between science, professional practice and society; maintains contacts and links with research organizations and business in Switzerland and abroad, and supports and encourages early stage researchers. These goals are enabled by our annual scientific meetings and field trips to sites of active Quaternary research.
Year founded: 2007
Swiss Society for Quaternary Research (CH-QUAT) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
c/o Dr. Naki Akçar
University of Bern
Institute of Geological Sciences
Baltzerstrasse 1+3
3012 Bern
+41 31 631 87 82
The umbrella organisation of Swiss geographers aims to link science, teaching and practice, to promote dialogue between the regions and linguistic groups of Switzerland and to contribute to current debates on socio-political issues.
The ASG network, including the seven institutes of geography, the five specialised societies and the six regional societies, works on the topics "research" (institutes of geography), "promotion of young talents" (educational activities in elementary schools, secondary schools, specialised university of education and other universities) and "public relations" (conferences and excursions of the geography societies). The ASG defends the interests of geography in the platform geosciences of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), maintains the contact to authorities and takes position during consultation procedures, particularly on subjects related to the territory and environment. In addition to the collaboration for the magazine of Earth science "Geosciences ACTUEL", the ASG also participates in the publication of the scientific journal "Geographica Helvetica" and the association's newsletter "GeoAgenda". The ASG is a member of the "International Geographical Union" (IGU). The Swiss National Committee of the IGU represents the interest of the Swiss geography in the IGU and collaborates with the different commissions of the IGU.
Year founded: 1988
Verband Geographie Schweiz (ASG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Geosciences
c/o Isabelle Schoepfer
University of Neuchâtel
Institut de géographie
Espace Louis-Agassiz 1
2000 Neuchâtel
+41 78 831 31 09
The platform MAP incorporates societies and scientifique bodies dedicated to the areas of mathematics, astronomy and physics. It supports the organisations' activities as wells as the coordinates and promotes research and education in the field of mathematics, astronomy and physics.
A valuable task for the platform is the constant information exchange between politics, technical authorities and the society. The platform's research concerns the early detection of developmental changes in Switzerland. On an international level, the platform delivers an opinion on the basis of its scientific expertise. The creation of bridges between institutions of Swiss academia and the commercial enterprises, which either provide research and apprenticeship and/or exercise their findings are just as important as the support and the assistance in promoting young talents at a primary or secondary school level, which occur in coordination with other SCNAT platforms. Another important task is the maintenance of national and international bonds and the coordination with research supporting institutions, especially the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Commission for Technology and Innovation.
Year founded: 2007
Platform MAP
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 65
Die Bernoulli-Euler-Gesellschaft (BEG) hat die Aufgabe, die Erschliessung und Auswertung des umfangreichen Quellenmaterials im Umfeld der Bernoulli und Eulers zu unterstützen und zu fördern, deren Lebensleistungen der Öffentlichkeit nahezubringen und die wissenschaftshistorische Forschung zu stärken. Dazu gehören insbesondere Die Unterstützung des Bernoulli-Euler-Zentrums an der Universität Basel, die öffentliche Vermittlung der Lebensleistungen der Basler Gelehrten als eines unschätzbaren und zu pflegenden Kulturerbes der Schweiz, die Förderung und Vertiefung des Verständnisses der Mathematik und der Naturwissenschaften, insbesondere in Zusammenarbeit mit Schulen und Museen. Die Bernoulli-Euler-Gesellschaft wurde am 27. November 2014 gegründet. Sie ist ein Verein im Sinne von Art. 60 ff. ZGB mit Sitz in Basel. Am 5. Juli 2016 wurde ihr von der Steuerverwaltung BS die Steuerbefreiung für die kantonale Steuer und die direkte Bundessteuer anerkannt.
Year founded: 2014
Bernoulli-Euler-Gesellschaft (BEG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
c/o University of Basel
Departement Mathematik und Informatik
Spiegelgasse 1
4051 Basel
+41 61 267 26 90
The Committee is assigned with the collection, the preservation and the publishing of all scientific work and correspondence of Leonhard Euler (1707–1783), the famous Swiss mathematician and physicist.
The original writings of Euler are of great importance today, particularly regarding the history of sciences. Since the beginning, it was planned to integrate all works, as well as letters and manuscripts of Euler in one complete edition: the "Opera Omnia". The editorial board regulation from 1919 says: "All works from Leonhard Euler, hitherto unseen or already printed, coming from St-Petersburg or elsewhere need to be integrated. This also includes the scientific letters of Euler".
The Series I-III published since 1911 include the works of Euler in the fields of mathematics (I), of the mechanics and the astronomy (II), as well as of physics and other works (III).
The gathered written correspondence forms the content of the Series IVA and it is planned to integrate the manuscripts in the Series IVB. However, the work on Series IVB was interrupted in 1985 and in 2005. The Euler Committee decided to entirely stop the edition in books format. Instead, it is considered to create a global edition in digital format, which should also include the scans of letters and original manuscripts.
The current planning is scheduled such, that the classical edition of Series I-II and of the book of the Series IVA will include a total of 81 volumes with more than 35'000 pages and should be completed before the end of 2019.
The Euler Committee works in close collaboration with the Center Bernoulli-Euler of the Basel University Library regarding the maintenance and the lasting protection of precious archives. Apart from the completion of the edition, the most important task of the Committee is the construction of a digital platform "Bernoulli-Euler-Online (BEOL)" which should include the entire works of Euler, Bernoulli and their entourage, and which will supply a free access to their research. Without financial support from the SNF, from the SCNAT, from the University of Basel and from private funds, this project would not have been feasible.
Year founded: 1907
Euler Committee of the Swiss Academy of Sciences
c/o Prof. em Hanspeter Kraft
University of Basel
Departement Mathematik und Informatik
Spiegelgasse 1
4051 Basel
+41 61 363 32 12
The Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES) is an advanced research institute which focuses on mathematics, theoretical physics and the mathematical aspects of molecular biology. Switzerland has been a co-sponsor of the IHES since 1973, and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) is represented on the Board of Directors of the institute.
The IHES private research institute is recognised in France as a charitable foundation and conducts internationally highly regarded research into a wide variety of theoretical natural sciences. The institute enables outstanding researchers to spend a research period in an environment where they can focus exclusively on their research without the distraction of administrative tasks or teaching commitments. The IHES publishes information on its activities via its website and a periodic newsletter, and its research results are published in the specialist magazine "The Mathematical Publications of the IHES" twice a year. The IHES also organises events such as scientific conferences and open days, which aim to improve public awareness of theoretical basic research.
NC IHES is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics
c/o Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Kowalski
ETH Zürich
Rämistrasse 101
8092 Zürich
The National Committee of the Committee on Space Research (NC COSPAR) represents Swiss concerns in the international COSPAR panel. As a subdivision of the Swiss Committee on Space Research (CSR), NC COSPAR is responsible to report relevant information from COSPAR to Switzerland.
NC COSPAR is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics.
c/o Prof. Dr. Werner Schmutz
Dorfstrasse 33
7260 Davos Dorf
+41 81 417 51 45
The National Committee of the International Astronomical Union (NC IAU) represents the Swiss interests within the IAU and actively participates in different task groups and programs of emphasis by the union.
IAU campaigns for the conservation and advancement of teaching and research in the field of astronomy in various countries. The national committee is a subdivision of the Swiss Commission for Astronomy (SCFA).
NC IAU is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics
c/o Prof. Dr. Thomas Schildknecht
University of Bern
Astronomisches Institut
Sidlerstrasse 5
3012 Bern
+41 31 631 85 94
The "National Committee of the International Commission for Optics" (NC ICO) represents national interests within the ICO and reports back to Switzerland with relevant information produced by the Commission.
NC ICO is a subdivision of the Swiss Society for Optics and Microscopy (SSOM).
NC ICO is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics.
c/o Prof. Dr Hans Peter Herzig
Optics und Photonics Technology Lab
Rue de la Maladière 71b, CP 526
2002 Neuchâtel
+41 32 718 33 30
The "National Committee of the International Federation of Societies for Microscopy" (NC IFSM) represents national interests within the IFSM and reports back to Switzerland with relevant information produced by the IFSM.
The national committee is a subdivision of the Swiss Society for Optics and Microscopy (SSOM).
NC IFSM is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics.
c/o Dr. Markus Dürrenberger
Microscopy Center
Klingelbergstrasse 50/70
4056 Basel
+41 61 267 14 04
IMU is an international non-governmental and non-profit scientific organization, with the purpose of promoting international cooperation in mathematics. It is a member of the International Science Council (ISC). IMU endorses ISC's Principle of Freedom, Responsibility and Universality of Science.
NC IMU is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics.
c/o Claudia Kolly
Spitalstrasse 57
3280 Meyriez
The "National Committee of the International Union of Crystallography" (NC IUCr) represents Switzerland's interests within the "International Union of Crystallography" (IUCr) and exchanges information between the Union and Switzerland.
The national committee is part of the Swiss Society for Crystallography (SGk/SSCr).
NC IUCr is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics.
NC IUCr
c/o Dr. Jürg Schefer
Località le Sorte 25
37010 Torri del Benaco
The National Committee of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (NC IUHPST) as part of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) represents Switzerland's interest within the framework of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (IUHPST).
In addition to representational duties within IUHPST and its subsidiary organizations, this national committee partakes in international conventions. Moreover, it has also collaborated in the process of refurbishing the history of Mathematics and the Natural Sciences as part of the "Historical Dictionary of Switzerland".
