Past Activities and Results
2024
2 One-Day Workshops (March & September 2024) in Bern at the House of Academies
Participants: 10 - 15 Members of the Swiss Young Academy
External guests: Dunia Brunner (University of Lausanne) with a talk on „The public engagement of academics: From academic freedom to professional ethics“ & Tanja Rechnitzer with a talk on «Scholars or Activists – Roles and Responsibilities of Philosophers» ( Leibniz University Hannover)
Discussion of the interview data
Identified topics from our theoretical discussions that could be developed further
Presentation at the SACM Conference (April 17–19, 2024)
by Sabrina H. Kessler & Max Rabinovich in Neuchâtel
Title: "Exploring the Boundaries between Science/Activism: Perspectives of Young Scientists in Switzerland"
Event: Annual Meeting of the Swiss Association of Communication and Media Research
Panel Participation at the Science Cafés (September 2 & 9, 2024) in Bern and Thun
Topic: "What does activism bring – and when does it become counterproductive?"
The Science Café organized by Science et Cité warmly invites you to discuss scientific topics with researchers and other experts. Admission is free. What is the best-case outcome of activism and civil courage? How important are activists for social change? What types of activism are there? Are there cultures that are more courageous and open than others when it comes to ‘civil resistance’? What happens when engagement proves counterproductive? How sustainable are movements that work for their goals outside of parliament? What happens when science takes a political position?
Speakers:
Dr Moritz Gubler, lecturer at the Institute for Secondary Education at the PHBern and urban climate researcher at the Institute of Geography at the University of Bern
Gabriela Mirescu Gruber, Mobilising Strategist, Amnesty International, Swiss Section, Bern
Dr Stefan Schlegel, Director of the Swiss Human Rights Institution and member of the Swiss Young Academy, Bern
Presentation at the ECREA Conference (September 24–27, 2024)
by Sabrina H. Kessler
Title: "Examining the nexus of science, science communication, and activism: Young scientists’ perspectives in Switzerland"
Event: 10th European Communication Conference, Ljubliana
Panel Participation (December 3, 2024) in Bern
Topic: "How political can science be?"
From climate change to the handling of pandemics and geopolitical conflicts – scientific expertise plays a role in a range of policy areas. This puts pressure on science: its growing influence as a system for understanding and explaining the world arouses both desire and resistance. This panel discussion will focus on the question of how political science is allowed to be. The debate about the relationship between science and politics is characterised by two extremes: some people are pushing for science to be actively involved in politics as much as possible, thereby increasingly blurring the boundaries between scientific work and political action. Others demand that science avoid influencing the public and stay away from anything that could have a political effect. There are various ways in which scientists can participate in the political process and engage with society. Institutional channels include scientific policy advice or political office. Outside of political institutions, there are numerous other ways to get involved in political debates.
As central scientific institutions, universities are also at the centre of the debate. One of their tasks is to provide a place for creating and discussing knowledge that can be used to understand and explain the world. Therefore, universities bear a socio-political responsibility. At the same time, scientific independence is fundamental.
The following questions will be discussed at this panel discussion: How political can science be How can universities be relevant to society without violating the principles of science? What role and responsibility do universities have, as scientific institutions but also in terms of the social engagement of their members?
Panelists:
Prof. Dr. Virginia Richter, Rector, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Heike Mayer, Vice-Rector for Quality and Sustainable Development, University of Bern
Dr. iur. Stefan Schlegel, Swiss Young Academy
Benedikt Schmidt, Vice President, Reatch
Publication of interview results (21 November 2024)
How do young researchers understand activism in the context of science in Switzerland and how is this relationship between science and activism negotiated in different scientific disciplines? To explore these questions, our project group interviewed 33 early-career researchers. The results of the interviews have now been published.
2023
2 One-Day Workshops (March & September 2023) in Bern at the House of Academies
Participants: 12 - 20 Members of the Swiss Young Academy & of SCNAT
Discussion of Research Literature & State of Research
Talk by Lerato Posholi (SYA member) on Epistemic Injustice
Meeting with Cooperation Partners
Discussion of the Survey and First Data
Interviews with young scientists
In 2023, we qualitatively surveyed 33 young scientists, representing 28 disciplines (Mean age = 35; 67% female; Natural Sciences (45%); Social Sciences (27%); Humanities (27%)). The questionnaire included 17 open-ended questions asked by a trained interviewer (average duration: 33 minutes).
