Ecologist Jordi Bascompte at the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies has been awarded the prestigious Ramon Margalef Prize. Bascompte was recognized for his mathematical work on the description of biological networks. More …

A compositional link between planets and their respective host star has long been assumed in astronomy. For the first time now, a team of scientists, with the participation of researchers of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS from the University of Zurich and the University of Bern, have delivered empirical evidence to support the assumption – and partly contradict it at the same time. More …

What will the transport of tomorrow look like? How will digitalization change the way we get around? In a new module run by the UZH Innovation Hub and the Digital Society Initiative, students from the University of Zurich examined the interdisciplinary challenges of digitalization and mobility. Over the course of a 48-hour “Innovathon”, they came up with creative ideas to solve real-world problems. More …

The CRISPR genetic scissors enable the genetic material of living organisms to be modified in a targeted manner. The discovery has enormous implications for science and society. The kick-off event of the University Research Priority Program (URPP) “Human Reproduction Reloaded | H2R” focused on the potential and dangers of CRISPR. More …

The Executive Board of the University has approved the Open Science Policy. The guidelines are a further step toward establishing an open science culture as standard practice at UZH. More …

Last Friday saw the launch of a cutting-edge linguistics laboratory at UZH, the LiRILab on Andreastrasse. The brand-new lab, part of the Linguistic Research Infrastructure (LiRI) platform, is equipped with the latest technologies to facilitate innovative experimental research in the areas of phonetics, psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics. More …

As of the Fall Semester, students at the University of Zurich are required to have a Covid certificate if they want to attend classes on site. Felix Uhlmann, UZH professor of constitutional and administrative law, discusses some of the legal aspects surrounding this significant measure to combat the pandemic. More …

For her groundbreaking discoveries related to the functions of neurons in the brain, Professor Magdalena Götz received the 2021 Prize of the Betty and David Koetser Foundation for Brain Research. The award was presented at the annual symposium of the Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ) on 16 September. More …

Reading is one of the basic skills we acquire as children. But for some, it is more difficult than others. Neuroscientist Silvia Brem explains why and describes the promising therapies she is working on. More …

There are many good reasons why students should get vaccinated against Covid-19, even if they are young and healthy. UZH virologist Alexandra Trkola takes a clear and balanced look at the arguments for and against vaccination. More …

Facing a difficult situation at work? The team from the Employee Assistance Office (MBS) supports UZH staff in stressful situations or with psychological or legal problems. The service is confidential, neutral and accessible. More …

Human communication is much more complex than all other forms of animal communication. And yet, monkeys and meerkats are also able to use language. Research into animal languages can help us understand how human language evolved. More …

Over the weekend, Scientifica took place around the topic “Synthetic naturally”. The science festival's program was greater than ever before, and thousands of visitors flocked to the various campuses of UZH and ETH to experience science up close. More …

Older people in Switzerland would like to have far more educational opportunities than are currently available, a new national study carried out by senior citizens universities, adult education institutions and the UZH Center for Gerontology has found. In an interview with UZH News, gerontologist Mike Martin explains why education is so important for older people. More …

Machines that read our thoughts and translate them into spoken language – what sounds like science fiction could be a real possibility in the future, says linguist Balthasar Bickel. Scientists in the NCCR Evolving Language are researching mind-reading, both to gain a better understanding of it and to warn of the dangers. More …

Thanks to Céline Moser and her team, anyone can drop by the UZH vaccination bus this week and get themselves vaccinated against Covid-19. We asked the head of nursing at the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute what it took to bring the vaccination bus to UZH. More …

One of the patterns emerging from the thousands of exoplanets that astronomers have discovered to date, is that the larger planets often orbit more massive stars. The reason behind it was unknown. A new study led by scientists at the University of Zurich, and members associated with the National Center of Competence in Researc (NCCR) PlanetS offers an answer to this cosmic mystery. More …

Vaccinations literally get under your skin. Each and every one of us has to decide for ourselves whether we want to get vaccinated or not. But there are good reasons to do so, says Christoph Berger, pediatrician and infectious diseases expert at the University Children’s Hospital Zurich. More …

Developmental psychologist Moritz Daum took the reins of the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development at the beginning of August. With the center now fully developed and having reached its target size, the incoming executive director wants to continue to step up cooperation in the fields of sociology, economics and psychology with the aim of generating new insights for the benefit of children and young people. More …

Chairs, benches, sofas or stools – seats are more than just somewhere to rest our legs: They are also used to display power. UZH art historian Sabine Sommerer researches the phenomenon – from thrones of old to the recent “sofagate” and Putin on horseback. More …