NC IUHPST is a working group within the Platform
c/o Prof. em Erwin Neuenschwander
Universität Zürich
Institute of Mathematics
Winterthurerstrasse 190
8057 Zürich
+41 44 635 58 62
The "National Committee of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics" (NC IUPAP) represents Switzerland's interests within the "International Union of Pure and Applied Physics" (IUPAP) and exchanges information between the IUPAP and Switzerland.
The national committee is part of the Swiss Physical Society (SPG/SSP/SPS).
NC IUPAP is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics.
c/o SPS
Departement Physik Uni Basel
Klingelbergstrasse 82
4056 Basel
+41 61 207 36 86
The Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP) is an international organization with the goal of strengthening and promoting international solar-terrestrial physics research. As of 2016 Switzerland is a member of SCOSTEP and a National Committee has been established with the goal of promoting and representing the solar-terrestrial community within Switzerland and internationally.
NC SCOSTEP is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics.
Year founded: 2016
c/o Dr. Marina Battaglia
Bahnhofstrasse 6
5210 Windisch
The "National Committee of the Union Radio-Scientifique Internationale" (NC URSI) of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) represents the Swiss radio science community within the International Union of Radio Science (Union Radio-Scientifique Internationale URSI).
The non-governmental and non-profit organisation URSI is responsible for stimulating and co-ordinating, studies, research, applications, scientific exchange, and communication in the fields of radio science on an international basis. The various branches of radio science are allocated to a set of ten commissions. Swiss scientists are actively participating in several commissions. The NC URSI is coordinating these activities together with the communication between URSI and the Swiss institutions and supports the organisation of international conferences.
NC URSI is a working group within the Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics.
Year founded: 1950
c/o Prof. Dr Farhad Rachidi
Station 11
1015 Lausanne
+41 21 693 26 20
The Jungfraujoch – globally renowned as a unique tourist destination – is also home to a research station. The research station, together with the astronomical observatories at Gornergrat, is operated by the International Foundation High Altitude Research Stations Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat (HFSJG). The Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) Jungfraujoch Commission represents the interests of Swiss researchers within the foundation and also has a seat on the Board of the Foundation.
When the research station on the Jungfraujoch was first opened and until around the end of the 20th century, the focus was on research fields such as cosmic radiation, astronomy and high-altitude physiology, whereas nowadays due to climate change most of the research concerns the Earth's atmosphere. The first in-situ measurements of airborne pollutants began as far back as the 1970s, followed later by investigations into the effect of aerosols on the atmosphere. The archive of measurements taken, some of which date back far into the 20th century, now forms an essential basis for recording and understanding climate change. Today the research station on the Jungfraujoch is part of networks both national (e.g. the National Air Pollution Monitoring Network, NABEL) and international (Global Atmosphere Watch, GAW), which are monitoring the long-term changes in various parameters relating to airborne pollutants and cosmic radiation.
The Swiss Academy of Sciences Jungfraujoch Commission endeavours to make the importance of these research activities known to a wider public.
Year founded: 1922
Schweizerische Kommission für die hochalpine Forschungsstation Jungfraujoch
c/o Prof. Dr. Urs Baltensperger
Paul Scherrer Institut
Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry LAC
5232 Villigen
+41 56 310 24 08
The Swiss Commission for Astronomy (SCFA) of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) is the board representing the Swiss professional astronomers. It is made essentially of the directors of the various Swiss astronomical institutes.
The SCFA represents the main link between professional astronomers and the State Secretariat for Education and Research in order to facilitate political decisions related to the long-term scientific policy of Switzerland in relation to astronomy.
In international scientific organisations such as the European Southern Observatory and the International Astronomical Union, the SCFA is the official representative of the Swiss astronomy community.
Year founded: 1977
c/o Prof. Dr Stéphane Udry
University of Geneva
Observatoire Astronomique
51, chemin des Maillettes
1290 Versoix
+41 22 379 24 67
The CSR coordinates and stimulates space research in Switzerland. It maintains contact with international organisations. It produces a report every two years on space science activities in Switzerland.
Space research in Switzerland is carried out by many groups at universities, federal institutes of technology and private companies. The funding for this research comes mainly from these institutions, with additional essential contributions from the Swiss National Science Foundation and from the Federal Government. Apart from the coordination and of the research projects and the promotion of an exchange between the individual groups, a main objective of the CSR is to use the expertise of the community for scientific policy advice of federal agencies like the Swiss Space Office SSO and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs EDA.
Year founded: 1960
c/o Prof. Dr. Nicolas Thomas
University of Bern
Physikalisches Institut
Sidlerstrasse 5
3012 Bern
031 631 44 06
CHIPP is an association uniting researchers active in particle, astroparticle and nuclear physics in Switzerland. It strengthens the Swiss participation in international projects and committees, coordinates research and teaching activities in Switzerland, and promotes public awareness of the field.
This is achieved by keeping a continuous dialogue between the particle physicists of different cantonal universities and federal institutes. CHIPP is recognized as the representative of Swiss particle physics both nationally and internationally. It awards yearly a Prize to a PhD student, supports workshops and conferences, organizes PhD schools, and develops outreach projects.
Year founded: 2003
Swiss Institute of Particle Physics (CHIPP) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
c/o Prof. Dr. Rainer Wallny
ETH Zürich
Otto-Stern-Weg 5
8093 Zürich
The Swiss Mathematical Society (SMS) aims to advance and spread the mathematical sciences and their applications. The SMS supports research and interaction amongst its members and institutions, both in Switzerland and within the international community. The SMS also reaches out to the general public and to students.
The Swiss Mathematical Society publishes two internationally well-known scientific journals: "Commentarii Mathematici Helvetici" and "Elemente der Mathematik". Every year, the SMS hosts a spring conference and supports a number of scientific meetings and seminars.
The SMS has delegations and committees in national and international organisations. In order to promote mathematical sciences among prospective students, the society offers a variety of services to high school students and teachers via the website "Mathematics@School".
Year founded: 1910
Number of members: 527 (2017)
Swiss Mathematical Society (SMG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
c/o Prof. Dr. Urs Lang
ETH Zürich
Rämistrasse 101
8092 Zürich
+41 44 632 60 11
The Swiss Physical Society (SPS) is the national professional association of Physicists coming from teaching, research, development and industry. The diversity of modern research in physics is reflected in ten specific sections.
The SPS promotes the scientific dialogue between physicists and any person interested in questions on physics through congresses, symposia and workshops, as well as through the publication of the society's periodical ("SPS Communications") and its website .
The society enables contacts to professionals for questions from politics or the general public, if clarification requires the knowledge of physics.
A central preoccupation is the encouragement of the youth: the SPS rewards the excel-lence of young physicists by awarding several annual prizes, each with a prize sum of CHF 5000.-. The society is involved in the questions related to all levels of education in physics and intensifies the contacts with schools and the general public thanks to its own specialised section "Education and Promotion of Physics". Further, the SPS ideologically and financially supports the activities of "Schweizer Jugend forscht".
The SPS also maintains close contacts with industry partners and thus provides a forum at the interface between fundamental research and applied physics. The membership of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) is beneficial for both parties. As a member of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), the SPS maintains intensive contacts with other natural sciences such as specialised geosciences and biology. The SPS is also a member of the European Physical Society (EPS), in which members of the SPS are regularly committed to functions in the committee, in order contribute to the international decision-making. The presidency of the EPS for 2015-2016 will be executed by the former president of the SPS Christophe Rossel.
Year founded: 1908
Number of members: 1'116 (2017)
Swiss Physical Society (SPS) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
Departement Physik Uni Basel
Klingelbergstrasse 82
4056 Basel
+41 61 207 36 86
The Swiss Society for Astrophysics and Astronomy (SSAA) aims to promote the study and the research in the fields of astrophysics and astronomy, to develop in Switzerland mutual information and collaboration between astronomers and to support their joint scientific efforts.
The SSAA is involved in the training of researchers by organising specialised courses. Since 1971, the Saas-Fee courses are organised each year on a topic chosen by the members during the annual meeting. Since 1990, the lecture notes of these courses are published by Springer in the book series «Saas-Fee Advanced Course». Videotapes and course materials are also available online. Further, the SSAA aims at developing interactions with foreign institutions and informs on the purposes and requirements of astronomical research.
Year founded: 1968
Number of members: 270 (2017)
Swiss Society for Astrophysics and Astronomy (SGAA) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
c/o Prof. Dr Georges Meynet
University of Geneva
Observatoire Astronomique
51, chemin des Maillettes
1290 Versoix
+41 22 379 23 98
The Swiss Society for Crystallography (SSCr) and its section of crystal growth and material research are used as a common forum for crystallographers, chemists, solid-state physicists and mineralogists, in which the scientific and interdisciplinary ideas can be exchanged.
The SSCr is linked to the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) as a specialised scientific society and represents Switzerland in the "International Union of Crystallography" and the "International Organisation for Crystal Growth". The society organises national and international congresses and symposia, seminars, conferences and thematic workshops at universities and industrial laboratories. The SSCr also strengthens its relationship to corresponding societies in other European countries with joint meetings. These relationships are maintained due to the fact that approximately 10% of the society's members practise their activities in foreign countries.
Year founded: 1968
Number of members: 180 (2017)
Swiss Society for Crystallography (SGK/SSCr) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
c/o Prof. Dr. Antonia Neels
Center for X-ray Analytics
Überlandstrasse 129
8600 Dübendorf
+41 58 765 45 07
The Swiss Society for Logic and Philosophy of Science (SSLPS) aims to further the development and study of logic and the philosophy of science and to bring together interested people of these fields.
To this end the society organises a yearly annual conference on a SELECT_ed topic and various additional courses. SSLPS fosters international collaborations and supports young scientists. Each year the Paul Bernays Award is awarded to a young researcher for an outstanding contribution in the area of logic and philosophy of science. The Swiss Graduate Society of Logic and Philosophy of Science (SGSLPS) is a branch of the SSLPS and offers a platform of exchange for young graduate students and researchers.