In 2024, we plan to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the responses we have gathered. This will involve in-depth evaluation and interpretation of the data collected. Additionally, we aim to organize workshops where these findings can be thoroughly reflected upon and discussed in detail.
A key part of our approach is to engage with both the academic community and the general public. We intend to host discussions and presentations, as well as participate in external events, to facilitate active participation from these groups for a broader exchange of ideas and perspectives.
Finally, in line with our commitment to accessibility and knowledge sharing, we published the results of our analysis and discussions openly. This means that the findings are made available open access (see here).
Panel Discussion at Scientifica 2023 in Zurich (2 September 2023)
‘Can science be neutral? Can scientists be activists?’
Climate crisis, corona, gender... In the knowledge society in which we live, science is directly exposed to the political struggles of the day. Many people expect science to be ‘neutral’ and to provide ‘facts’. Science should be relevant to politics without itself being political.
But is that even possible? Can scientists distance themselves from the problems they devote their hearts and souls to studying? Isn't the choice of a research question a political decision? How can we free ourselves from our social position, our political and social background when we do science?
Could it even be that science is improved when it is also activism, when it has a clearly stated agenda? And could political activism be improved when it draws more from science, with its willingness to repeatedly question old certainties?
Panelists:
Reto Knutti, Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich
Sabrina Heike Kessler, Communication Studies and Media Research, UZH / Swiss Young Academy
Tanja Rechnitzer, Philosophy, University of Hannover
Moderator: Stefan Schlegel, Law, University of Bern / Swiss Young Academy
Workshop at the ScienceComm 2023 in Bern (3 November 2023)
‘Science vs. activism: where are the boundaries? A discussion forum’
How activist should and/or may scientists be? Can science and activism be kept separate at all? Do scientists in Switzerland have a responsibility to promote social change? Where is the line between science communication and activism? What are the opportunities and dangers of normative statements and recommendations on socio-political issues? In an interactive discussion format, different stakeholder positions will be taken in turn in plenary, and the dangers, opportunities, advantages and needs of science-related activism will be discussed, among other things. In this way, the participants will be able to gather arguments, emotions and motivations from the perspectives of scientists, university administrators and communications departments, politicians, journalists, activist associations or the public, and to examine the topic from different angles and disciplines. The discussion will be moderated by two members of the Swiss Young Academy and enriched by real views of scientists from a current interview study in Switzerland.
Moderation: Sabrina Heike Kessler (JAS), Stefan Schlegel (JAS)
Dialogue Session at the ScienceComm 2023 in Bern (3 November 2023)
Science and activism: what are the boundaries?
What are science and activism? Where does one end and the other begin? Is it desirable and possible to separate them? What are the roles and responsibilities of scientists? During this interactive dialogue session, we propose to interact around these questions that transcend disciplines and generations. The session is organised as part of the interdisciplinary project ‘Science vs. Activism? Exploring the boundaries’ of the Swiss Junior Academy.
Moderator: Clara Zemp
Panel Discussion “Policy and Science: Joining Forces for a Sustainable Future” (SCNAT & ARE) in Bern (14 November 2023)
Sustainability Science Forum 2023
How should and can science participate in shaping a sustainable future? What form can effective cooperation between politics, administration and science take in order to achieve the SDGs, and to what extent should the roles of these actors interlock?
The event explored these and other questions. It combines the "Dialogue 2030" of the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) with the "Sustainability Science Forum" of the Initiative for Sustainability Research of SCNAT. The Dialogue 2030 facilitates the exchange between relevant stakeholders and thus promotes a coordinated and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Switzerland. The Sustainability Science Forum is a meeting place for the growing community of sustainable development research - where new ideas are discussed, research concepts developed and partnerships forged.
Panelists:
Reto Knutti, Professor, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich
Clara Zemp, member of the Swiss Young Academy
Julie Cantalou, Co-Secretary General of the Green Liberal Party of Switzerland
