Local roots, global horizons

Bernese Science

Examples of research at the University of Bern show how science oscillates between Alpine region and the world stage.

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FOKUS

A part of Bern

Alumni with regional commitments

Making a difference at home

Some people are drawn to distant places after their studies, while others consciously decide to stay and work in their home region. Five alumni of the University of Bern talk about their years of study, their careers to date and how they are helping to shape the region today.

Sustainable Bern-based start-up

Upcycled fashion from discarded Aare boats

They want to tackle the ecologically problematic consequences of discarded rubber boats: Elmo Francis and Yannick Käser turn discarded rubber boats into stylish bags.

Citizen science on wild plants

Out and about for Thun’s flora

Kathrin Häberlin is a passionate botanist. She voluntarily maps wild plant species for Florinventar – the Thun region's plant inventory project. Her precision here is just as helpful for this task as the task is for her personal well-being.

Politics and administration

All articles about politics and administration

Istituto di italiano giuridico

“The federal city of Bern is ideally suited for this institute”

The University of Bern is strengthening the status of the Italian language in law. Iole Fargnoli, founder and director of the new Institute for Italian Legal Language, explains why Bern is the ideal location for it.

Forum for University and Society

"Our events are also social spaces"

The university is more than just teaching and research. In order to document its contribution to society, the Forum for University and Society (Forum für Universität und Gesellschaft, FUG) has been inviting participants to events for more than 20 years and successfully cultivating an exchange with the political leadership.

Media studies

Dealing with conspiracy theories: debunking works

During the pandemic, Bern-based researchers conducted real-time analyses to determine how the media can most effectively curb conspiracy theories. A workshop for journalists brought together the worlds of academia and practice this year.

Swiss Governance Forum 2025

Healthcare research meets everyday life

Switzerland has one of the best performing and most expensive healthcare systems. The Swiss Governance Forum 2025 asked how innovation can succeed despite regulation: cooperation is necessary in addition to initiative.

A question for Flora Stanischewski

Am I liable if my office AI makes mistakes?

Anyone who lets AI work for them would be well advised to critically examine the results of its work. This is because, in principle, employees are liable, says Flora Stanischewski, a lecturer in labor law.

University and studies

All articles about university and studies

Alumni with regional commitments

Making a difference at home

Some people are drawn to distant places after their studies, while others consciously decide to stay and work in their home region. Five alumni of the University of Bern talk about their years of study, their careers to date and how they are helping to shape the region today.

Lifelong Learning Center

Learning is good for you – throughout your life

New technologies and demographic trends are changing the world of work and thus also continuing education: Continuous learning enables access to new professions and skills. The University of Bern sees itself as a place of learning throughout all phases of life.

Between the lecture theater and the soccer pitch

Three students are crowned Swiss soccer champions

Leana Zaugg, Nicole Tiller, and Stephanie Waeber, three students at the University of Bern, have been crowned Swiss champions with the BSC Young Boys women’s team (YB Frauen). Off the pitch, they tackle the demands of their studies with dedication and discipline.

People at UniBE

The man behind the festive flower arrangements

Who is responsible for the beautiful flower arrangements at graduation ceremonies and other festive occasions at the University of Bern? Bruno Züger, landscape gardener at UniBE for 32 years now. uniAKTUELL accompanied him for a day.

Health and medicine

All articles about health and medicine

20 years GCB

Promoting young researchers in biomedicine

Two research projects at the Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB) demonstrate how scientific curiosity, clinical relevance, and social benefit can converge, providing a successful foundation for research careers.

Department of Clinical Research

Eva Segelov: A career supporting better research

Good research should begin where it matters most: with people – this is the guiding vision of Eva Segelov. Since the end of 2022, the Australian oncologist and clinical researcher has been serving as Director of the Department of Clinical Research at the University of Bern.

Old bones, new findings

Skeletal remains with iodine deficiency from Riggisberg

Researchers at the University of Bern have discovered evidence of congenital iodine deficiency syndrome in skeletal remains from Riggisberg (BE). This study sheds new light on the history and spread of the disease in Switzerland.

Animal Research

In Dialogue About Animal Research

At the National Information Day of the Experimental Animal, researchers from the University of Bern presented their work involving animal experimentation at a booth on Casinoplatz Bern and offered interested visitors first-hand information.

Occupational health

Staying mentally healthy at work – what you need to do

Digitalization and new forms of work are impacting our mental health. As Professor of Occupational Psychology at the University of Bern, Achim Elfering knows what stresses us so much at work – and what is good for us.

Sustain-
ability

All articles about sustainability

United Nations Ocean Conference 2025

The ocean is at its limit – but there is still hope

Heating, deep-sea mining, vulnerable ecosystems: In this interview, climate researcher Thomas Frölicher explains what is going on with the ocean, what glimmers of hope there are and why this is important for Switzerland.

Part-time, participatory, ecological

Modern timber industry in the Bern region

The timber industry is regarded as sluggish and not very innovative. Unfairly so: Three Bern-based carpentry companies are adding value to local raw materials in peripheral regions and offering future-oriented working models. This is demonstrated by research conducted by the Department of Economic Geography at the University of Bern.

People

Research at the end of the world

Barbara Seth found the oldest ice on Earth as part of a research team and is helping to learn more about climate history.

Scientist portrait

“Our neighborhood network is our greatest help”

Olivia Romppainen-Martius studies the effects of climate change on extreme weather events. In the video, she explains what helps her to spend time with her daughters despite the demands of her job.

Matter and universe

All articles on matter and universe

Scientist portrait

What can be done to combat gender stereotypes in research?

Chemical ecologist Christelle Robert researches how plant substances influence organisms that come into contact with them. In the video, she talks about the challenges of gender stereotypes in science.

Space research

Making science tangible with art

How do you make the tectonic development of the planet Mercury tangible with a piece of paper? For planetary scientist Liliane Burkhard, the answer is clear: with the means of art.

People

Lateral entry into space research

Nora Hänni researches space and is fascinated by interdisciplinary cooperation – reconciling her work and family life is just as important to her.

People

Between mysteries and measuring instruments

Salome Gruchola researches the mysteries of space from the laboratory in Bern – and would like to see more women in physics.

Scientist portrait

«As a woman, you are in a male-dominated field»

Biologist Eva Ringler researches the behavior of amphibians and reptiles. In the video, she talks about the hurdles that make it difficult for women to develop their careers.

Intercultural knowledge

All articles about intercultural knowledge

In focus

Job Stress Index

Many Swiss employees feel stressed, as regular monitoring shows. This not only harms them, but also the economy.

Tackling the clichés

Women’s soccer breaks down gender norms

Just in time for the Euro 2025 soccer tournament, two Bern-based researchers are publishing a new book, “Das Recht zu kicken” [The Right to Kick]. During an interview, co-author Marianne Meier recounts historical anecdotes and pits Swiss women’s soccer against gender stereotypes.

A question for Tina Hascher

Do performance and well-being go together?

Performance and well-being go together in the world of work and in studies, says Tina Hascher, Professor of Educational Science. Here she explains why.

Muslim Belonging

Holocaust Memory and Anti-Muslim Racism

In "Subcontractors of Guilt", Esra Özyürek investigates how Holocaust memory culture in Germany is associated with the marginalization of Muslim citizens. In a public discussion with the author and other experts in Bern, the topic was transposed to Switzerland.