Year founded: 1948
Number of members: 66 (2017)
Swiss Society for Logic and Philosophy of Science (SSLPS) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
c/o Prof. Dr. Giovanni Sommaruga
ETH Zürich
Clausiusstrasse 37, CLD
8092 Zürich
+41 44 632 08 92
The Swiss Society for Optics and Microscopy: 1. Promotes the technical sciences in Switzerland, in particular Optics, Microscopy of all kind and Nano-Technology. 2. Encourages and promotes collaborations in these fields on a national and international level. 3. Provides information and enables the exchange of expertise through the organisation of scientific presentations, conferences and courses. 4. Represents the interests of its members in private and public institutions. The SSOM represents its members in international organisations.
Year founded: 1949
Number of members: 536 (2017)
Swiss Society for Optics and Microscopy (SSOM) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
c/o Dr. Marco Cantoni
Bat. MXC-132
Station 12
1015 Lausanne
+41 21 693 48 16
The Swiss Statistical Society (SSS) propagates application and development of statistics in Switzerland, represents the interest of professionals working in this field in relation to practice, research and education and contributes to the recognition of statistics as a scientific discipline in its own right.
The SSS fosters contacts between statisticians in administration, business and institutions of research and education. It supports cooperation between all institutions dealing with such goals. The society edits a bulletin. It can publish other items, too and can organize meetings. Every autumn the SSS organizes the yearly Swiss Statistical Meeting, together with the Swiss Federal Statistical Office and the Conference of the Regional Statistical Offices (CORSTAT). The society consists of three Sections "Business and Industry", "Education and Research" and "Official Statistics". Further, the SSS is a member of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and an associated member of the Swiss Academy of Human Sciences (SAGW). Internationally, the SSS is member of the association for "European Courses in Advanced Statistics", the "Federation of European National Statistical Societies" and the "International Statistical Institute".
Year founded: 1988
Swiss Statistical Society (SSS) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
3000 Bern
+41 44 350 03 41
The Swiss Society of Mathematics and Physics Teachers (Société Suisse des Professeurs de Mathématiques et de Physique (SSPMP)) aims to develop the teaching of mathematics and physics from the aspect of science as well as from the methodological and educational point of view. Offering its members the opportunity to exchange ideas, experience and information, the society is also committed to safeguard the teacher's professional interests in general.
The SSPMP regularly organises continuing education courses for secondary school teachers. In addition to their scientific and cultural content, these courses provide an opportunity for participants to exchange their ideas. Experience and individual knowledge can thus be transmitted to many colleagues.
The five permanent commissions of the SSPMP maintain publishing and organisational activities related to their specific discipline and their linguistic region.
The society's report is published at regular intervals and ensures an active dialogue between the members of the SSPMP. It allows the publication of scientific papers, personal position takings, fundamental papers, announcements of events and administrative communications.
The SSPMP is one of the affiliated societies of the Swiss Society of Teachers of Secondary Education (Société suisse des professeurs de l'enseignement secondaire (SSPES)). It maintains regular and casual contacts with many authorities or Swiss and foreign organisations, with universities and with politics. The SSPES promotes the participation of Swiss students to international Olympiads in mathematics and physics.
Year founded: 1903
Number of members: 560 (2017)
Verein Schweizerischer Mathematik- und Physiklehrkräfte (VSMP) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Mathematics, Astronomy and Physics (Platform MAP)
c/o Hansjürg Stocker
Friedheimstrasse 11
8820 Wädenswil
+41 44 780 19 37
With its topic-based working groups and inter- and transdisciplinary focus, the platform addresses urgent social challenges, based on sustainable development. It sees itself as a hub for a solution-oriented dialogue between science and society.
The forums and committees of the platform provide well-founded up-to-date scientific information on various current issues, which are socially relevant (level of knowledge). They work as a an interface between science and the general public. They advise the administration and the politics on topics of current political discussions and connect to experts' knowledge on specific questions (knowledge transfer). They support the networking of national and international researchers in their specific topics and coordinate the collaboration with international conventions, research programs and evaluation reports (networking). They indicate the concerns of politics and administration to research and relay new scientific knowledge that enables the opening and expansion of the options of action for politics and society (early diagnosis).
Year founded: 2007
Platform SAP
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 52
KFPE is the information hub for North-South research in Switzerland. It promotes increased, effective and equitable research cooperation with low- and middle-income countries. By doing so, KFPE contributes to sustainable development and to solving global problems.
KFPE promotes high-quality North-South-research. Generation and distribution of ethnical and methodological foundations enabling research cooperation with less developed countries are at the core of this information center.
It seeks to sensitize the research community, political decision-makers as well as the general public to recognize the necessity of such research and its wish to collaborate with less developed countries as a contribution to the solution of global issues. Another interface function of KFPE comprises the establishment of a network between the research community with practically oriented participants in politics, administration and economics.
It furthermore performs the role of an early warning system, referring to present issues of importance and particularly mediating them to specific target groups. KFPE reaches the public via conferences, public statements and also via position memos.
Year founded: 1994
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 49
The forum promotes a differentiated and objective approach to new developments in genetic research. To this end, it provides scientific information on a broad spectrum of socially relevant topics and, on this basis, promotes the dialogue between research, politics and society.
The Forum for Genetic Research has an interdisciplinary approach and consists of experts from an array of different scientific fields including molecular biology and genetics, plant and environmental science, human medicine, biosafety, sociology, ethics and law. The academies of the various disciplines also participate in the task force.
The forum's focus is not restricted to genetic research, but also lies on genetics and biotechnology in a wider sense. One of the key activities of the forum is providing expert knowledge to decision-makers and society, which is achieved through reports and the organization of public events, as well as connecting interested parties with experts. Unanswered questions of the public and in politics concerning genetic research are addressed by the forum and discussed from an evidence-based, factual and scientific approach. The forum applies the current state of knowledge in the discussion of benefits and risks of genetic research and highlights the versatile uses of gene technology. The debate about ethics and science is continued in the task force and its results are circulated outside the forum. Other significant tasks of the forum are the provision of networking possibilities for the scientific community, as well as the encouragement of young academics.
Forum for Genetic Research
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 36
Acting as a national inter- and transdisciplinary network, the forum promotes knowledge and discourse about landscape and landscape-changing processes. It advocates sustainable design, development and safety concepts. The forum focuses on the Alps as well as parks and protected areas.
Our objectives
• To promote inter and trans-disciplinary exchange on landscape issues
• To intensify and coordinate landscape, alpine and park research at national and international levels
• To encourage dialogue on landscape issues between the academic, practical, political and social disciplines
We base what we do on the European Landscape Convention and the Alpine Convention, and we interpret the term landscape as holistic and relating to all areas. It includes mountain regions and the areas surrounding them as well as urban, suburban and rural regions and the interactions between these spaces.
Protecting our landscape is essential in order to maintain Switzerland's diverse natural and cultural heritage. It plays a significant role in determining the quality of the environment we live in. One focus of our work is using parks and protected areas as a means of maintaining and improving the quality of landscapes in the relevant regions.
We analyse current developments and encourage inter and trans-disciplinary dialogue – for example by organising and running conferences and workshops. To carry out our work we collaborate closely with experts in landscape, alpine and park research who are active in Switzerland.
We represent the Swiss Academy of Sciences on the International Scientific Committee on Alpine Research (ISCAR) and on the Swiss National Park Research Committee (FOK-SNP), and manage office administration for the latter.
Year founded: 2018
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 46
In an attempt to develop solutions for socially relevant issues to the benefit of public welfare, transdisciplinary projects cross the boarders of individual professional disciplines. By doing this, their research also includes the perspectives of policy, economy, as well as civil society. Convinced of the additional value, «Network for Transdisciplinarity» (td-net) – as part of the Swiss Academy of Arts and Sciences– promotes the advancement of this transdisciplinary research.
The td-net represents the central Swiss contact point for researchers and research sponsors in the field of interdisciplinary as well as transdisciplinary research and teachings. It takes on the role of a platform, which promotes reciprocal learning, irrespective of boarders with regard to subject matter, language or national frontiers, therefore contributing to the formation of a professional community. Being a competence center, td-net disposes of know-how, techniques and tools necessary for a coproduction of knowledge that inevitably will lead interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research projects and educational projects to success. The "swiss-academies award for transdisciplinary research" seeks to visualize exceptional conceptual as well as textual performance of transdisciplinary research in different areas of concern. Thus, it bestows a face on transdisciplinary research and renders it scientific recognition, which will consequently incite scientific offspring to proceed with state-of-the-art transdisciplinary research.
Year founded: 2003
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 60
The forum brings the latest scientific findings into the political and public discussion. It presents specific options for combating climate change in Switzerland. The topics of focus range from understanding climate change and reducing emissions to adapting to the consequences.
From a thematic perspective, ProClim is oriented to the international research program "Future Earth" and deals with questions on energy. In terms of research, ProClim encourages the collaboration of Swiss institutions and encourages the participation of Swiss researchers in international programs and relations, such as the report of the "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change" (IPCC).
Another objective is to provide information and advices to political and economic decision-makers. With the "KlimaPortal" (www.climate-change.ch) ProClim provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on the subject of climate change and global environmental changes to the different stakeholders and to the interested public. The secretariat of the advisory board on Climate Changes (Organe consultative sur les Changements Climatiques, OcCC) is attached to the office of ProClim. Further, ProClim runs the administration of the parliamentary group «Climate Change» and the Energy Commission of the Swiss Academies of Arts of Sciences.
