Plattform Biologie: Plateforme Biologie
Das Netzwerk Bildung Artenkenntnisse ist aktiv und neue Kurse und Projekte wurden initiiert. Unter anderem konnte die Trägerschaft der Strategie Bildung Artenkenntnisse das Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU bei der Evaluation von Projektanträgen unterstzützen, die 2023 im Rahmen der Strategie eingereicht wurden. Diese neue Zusammenarbeit hat sich bewährt - elf Mitglieder der Trägerschaft begutachteten ehrenamtlich 21 Projektanträge und konnten so ihre Expertise der Verwaltung zur Verfügung stellen. Das BAFU finanziert auf dieser Grundlage 2024 und 2025 den Aufbau von neuen Kursen, die Fachwissen über Moose, Flechten, Spinnen, Wildbienen und Laufkäfer vermitteln. Auch ein neuer Studiengang zum Erhalt der Artenvielfalt wird an der Universität Neuchâtel entwickelt.
In 2024, an update of the Biology Community Roadmaps has been released that will feed into the 2027 Swiss roadmap of SERI.
Rigi Workshop 2025: Microbiome Meets Metabolism - Linking microbial biotransformations of chemicals to human and environmental health
This year, the 30 selected participants (PhD students and Post docs representing 12 different Swiss research institutions) had the opportunity to discover the transformative power of microbiomes in shaping chemical structures and functions, vital for human and environmental well-being. They were accompanied by 10 invited speakers from Switzerland, US and Germany bridging microbiology and bioinformatics with toxicology, pharmacology and environmental sciences, focusing on cutting-edge methodologies and data science tools. They had the opportunity to present their research during research rounds in small groups, allowing intensive scientific exchanges. Four of the projects were selected to be discussed during a World Café to boost or revamp the project thanks to interdisciplinary feedbacks from all the participants.
Biology Week: Molecular biology and neurosciences in partnership with the Life Science Learning Center in Zurich
The themes focused on molecular biology of stress, control of brain development, memory, molecular control of neural stem cells and neural development, and synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability
Bio-Geo Week: der Wandel in all seinen Formen in Zusammenarbeit mit der Plattform Geowissenschaften in Lausanne
Die SchülerInnen konnten in die Veränderungen eintauchen, die mit dem Untergrund, dem Boden, den Seen und den dort lebenden Arten verbunden sind.
Prix Schläfli Biology 2024
Gabriel Jorgewich Cohen is awarded with the Prix Schläfli 2024 in Biology for his work on accoustics in turtels. For a long time, turtles were regarded as largely voiceless creatures. In his dissertation, he has shown that they definitely do communicate acoustically – and his discovery is revolutionising evolutionary biology. The award ceremony was be held at the University of Lausanne, during the plenary of the Biology25 conference. During a lecture tour, offered by the Biology Platform, he also gave a talk at the University of Geneva and at the University of Bern.