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 50
FOK-SNP promotes and coordinates research projects in the Swiss National Park, in the Regional Nature Park Val Müstair and in the conservation and development zone of the Engiadina Val Müstair Biosphere Reserve.
To understand the natural development of a secluded ecosystem such as the Swiss National Park and the biosphere Val Müstair, the Research Committee set up two primary tasks: a) the long-term monitoring of its research, and b) the organization of interdisciplinary projects. It is also responsible to answer questions of scientific interest with regards to park management. Possible enquiries range from the ecological impact of a high density of ungulates, the changes in landscape, the optimization of water resources in the Spöl, the ecological and economical consequences of tourism in the National Park, to the stability of ecosystems in terms of natural disasters and extreme climate change. The committee is composed of members who are actively involved in research projects from relevant scientific areas such as natural and social sciences.
Year founded: 1916
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 45
With the Sustainability Research Initiative, SCNAT, together with its sister institutions, promotes research on sustainable development and 2030 Agenda. It focuses on the joint handling of social issues of higher priority in overarching consortia.
With the Sustainability Research Initiative, the Swiss Academy of Sciences, together with the other members of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, aims at strengthening sustainability research. It promotes scientific contributions for the sustainable development of society. Particular attention is paid to inter- and transdisciplinary cooperation.
The strategic goals are to:
a. promote a network of researchers in Switzerland and internationally both within disciplines and across disciplines,
b. connect Swiss sustainability research with key stakeholders and promote their cooperation;
c. identify socially relevant research topics both for Switzerland and at an international scale;
d. strengthen sustainability research among research promoters and in science policy;
e. help to shape the public discourse on sustainable development.
Year founded: 2018
Steering Committee Sustainability Research
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 28
The Swiss Biodiversity Forum is the scientific competence center for biodiversity in Switzerland. It aims at supporting the research of biodiversity and facilitates the co-operation of scientists and policy-makers in the administration department, in politics, economy and society.
Biodiversity – the variety of species, genes and ecosystems - holds an immeasurable significance and worth for human living. Yet biological diversity is decreasing both in Switzerland and worldwide. The consequences of these losses are not only ecological, but also affect the economy and social welfare. Relying on the best expertise available, Swiss Biodiversity Forum contributes to the preservation of biodiversity. It also seeks ways for a sustainable utilization and a just distribution of the profits gained from natural resources. The forum provides networking opportunities for experts and functions as a point of contact between scientific research and society. It serves as both initiator and catalyst in the effort to establish the preservation of biodiversity as a shared concern in all spheres of society and politicking.
By bringing together different pools of knowledge, the forum develops new approaches to contemporary questions surrounding biodiversity and provides decision-makers with the results. It also offers free access to recent research to anyone interested via the magazine HOTSPOT and the IBS (Infodienst Biodiversität Schweiz). In addition, it organizes an annual conference, Swiss Forum on Conservation Biology (SWIFCOB), where scientists and experts from administration and economy as well as representatives of conservation organizations are united in order to discuss current challenges and possible solutions for a more sustainable future.
Swiss Biodiversity Forum
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 40
The Swiss Committee on Polar and High Altitude Research (SKPH) coordinates and supports polar and high altitude research and represents Switzerland in international organisations. It is a committee of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences and the «Platform Science and Policy» of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).
The committee is the official legal body representing Switzerland in international committees on polar and high altitude research such as the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), the Expert Group in Human Biology and Medicine of the SCAR, and the International Society for Mountain Medicine.
Within Switzerland, the committee analyses the research needs and issues in the field and stimulates the inter- and transdisciplinary exchange and cooperation in polar and high altitude issues.
Young outstanding scientists are promoted by the attribution of the De Quervain Prize. The attribution of this prize takes place during an annual symposium organized by the committee. This symposium is open for the interested public, too.
Year founded: 1984
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 54
An important link between the sciences and the societies are the regionally tied scientific societies. The platform supports, promotes and coordinates the work of these regional societies.
The Platform NWR takes care of the regionally bound network of the societies and supports these with their diverse activities and projects, as well as with the publishing process of their publications. In addition the platform collaborates with partners like scientifically oriented museums, botanic and zoological gardens and other platforms of the SCNAT, to ascertain the comprehensible and understandable dispersion of scientific content and research results to a broad range of addressees. Furthermore, the platform is committed to projects in the field of education and the promotion of young talents, by working together with schools and teachers to increase the interest and awareness of science.
Year founded: 2007
Platform NWR
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 10
ANG gathers people interested in natural sciences and wants to widen the knowledge in this field, as well as to raise the general public interest for natural sciences.
The principal goal of the ANG is to explain the contents and the scientific reports on topics such as genetic engineering, nuclear power, air pollution or human-environment interactions. Also, in the era of internet, the ANG favours the first-hand knowledge and works hard to furnish a base for different subjects in natural sciences, through lectures, excursions and publications. Between 1922 and 1999, the ANG was owner of the museum of natural science and history of the Aargau and is now the co-founder of the "Naturama". A lot of Aargau key figures are linked to the rich history of the ANG, as, for instance, Heinrich Zschokke, Johann Rudolf Meyer, Friedrich Frey-Herosé, Friedrich Mühlberg, Hermann Kummler-Sauerländer or Paul Steinmann.
Year founded: 1811
Aargauische Naturforschende Gesellschaft (ANG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
5000 Aarau
The Society of Natural Sciences of Appenzell (Appenzellische Naturwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft (ANG)) is committed to informing and discussing about topics concerning natural sciences and aims at promoting the understanding of nature.
In winter, the association organises a series of public lectures on topics related to the natural sciences, such as biology, zoology, geology, geography, botany, engineering sciences or medicine. During these lectures, experts talk about their topics in a well-founded and understandable way. In summer, if possible, an excursion is organised.
Year founded: 1958
Number of members: 153 (2017)
Appenzellische Naturwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft (ANG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Louis Slongo
Steinrieselnstrasse 61
9100 Herisau
+41 71 351 46 64
Botanical and Zoological Society from Liechtenstein-Sarganserland-Werdenberg (Botanisch-Zoologische Gesellschaft Liechtenstein-Sarganserland-Werdenberg (BZG)) aims to study the flora and fauna of the region as well as to promote the concept of the protection of nature.
The BZG is actively involved in the conservation of the habitat of animals and plants, as well as the study and the protection of the regions, whose nature is of exceptional value. Five working groups are particularly interested in the themes of the protection of bats, birds, amphibians/reptiles, crayfishes and the regional flora. Excursions, publications as well as presentations on naturalist topics contribute to the awareness of the surrounding nature - particularly among future generations, thanks to a strong collaboration with schools.
Year founded: 1970
Number of members: 200 (2017)
Botanisch-Zoologische Gesellschaft Liechtenstein-Sargans-Werdenberg (BZG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
Botanisch-Zoologische Gesellschaft Liechtenstein-Sarganserland-Werdenberg eV
Birkenweg 6
9490 Vaduz
+42 3 232 48 19
The Cercle d'études scientifiques (CES) is the natural science research group belonging to the Société jurassienne d'émulation (SJE). It encompasses various disciplines in the field of natural science including geology, paleontology, botany, zoology, parasitology, ecology, astronomy and many more.
CES aims at promoting research and education of natural science in the canton of Jura with the help of external partners. CES intends to spread the fascination for the field among the younger generation. CES considers itself a connector of society, science and politicking. The activities of CES include the publication of the "Annales de sciences naturelles en Pays jurassien" and a close cooperation with "Société d'histoire naturelle du Pays de Montbéliard" (France). Periodically, the CES honours the achievements of scientists with a connection to the Jura. This prize might be awarded for an outstanding Bachelor or Master Thesis, for instance. A calendar containing the information to the CES's recent activities is available on the internet, on the SJE's web domain.
Year founded: 1970
Number of members: 168 (2017)
Cercle d'études scientifiques de la société jurassienne d'émulation (CES) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Dr Jean-Jacques Feldmeyer
Route de Domont 67
2800 Delémont
+41 79 969 15 18
Since 1937, the Engadin Natural Science Society (Societed engiadinaisa da scienzas natürelas (SESN)) encourages the research in natural sciences and the diffusion of knowledge in the natural and naturalists sciences, especially in Engadin.
The "fascination of nature" and its scientific approach are in the focus of the society's activities. The lectures, excursions and workshops offered are dedicated to natural sciences, especially related to the region, and are aimed at all those interested in the topic. New naturalistic studies from Graubünden are published in the annual report. The SESN is associated with the Society of Natural Sciences of Graubünden (Graubünden Naturforschende Gesellschaft) and the Davos Society of Natural Sciences (Naturforschende Gesellschaft Davos) to promote research in natural sciences in the canton of Graubünden.
Year founded: 1937
Engadiner Naturforschende Gesellschaft (SESN) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Dr. David Jenny
Surmulins 186A
7524 Zuoz
+41 81 854 02 48
The Fribourg Society for natural sciences (Société fribourgeoise des sciences naturelles (SFSN)) welcomes experts of natural and mathematical studies as well as persons from outside the scientific community. who are interested in natural science, as its members. The society's aim is to promote the studies of natural science and its applications in the Canton of Fribourg.
Each year, the SFSN – which was founded in 1832 - organizes numerous lectures and one excursion with a subject concerning botany or geology. Its bulletin features the society's proceedings and includes reports from lectures and other contributions in the field of natural sciences and mathematics. The focus lies on research executed by members of the society or the faculty of science at the local university, as well as studies with a direct impact on the canton of Fribourg.
In addition, the society awards the annual "Louis Wantz Prize" for exceptional Matura Theses in a discipline of natural science. The SFSN is a member of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and is directly affiliated with the Faculty of Science at the University of Fribourg.
Year founded: 1832
Number of members: 300 (2017)
Freiburger Naturforschende Gesellschaft (FNG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Doriana Pedrioli
University of Fribourg
Department of Physics
Chemin du Musée 3
1700 Fribourg
+41 26 300 91 16
The Baselland Society of Natural Sciences (Naturforschende Baselland Gesellschaft (NGBL)) encourages the transmission and publication of discoveries in natural sciences that are impacting the society and the science of the future. The central concerns of the NGBL are the interest in natural sciences and research, particularly the exploration of the region of the canton, the efforts for the protection of the climate, the landscape and the nature, as well as the various aspects related to energy.
With a wide range of lectures in winter and an excursion program in summer the NGBL is committed to the transfer of knowledge and maintains the dialogue both within and across the society. The NGBL keeps its members informed via a newsletter and publishes original scientific works of regional or general interest in the «Mitteilungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaften beider Basel», in collaboration with the Basel Society of Natural Sciences Basel (Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Basel (NGiB)).
Year founded: 1900
Number of members: 363 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft Baselland (NGBL) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
Langhagweg 11
4242 Laufen
The aim of NGD is the promotion of the studies in different fields of natural sciences and to explore the Davos region from a scientific point of view.
The lectures and the excursions offered are aimed at the broader public and comprise topics concerning the research in natural sciences and the local nature. The NGD organises, in collaboration with the association "Wissensstadt Davos", discussions in the form of a Café Scientifique, the "Science Coffee Davos". There is an intense exchange between the NGD and the partner societies "Naturforschende Gesellschaft Graubünden" and "Engadiner Naturforschende Gesellschaft". In addition, the NGD awards a prize to exceptional High School theses in order to motivate young students for natural sciences.
Year founded: 1916
Number of members: 73 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft Davos (NGD) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Hansruedi Müller
Ob dem Seeweg 11
7265 Davos Wolfgang
NGG aims to explore the natural sciences in a general way and more particularly to encourage the scientific research in the canton of Glarus. An important concern of the NGG lies in the support of efforts for the protection of nature in the canton.
The activities for each winter and summer period are presented in a bi-annual programme and include lectures, excursions, symposia and visits. As an advantage for its members, the NGG offers free access to diverse science magazines. By request position statements as well as expert's reports are prepared by the NGG commission for the protection of the nature, also in collaboration with other appropriate organisations. These statements usually concern various fields, such as the adaptation of laws or project modifications. In the scope of public relations, there is a close cooperation with the Glarus Nature Centre (Naturzentrum Glarnerland).
Year founded: 1883
Number of members: 233 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft des Kantons Glarus (NGG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Fridli Marti
Büchelstrasse 7
8753 Mollis
+41 55 622 21 70
The Solothurn Society of Natural Sciences (Naturforschende Gesellschaft des Kantons Solothurn (NGSO)) wants to facilitate the access to knowledge in natural sciences to the general public and to support and promote the works in natural sciences within the canton.
From November to April, the NGSO organises open lectures on topics regarding the field of natural sciences, technology and medicine in the natural museums of Solothurn and Olten. The lectures are given by excellent speakers and in a didactic way. The "Mitteilungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft" is the journal of the society and is published every two to three years. It's content is focused on works either concerning the Canton of Solothurn or written by persons from Solothurn. In order to promote the interest of the youth for natural sciences, high school theses about natural sciences are also published in the "Mitteilungen".
Year founded: 1823
Number of members: 300 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft des Kantons Solothurn (NGSO) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Dr. Peter F. Flückiger
Naturmuseum Olten
Konradstrasse 7
4600 Olten
+41 62 212 79 19
The Society of Natural Sciences of the canton Grisons (Naturforschende Gesellschaft Graubünden (NGG)) is an association committed to the promotion and dissemination of knowledge in the natural sciences, as well as, to the support of natural sciences research in the Grisons and the surrounding alpine regions.
The annual program of NGG includes lectures, excursions, congresses and other events. The topics of the lectures are addressed at members and at the interested public. The NGG regularly publishes annual reports on topics in the natural sciences concerning the region. Within the NGG, there are specialized working groups, such as the group of ornithological work of Grisons (Ornithologische Arbeitsgruppe Graubünden (OAG)) among others. Through its research and its workshops, the OAG aims at sharing both its knowledge and its enthusiasm for the world of birds. In collaboration with the highschools of Chur, Schiers and Disentis, the NGG awards a promotion prize to a high-quality Matura thesis in the field of natural sciences.
Year founded: 1825
Number of members: 426 (2016)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft Graubündens in Chur (NGG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Bündner Naturmuseum
Masanserstrasse 31
7000 Chur
+41 81 257 28 41
The objective of the Basel Society of Natural Sciences (Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Basel (NGiB), is to promote science and raise awareness for natural studies among the Swiss population.
The NGiB offers free lectures on a variety of topics during the academic semesters. These lectures are public; an important concern of NGiB thus is a general accessibility and comprehensibility of the contributions.
The presentations are intended to provide insights into the diverse functions and task of various natural science organizations in Basel including departments at the university, the Natural History museum, the zoological garden, agricultural research facilities, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute as well as the pediatric clinic. Another focus of these lectures lies on the objectives and methods of industrial research. In addition, the NGiB organizes excursions in the region to complement its range of offers. The "Stiftung Emilia Guggenheim-Schnurr", a foundation established by NGiB, supports regional research projects in the field of natural sciences.
In "Mitteilungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaften beider Base"l, a joint-venture magazine with the affiliated association from the canton Basel-Landschaft, contributions from the disciplines of natural studies are published regularly. The magazine's focus lies on scientific articles whose author or content have a direct connection to the wider region around Basel. The magazine is directed at an audience from the region, Switzerland or abroad that consist of professionals as well as people from outside the scientific community of natural sciences. The publication's aim is to bridge the gap between science and the general population.
Year founded: 1817
Number of members: 379 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Basel (NGiB) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Prof. Dr. Reto Brun
Stefanstrasse 68
4106 Therwil
NGB publishes scientific findings and promotes public understanding of science. It offers its members the opportunity for mutual motivation and relationship building. To this end, it organises a series of lectures and excursions and publishes an annual newsletter.
The events, publications and excursions offered by the NGB are designed for the interested public and in particular also for classes of post-obligatory schools. Every year, a new main topic is defined, providing a framework for the various offers of the society. The annual communications of the NGB include, amongst other things, scientific articles and presentations of SELECT_ed lectures, the annual reports of the NGB and the Bern Society of Botany.
Year founded: 1786
Number of members: 327 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Bern (NGB) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Dr. Ursula Menkveld-Gfeller
Naturhistorisches Museum Bern
Bernastrasse 15
3005 Bern
+41 31 350 72 50
Accessing the "exact knowledge of nature" through meticulous observations and experiments: This was, is and remains the main aim of the Society of Natural Sciences Zurich (Naturforschende Gesellschaft Zürich (NGZH)).
The NGZH wishes to particularly foster the general public's understanding in all disciplines of natural sciences, both in fundamental and applied fields. The NGZH thus aims at facilitating the exchange with increasingly more specialised disciplines, as well as, the access to the results of current research. For this purpose, free lectures and excursions with qualified experts are organised. In addition, current research conducted in Zurich is presented in a quarterly journal. In the annual publication (Neujahrsblatt), specialists have the opportunity to present specific topics to a more general public. The NGZH contributes to the promotion of a future generation in the natural sciences by awarding an annual prize for an exceptional high school thesis and by devoting a special annual publication to the youth.
Year founded: 1746
Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Zürich (NGZH) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Dr. Fritz Gassmann
Limmatstrasse 6
5412 Vogelsang
+41 56 223 19 75
Year founded: 1855
Number of members: 510 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft Luzern (NGL) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
Erwin Leupi
Seeburgstrasse 43
6006 Luzern
The NfGO wants to rise the interest for natural sciences, promotes the comprehension for them and allows a wide public to access to new scientific discoveries. The NfGO offers the possibility to young scientists to present their work to the general public.
The annual program of the NfGO includes approximately eight open events, such as lectures, excursions, exhibitions and debates. With the help of sponsors, a jury of the NfGO grants every year a distinction to the best high school thesis in natural sciences for the students from the Brig High School. The NfGO also regularly publishes scientific work and seeks to collaborate with other associations and organisations linked with the field of natural sciences.
Year founded: 1979
Number of members: 230 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft Oberwallis (NfGO) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
PO Box
3902 Glis
NAGON aims to promote understanding of the natural sciences and to arouse interest in findings related to them. It offers a varied programme, ranging from excursions and advanced training courses in botany, geology and zoology to company visits.
A varied programme is provided to the society's members. It includes both natural sciences excursions and events for the end of the day ("Feierabendveranstaltungen") or enterprise visits. The NAGON adapts its choice of topics in function of its members' wishes. Natural phenomena are studied and observed with the guidance of competent speakers. Due to NAGON's independency from university institutions and politics, it is also possible to broach topics of local politics and to talk about them from a neutral scientific point of view. One of the biggest challenges, which NAGON wishes to address: create bridges between the everyday life and natural sciences.
Year founded: 1995
Number of members: 170 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft Obwalden und Nidwalden (NAGON) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Dr. Andreas Traber
Kägiswilerstrasse 13
6064 Kerns
+41 41 660 20 03
The Schaffhausen society of natural sciences (Naturforschende Gesellschaft Schaffhausen (NGSH)) is actively dedicated to natural sciences and technics. Throughout diverse activities, the NGSH wants to raise the interest for natural sciences and to highlight the interdependence of these topics.
The NGSH offers a large range of offers for the interested persons, such as presentations, excursions, visits and publications. Its interest is focused on the Schaffhausen area. However, the NGSH's perspectives are going beyond that: in 2012, the NGSH put in operation a new observatory possessing a modern planetarium.
Year founded: 1822
Naturforschende Gesellschaft Schaffhausen (NGSH) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
8200 Schaffhausen
The Uri Society of Natural Sciences (Naturforschende Gesellschaft Uri (NGU)) aims to link research and current developments in natural sciences to the interested general public. The society strives to popularize scientific discoveries and their applications by using a generally comprehensible form. The society takes care of the whole spectrum of the natural sciences with a particular focus on subjects concerning the Canton of Uri and Central Switzerland.
The NGU organises lectures, excursions and visits for its members. Since its foundation in 1911, the NGU publishes reports about topics dealing with the regional nature. For many years the botanical group of the NGU takes care of the flora of Canton of Uri. The group maintains a database of the local plants, UPDATE_s the archiving of the herbarium of lichenologist Anton Gisler and organises courses in plant classification, hikes and weeks dedicated to botany. In 2011, for the occasion of the centenary of the NGU, a richly illustrated book on the geology of the Canton of Uri has been published. Currently, the society sets up a database of the fauna from the Canton.
Year founded: 1911
Number of members: 240 (2017)
Naturforschende Gesellschaft Uri (NGU) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Dr. Peter Spillmann
Allenwindenweg 18
6460 Altdorf UR
+41 41 871 24 25
NGT promotes the zeal for the natural sciences among its members and the public. It is committed to the deepening of scientific knowledge and its application. NGT supports young people inclined to scientific research and protects the interests of nature conservation.
The NGT organises different events and periodically publishes the "Mitteilungen der Naturrwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft Thun". The summer offer of the NGT includes naturalist or technical excursions. During winter, renowned speakers present lectures on different topics linked to natural sciences.
The NGT owns a nature protecting area at the lake of Thun, the Gwattlischenmoos, which is of national importance. In addition to that, the society is responsible for the Seeliswald-Hochmoor near Reutigen.
Year founded: 1919
Naturwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Thun (NGT) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
Naturwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Thun
3600 Thun
The Winterthur Society of Natural Sciences (Naturwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Winterthur (NGW)) deals with questions from all natural sciences disciplines and promotes their understanding through lectures, excursions and publications. The NGW places special emphasis on current topics in natural sciences and the environment, particularly in the area of Winterthur.
During the winter semester, the NGW organises various lectures in the broad field of natural sciences, in which scientists give a passionate insight into their work. In the event series "Wissenschaft um 11", scientists and researchers present their area of expertise, while they also allow a glimpse at their personality. These events are enriched by artistic and cultural aspects. In summer, excursions and guided tours are available. A major concern of the NGW is to introduce young people to the fascination of natural sciences at an early stage. To this end, the society organises various activities, such as projects days in schools or the "Kinderuniversität" of Winterthur and supports high school students in writing a natural sciences based thesis.
Year founded: 1884
Number of members: 928 (2017)
Naturwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Winterthur (NGW) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Peter Lippuner
Geiselweidstrasse 6
8400 Winterthur
+41 79 416 04 93
The principal aim of the Schwyz Society of Natural Sciences (Schwyzerische Naturforschende Gesellschaft (SzNG)) is the diffusion of knowledge in natural sciences of and within the Canton of Schwyz. This is achieved by the organisation of conferences and excursions related to all fields of natural sciences and as well as with the support and the publication of research works.
The events organised by the SzNG cover a broad range of topics. Members of the SzNG are on the one hand from the natural sciences community, while others are interested in the surrounding nature in general. The SzNG occasionally publishes thematic booklets with scientific articles related to Schwyz nature, targeting also a general public.
Year founded: 1932
Number of members: 250 (2017)
Schwyzerische Naturforschende Gesellschaft (SzNG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Dr. Meinrad Küchler
Arvenweg 18
8840 Einsiedeln
+41 55 412 65 70
Die STSN ist die Anlaufstelle für alle, die an den wissenschaftlichen Aspekten des Tessins und allgemein am breiten Spektrum der Naturwissenschaften interessiert sind.
The Società ticinese di scienze naturali is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions.
Year founded: 1903
Number of members: 440 (2017)
Società ticinese di scienze naturali (STSN) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Museo cantonale di storia naturale
Viale Carlo Cattaneo 4
6901 Lugano
+41 91 815 47 68
Year founded: 1790
Number of members: 182 (2015)
Société de physique et d'histoire naturelle de Genève (SPHN) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Prof. Dr Michel Grenon
University of Geneva
Observatoire Astronomique
51, chemin des Maillettes
1290 Versoix
+41 22 379 24 09
Year founded: 1832
Number of members: 263 (2017)
Société neuchâteloise des sciences naturelles (SNSN) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Muséum d'histoire naturelle
Rue des Terraux 14
2000 Neuchâtel
+41 32 717 79 60
La Murithienne, the Valais Society of Natural Sciences, is an association dedicated to natural sciences. The society aims to study and to develop the natural sciences, principally in Valais.
To do so, the society organises diverse activities such as excursions (botanical, entomological, geological, etc.), conferences, symposia as well as summer camps for the youth in partnership with ProNatura. Further, the society publishes an annual report with research work or observations made in Valais. This report also informs about the activities of the society, which in addition can be found on the website. The society publishes or participates in the publication of diverse works on the theme of Valais natural sciences. In addition, the society takes part in diverse scientific works and in the management of a library on the thematic of natural sciences.
Year founded: 1861
Number of members: 670 (2017)
Société valaisanne des sciences naturelles (La Murithienne) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
La Murithienne
PO Box 2251
1950 Sion 2 Nord
+41 27 606 47 32
The Society of Natural Sciences of the Canton of Vaud (Société vaudoise des Sciences naturelles (SVSN)) is a scientific society dedicated to the natural sciences, exact sciences and other related sciences, such as biology, geology, chemistry, physics, mathematics but also the history and the methodology of sciences.
The aim of the SVSN is the study, the progression and the diffusion of these scientific disciplines. To support and promote the research in these different disciplines, the SVSN organises public lectures and excursions. The SVSN publishes scientific papers and more generally understandable articles on research in the fields of natural and exact sciences in its «Bulletin», and more substantial work in its «Mémoires». The SVSN also supports the scientific succession by awarding a prize for an outstanding work made by a young scientist (Prix SVSN) and the best presentations made during the day of young researchers from the Faculty of Biology and Medicine at the University of Lausanne (Prix DDay). Through its activities, the SVSN also aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among experts, the general public and academic and private researchers in the Canton of Vaud. The SVSN is a member and the umbrella organisation of the Union of Scientific Societies of the Canton of Vaud.
The activities of the SVSN are advertised on its website and on the social networks.
Year founded: 1819
Number of members: 436 (2017)
Société vaudoise des sciences naturelles (SVSN) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
Palais de Rumine
Place de la Riponne 6
1005 Lausanne
The Saint-Gall Society of Natural Sciences (St.Gallische Naturwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft (NWG)) is very solicitous to bring the knowledge of natural sciences and of newest research results closer to its members and the general public, as well as to promote the conservation of nature.
To do so, the NWG offers a program of lectures related to physics, chemistry, geology, biology and applied natural sciences throughout the year. Well-known speakers present current projects and recent results.
During the summer semester, half-a-day or one-day excursions are taking place. In addition to two-day excursions, a trip abroad of one or two weeks is organised for the NWG members every couple of years.
Every two or three years, the NWG publishes a set of articles about natural sciences' topics, which are principally linked to Eastern Switzerland.
The NWG promotes research works devoted to the study and the protection of the nature of the canton of Saint-Gall, and collaborates with associations whose aims are similar. Thanks to the NWG, that owns the natural reservation around Wenigerweier since 2002, this site previously used for industry became an attractive local recreation area.
Year founded: 1819
Number of members: 546 (2017)
St. Gallische Naturwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft (NWG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
c/o Dr. Toni Bürgin
Naturmuseum St. Gallen
Rorschacher Strasse 263
9016 St. Gallen
+41 71 243 40 30
The principal aims of the Thurgau Society of Natural Sciences (Thurgauische Naturforschende Gesellschaft (TNG)) are the promotion of the comprehension of natural sciences and the spread of knowledge in natural sciences in a comprehensible way.
For its members the TNG organises a varied one-year program consisting of lectures and excursions related to the natural sciences' topics. At these open events non-members are also welcome. The society's long-serving journal "Mitteilungen" includes detailed articles on natural sciences, paying particular attention to the region of Thurgau/Lake Constance. To encourage natural sciences' works in the Canton of Thurgau, the TNG annually awards one high school thesis (Maturaarbeit) in natural sciences coming from Thurgau schools for its originality and excellent quality.
Year founded: 1854
Number of members: 382 (2017)
Thurgauische Naturforschende Gesellschaft (TNG) is a member of SCNAT, Platform Science and Regions (Platform NWR)
8500 Frauenfeld
The Commission for the Dr Joachim de Giacomi Foundation is part of the working groups of the Central Committee of SCNAT. It deals with applications and grants awards from the foundation.
This financial support is intended for scientific works, especially contributions to a publication, or the participation to field research costs, to the purchase of instruments and eventually to travel expenses. The aimed goal should be purely scientific and not commercial. The subventions are primarily awarded in earth sciences, zoology and botany. In addition, the applicant must be a member of the SCNAT. The committee of the academy and the societies affiliated to the latter may also send requests for the publication of scientific work
Year founded: 1921
Commission Dr. Joachim de Giacomi
c/o Michael Schaad
Schweizerische Vogelwarte
Seerose 1
6204 Sempach
The Committee Research Networks is a working group of the Executive Board of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). Its purpose is to decide on the establishment, the development and the operation of infrastructures that serve the networking of science domains ("research networks").
The research networks that are supported need to meet the needs of scientists at the national level, be embedded institutionally in an international context and concern a domain with particular competences in Switzerland or serve the development of competences considered as important for Switzerland as a research location. The Committee supports the target attainment of such networks by providing adequate resources and corresponding controlling tasks. In consultation with the Executive Board, the Committee decides on the procedures how to attain these tasks.
Year founded: 2017
Commission for Research Networks
c/o Dr. Stefan Nussbaum
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 04
The Commission promotes young people's interest in the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). It helps to address the lack of well-trained professionals in certain professions.
The committee has identified the following four challenges to be addressed by the academy: a.) children and adolescents should be enthused for the natural sciences during their forming school years, b.) qualified professionals in their field should be made available to research, industrial field as well as to the economy, c.) the natural sciences should be recognized as cultural heritage, which seeks to transmit knowledge, and finally d.) The academy should actively partake in the fields of adolescent promotion and education on a national scale.
The project "Patenschaft für Maturaarbeiten" is a mediating offer with the aim of fostering direct exchange between experts of a specific scientific field, students and also their teachers.
Educa.MINT, a panel which has emerged out of a collaboration between various partners, supports teaching staff. It encourages teachers to effectively locate information about class-complementary offers in the field of Mathematics, Computer Science, the Natural Sciences as well as Technology (MINT). This committee furthermore supports activities organized by membership organizations and partners of SCNAT (e.g. "Science on Stage" www.science-on-stage.ch).
Year founded: 2010
Commission for the Promotion of Young Talents
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 05
Each year, the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) grants the "Prix Expo" to a current exhibition, which capably and innovatively conveys natural scientific content. The award is endowed with 10'000 Swiss Francs. The jury SELECT_ing the winner consists of members from the fields of science, art and education.
In addition to the regular award, the jury may GRANT_a special award to an institution for its exceptional commitment and outstanding high-quality performance over a longer period of time.
The SCNAT provides an important contribution with the Prix Expo towards the promotion of experience-oriented exhibitions for all ages that mediate the fascination of scientific research.
Year founded: 2003
Jury Prix Expo
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
Kommission Nachlass Helene Kaiser
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
The Committee of the Donation of Georges and Antoine Claraz (Kuratorium der Georges und Antoine Claraz-Schenkung) manages the donation following the will of the founder and scientist Georges Claraz. This donation is designated by its name and the one of his brother Antoine.
Many research projects benefit from the donation every year. According to the donation deed, the former zoology from the University of Zurich, currently constituted of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science, palaeontology and anthropology, the Botanical Garden and the Institute of systematic Botany at the University of Zurich and the department of Genetics and Evolution at the University of Geneva are able to apply for it. The contributions should be used whenever possible to allow young researchers to conduct field studies or participating in congresses.
Year founded: 1922
Kuratorium der Georges und Antoine Claraz-Schenkung
c/o Prof. Dr Brigitte Mauch-Mani
University of Neuchâtel
Institut de Botanique
Rue Emile Argand 11
2000 Neuchâtel
+41 32 718 22 05
The Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAHS) serves as an umbrella to more than 60 scientific societies. Around 30'000 individuals are as members of their scientific societies linked to the SAHS and thus form the largest network within the humanities and social sciences.
The SAHS is recognized by the Swiss Federation as an agency promoting scientific research. It is committed to facilitate researchers' networking, to promote its disciplines and its young researchers, and to foster the dialogue between science and society. The SAHS is a member of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences.
Year founded: 1946
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 92 50
The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS / SAMW) anticipates developments in medicine and health care, identifies opportunities and risks in research and society, and provides advice based on scientific expertise to stakeholders of the public health sector (including doctors, nurses and other health experts), researchers and educators, as well as to bodies governing the health care system (like politicians and administration on a federal and cantonal level).
SAMS is a government approved institution for the promotion of research. Its core duties include maintaining a high quality of biomedical and clinical research, supporting young academics and facilitating close ties between medical science and its practical application. In addition, SAMS is concerned with reviewing ethical questions with regard to medical advances and their consequences for society, as well as reflecting on the future of medicine. Furthermore, SAMS actively participates in the politicking surrounding academia, science and education, and consults politicians and administration on issues in the field of medical sciences.
Year founded: 1943
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 92 70
The Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) provides recommendations for the application of technology, which is of great importance to Switzerland as a habitat, a place of commerce and research.
In addition, SATW promotes the fascination for and understanding of technology among the Swiss population with a special focus on adolescents by organizing activities and performing various other tasks of coordination. SATW is government approved and a politically neutral non-profit institution, which unites experts and societies in the field of engineering. SATW participates in a global network of engineering sciences. It is a member of both the European Council of Applied Sciences and Engineering (Euro-CASE) and the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS).
Year founded: 1981
St. Annagasse 18
8001 Zürich
+41 44 226 50 11
The foundation Science et Cité (Science and City) is a neutral interface between the sciences and the public. Their objective is to encourage exchange between scientists and citizens and thus create a climate of mutual trust.
To do justice to this mission, Science et Cité has initiated diverse activities: dialogue platforms, interactive exhibits, projects welcoming personal contributions and thoughts. These activities appeal to various target groups:
• Children and youths, to inflame their interest in science
• Adults, for them to expand their knowledge and exchange views with experts
• Scientists, to address questions preying on people's minds
• Diverse key players in science communication who wish to expand their network
Science et Cité was established in 1998 and its head office is located in Berne's historic centre. Regional branches are located in the Suisse Romande and in the Ticinio.
Year founded: 1998
Foundation Science et Cité
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 92 81
TA-SWISS - this is the short name for Centre for Technology Assessment, implying the institution's main task. Looking into the future, we investigate technical applications with the potential to radically change our lives henceforth.
While untried technologies applied prematurely and without extensive previous evaluation can have far-reaching consequences, it can equally prove disastrous to disregard technical innovation. It is therefore all the more important to shed light on various aspects of ongoing technological developments at an early stage.
TA-SWISS complies with its legal mandate stipulated in the Swiss Federal Law to Promote Research and Innovation. Its publications are aimed at decision-makers in the realms of politics, business and administration as well as at a general public. TA-SWISS hereby provides the basis for political decision-making in the field of technology. Institutionally, it is an independent centre of competence of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences.
TA-SWISS cooperates with various international technology assessment committees, with a special engagement in the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment (EPTA) network. Moreover, it works closely together with TA institutions in neighbouring countries.
Year founded: 1992
Brunngasse 36
3011 Bern
+41 31 310 99 60
In 2006, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences established the commission "Scientific Integrity", which follows national and international developments and takes position on general questions related to scientific integrity.
The commission advises research institutions, research promoting institutions and political authorities on fundamental questions. In 2008, the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences published the brochure "Scientific integrity: principles and rules of procedure".
Year founded: 2006
Commission "Scientific Integrity"
Petersplatz 13
4051 Basel
The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences seek to condense their specific competences with regard to energy into the framework of a commission. Such a commission not only widens their scope, but it also collaborates with already existing organizations concerned with energy. This collaboration should then foster a network of professionals in the field of energy, which is meant to include all disciplines.
This collaborative project enables the disclosure of all aspects of the Swiss energy system as well as short and long-term dependencies on both national and international scale. This commission of energy represents the Swiss research community while also responding to questions with regard to energy that may be of interest to politics and decision makers. Being highly supported by the research community as well as competent and open to dialogue, this energy commission contributes to the objectification of energy discourse. It also openly demonstrates scientific facts and justifies its consensus or disagreement, respectively.
The commission promotes and coordinates discourse and exchange of knowledge with regard to concerns of energy not only within research communities, but also between academies. Furthermore, it seeks collaboration with Swiss institutes of higher education. It cultivates close contact with international institutions, supports international research programs and promotes Swiss contribution within international research programs.
Year founded: 2012
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
House of Academies
Laupenstrasse 7
3008 Bern
The Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (ECAE) is a body of expertise and consultation in the field of "animal experimentation". The tasks of the ECAE include the development of positions on key issues in the field of animal testing and the review of legal dictates.
The committee consists of eleven members from sectors such as fundamental research, veterinary medicine, animal welfare, law and ethics. The ECAE is a joint committee of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).
Year founded: 2013
c/o Sibylle Ackermann
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 92 73
The Working Group "Future Education Switzerland" allows and promotes an evidence based and structured discussion and reflexion on forward-looking educational issues by involving all stakeholders.
Its functions include processing of expert assessments, the consolidation of results emanating from discussion as well as the drafting of recommendations derived therefrom for the attention of relevant instances.
Future Education Switzerland
c/o Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 92 20
In an attempt to develop solutions for socially relevant issues to the benefit of public welfare, transdisciplinary projects cross the boarders of individual professional disciplines. By doing this, their research also includes the perspectives of policy, economy, as well as civil society. Convinced of the additional value, «Network for Transdisciplinarity» (td-net) – as part of the Swiss Academy of Arts and Sciences– promotes the advancement of this transdisciplinary research.
The td-net represents the central Swiss contact point for researchers and research sponsors in the field of interdisciplinary as well as transdisciplinary research and teachings. It takes on the role of a platform, which promotes reciprocal learning, irrespective of boarders with regard to subject matter, language or national frontiers, therefore contributing to the formation of a professional community. Being a competence center, td-net disposes of know-how, techniques and tools necessary for a coproduction of knowledge that inevitably will lead interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research projects and educational projects to success. The "swiss-academies award for transdisciplinary research" seeks to visualize exceptional conceptual as well as textual performance of transdisciplinary research in different areas of concern. Thus, it bestows a face on transdisciplinary research and renders it scientific recognition, which will consequently incite scientific offspring to proceed with state-of-the-art transdisciplinary research.
Year founded: 2003
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 60
The Swiss Committee on Polar and High Altitude Research (SKPH) coordinates and supports polar and high altitude research and represents Switzerland in international organisations. It is a committee of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences and the «Platform Science and Policy» of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).
The committee is the official legal body representing Switzerland in international committees on polar and high altitude research such as the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), the Expert Group in Human Biology and Medicine of the SCAR, and the International Society for Mountain Medicine.
Within Switzerland, the committee analyses the research needs and issues in the field and stimulates the inter- and transdisciplinary exchange and cooperation in polar and high altitude issues.
Young outstanding scientists are promoted by the attribution of the De Quervain Prize. The attribution of this prize takes place during an annual symposium organized by the committee. This symposium is open for the interested public, too.
Year founded: 1984
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 54
Swiss Park Research aims to support the research projects of the parks of national significance and other protected areas (eg. UNESCO World Heritage) and to support them in their collaborations on priority topics.
In 2007, the legal basis for the establishment of parks of national significance took effect. Only the parks that come from regional initiatives and which are supported by the population are federally recognised as parks.
For an efficient and targeted management, the parks require extensive knowledge on data of the ecological, economic and social development. Park research is therefore supported in its long-term development. The parks and the protected areas are generally accepted as appropriate areas for comparative (national and international) research on various higher order subjects.
The coordination of park research in Switzerland encourages the dialogue between science and practice and supports the parks in the area of research. For this, it offers an information platform on completed, ongoing and new research projects. The research topics that deal with aspects of regional sustainable development and that are relevant to a comparative study of several parks have been concentrated in a thematic catalogue. It is a thematic basis for collaboration between science, administration and management of the parks. In addition, the needs in research of the parks are collected and the results of park research that are relevant to the practice are placed at their disposal.
Year founded: 2009
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
Swiss Park Research
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
+41 31 306 93 47
The Brissago Islands sustain the botanic garden of the Canton of Ticino since 1950.
In the garden, around 1700 plant species are cultivated. They originate in regions of Mediterranean climate (the Mediterranean Basin, Chile, South Africa, Southwest Australia and California) and of humid subtropical climate (in particular from Asia, but also from North and South America and Oceania).
Parco botanico del Canton Ticino
Isole di Brissago
6614 Isole di Brissago
CBA has a mainly academic orientation, but is also open to other kinds of schools and the public interested in nature.
Das Zentrum wurde vom Kanton Tessin in Zusammenarbeit mit den Universitäten Zürich und Genf gegründet und aufgebaut, und ist seit kurzem auch mit der Universität der italienischen Schweiz, (USI Lugano) verbunden. Das CBA bietet auf 2000 Meter ü.M. (Val Leventina TI) moderne, gut ausgestattete Arbeitsräume, die es Wissenschaftern erlauben, vielseitige Feld- und Laborarbeiten durchzuführen oder in Universitätskursen spezifische lokale Besonderheiten zu studieren.
Centro Biologia Alpina (CBA)
Via Mirasole 22A
6500 Bellinzona
The Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) network actively explores and explains the great biological richness of the mountains of the world. GMBA seeks to provide input to policy makers and stakeholders for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in mountain regions.
Mountains of the world are hotspots of biological diversity. Steep terrain and mountain climate in combination with severe land use pressure cause mountain ecosystems to rank among the most endangered landscapes in the world.
GMBA is an international network of mountain biodiversity researchers and policy makers, aiming at an active exploration of the biological richness of the mountains and the human influence on the landscapes. By providing input to policy makers and stakeholders, GMBA increases the visibility of mountain biodiversity issues and catalyses s sustainable development of rural upland areas. In cooperation with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), GMBA encourages a global effort to mine geo-referenced archive databases on mountain organisms. The GMBA network is part of "DIVERSITAS", an international global change research programme on biodiversity sciences, all within the platform of "Future Earth".
Institute of Plant Sciences University of Bern
Altenbergrain 21
3013 Bern
061 631 49 37
The Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center (PSC) is a competence center linking and supporting the plant science research community of the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich and the University of Basel.
The PSC promotes fundamental and applied research in the plant sciences. We seek creative approaches to research mentoring and coursework for students and postdocs, and we provide platforms for interactions with peers, policymakers, industry and stakeholders. We help graduate students put together the right package of classes in the plant sciences, statistics, policy, communication and other transferable skills. And, we help match students and project leaders with appropriate funding sources to take on some of society's most important questions.
Year founded: 1998
ETH Zürich
ETH Zürich
Universitätstrasse 2
8092 Zürich
+41 44 632 23 33
Science on Stage promotes science and technology teaching. Teachers at all school levels and in all parts of the country are to receive ideas for their lessons and be able to use them in these lessons.
Science on Stage Schweiz ist vor allem für die Auswahl der Lehrkräfte für die Schweizer Delegation für das europäische Festival verantwortlich, das unter der Koordination von Science on Stage Europe alle 2 Jahre stattfindet.
Science on Stage Switzerland
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
SST supports toxicological research and application to protect humans, animals and the environment. It promotes education and training as well as exchange among experts in Switzerland and represents their concerns. SST cooperates with corresponding societies abroad.
SGT is member of the umbrella organisation Swiss Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology which is member of is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology.
c/o Andreas Knödler
BASF Schweiz AG
Klybeckstrasse 141
4057 Basel
The SSEP represents professionals working across all fields of Experimental Pharmacology. Its objectives are to promote and defend the interests of experimental pharmacologists in Switzerland and to advance scientific and translational research in the field.
SSEP is member of the umbrella organisation Swiss Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology which is member of is a member of SCNAT, Platform Biology.
c/o Prof. Dr. Georgia Konstantinidou
University of Bern
Institute of Pharmacology
3010 Bern
University of Bern
Hallerstrasse 12
3012 Bern
University of Fribourg
Department of Geosciences
Chemin du Musée 4
1700 Fribourg
University of Geneva
Département de géographie
Uni Mail
40, boulevard du Pont-d'Arve
1211 Genève 4
022 379 83 32
Year founded: 2012
Institut de géographie et durabilité IGD
Quartier UNIL-Mouline
Batiment Géopolis
1015 Lausanne
021 692 30 70
University of Neuchâtel
Institut de géographie
Espace Louis-Agassiz 1
2000 Neuchâtel
+41 32 718 18 12
Universität Zürich
Department of Geography
Winterthurerstrasse 190
8057 Zürich
044 635 51 11
HES-SO Wallis
Haut École de Gestion et Tourisme
Case Postale 80
Route de la Plaine 2
3960 Sierre
ETH Zürich
Institut für Kartografie und Geoinformation
Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5
8093 Zürich
c/o Jürg Suter
Trüelmatt 24
3624 Goldiwil
3000 Bern
PO Box 67
9011 St. Gallen
University of Basel
Humangeographie Stadt- und Regionalforschung
Klingelbergstrasse 27
4056 Basel
University of Basel
Physiogeographie und Umweltwandel
Klingelbergstrasse 27
4056 Basel
Als nationaler Dachverband von sieben Fachorganisationen hat der Verband Schweizer Wissenschafts-Olympiaden zum Ziel, den wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchs zu fördern. Wir vermitteln talentierten und motivierten Jugendlichen einen vertieften Einblick in ihr Lieblingsfach und unterstützen sie in ihrem Willen, sich neue Gebiete zu erschliessen.
Wissenschafts-Olympiaden sind jährlich stattfindende Wettbewerbe für Mittelschülerinnen und Mittelschüler, die sich in den Fächern Biologie, Chemie, Geografie, Informatik, Mathematik, Philosophie und Physik über den Schulstoff hinaus interessieren. Das Angebot richtet sich an Jugendliche aus der Schweiz und dem Fürstentum Liechtenstein. Nach den ersten Vorausscheidungen erhalten mehr als 300 Schülerinnen und Schüler die Möglichkeit, ihr Wissen an Vorbereitungsveranstaltungen zu vertiefen. Der nationale Höhepunkt wird mit den Schweizer Finals erreicht. Anschliessend reisen die besten Teilnehmenden (29) an die Internationalen Wissenschafts-Olympiaden, die jedes Jahr für jede Disziplin in einem anderen Land der Welt stattfinden.
Mehr Informationen zu den einzelnen Wissenschafts-Olympiaden sowie eine Übersicht der Termine des laufenden Olympiaden-Jahrs finden Sie auf unserer Webseite.
Year founded: 2004
University of Bern
Hochschulstrasse 6
3012 Bern
+41 31 631 39 86
Der Verband vertritt die Interessen der naturwissenschaftlichen Museen der Schweiz und Liechtensteins. Ziel ist das Sichtbarmachen und Vermitteln der Bedeutung der naturwissenschaftlichen Sammlungen und Museen als Teil des nationalen und internationalen Kulturerbes.
Der Verband will die Interessen der naturwissenschaftlichen Museen gegenüber dem Verband Museen Schweiz, der Akademie der Naturwissenschaften, dem Bund, der Politik und der allgemeinen Öffentlichkeit vertreten. Ziel ist das Sichtbarmachen und Vermitteln der Bedeutung der naturwissenschaftlichen Sammlungen und Museen als Teil des nationalen und internationalen Kulturerbes.
Sekretariat Marlis Gerteis Naturhistorisches Museum
Bernastrasse 15
3005 Bern
+41 31 350 72 41