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Archive All Articles 2018

297 article

Jahresauswahl

Article list All Articles

  • Hedi Fritz-Niggli Visiting Professor

    Taming the Goddesses of Vengeance

    For philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum it is clear: Anger and revenge are destructive and don’t get us anywhere – whether it’s personal or political. She wants us instead to embrace “transition anger”: Anger that acknowledges problems but looks for solutions.
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  • Children’s and Young Adult Literature

    Through the Eyes of Children

    The Swiss Institute for Children’s and Young Adult Books (SIKJM) researches, documents and promotes children’s literature in Switzerland. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, in September the institute published the Atlas der Schweizer Kinderliteratur.
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  • Astrophysics

    Sapphires and Rubies in the Sky

    Researchers at the Universities of Zurich and Cambridge have discovered a new, exotic class of planets outside our solar system. These super-Earths were formed at high temperatures close to their host star and contain high quantities of calcium, aluminum and their oxides – including sapphire and ruby.
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  • Video

    What we wish for

    Christmas is a time to make wishes. We asked the UZH staff and students to tell us their hopes for 2019. Find out what they said in our video. From UZH News: Happy holidays and may all your wishes come true!
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  • Neurobiology

    Firing Up the Brain

    Children learn to read in playful ways. But it’s not always easy for them to connect the abstract groups of letters with their meaning. Neurobiologist Silvia Brem researches how children learn to read and how those with reading difficulties can be helped.
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  • Standing Out

    “Get off your high horse”

    In the Model United Nations (MUN) at UZH, students get the chance to represent a country’s interests and refine their reasoning while discussing the burning issues in international politics – just like in the real United Nations. We met with Deborah Häusermann, who chairs the debate-driven student organization.
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  • A Fairer World

    UZH alumnus Johan Rochel has an ambitious goal: He wants all countries to have a fair share of the innovation pie. We met with the idealist who wants to shake things up.
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  • New UZH Magazin

    Inventive Minds

    Using scientific expertise to start your own business and develop marketable products is a high-stakes adventure. The new UZH Magazin presents a selection of innovative entrepreneurs who dared to think big.
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  • History

    Fridges and other Revolutions

    UZH students teamed up with historians to shed light on the little known Swiss Trotskyist movement during the Cold War. The seminar project was adapted into a book, which has now been published.
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  • New Foldable Drone Flies through Narrow Holes in Rescue Mis-sions

    A research team from the University of Zurich has developed a new drone that can retract its propeller arms in flight and make itself small to fit through narrow gaps and holes. This is particularly useful when searching for victims of natural disasters.
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  • Campus

    Well Equipped for the Past

    Ad fontes is an eLearning tool that teaches people how to use archives and read old manuscripts. It is aimed at students but also available to the general public – and is appreciated by both.
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  • Cancer research

    Turning Up the Heat on Cancer

    A new kind of heat treatment could be an effective way of supporting cancer therapy. Caroline Maake heats up tumors using naturally occurring nanoparticles, which has shown to eliminate cancer cells in animal models.
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  • The Fascinating World of Insects

    Highlighting diversity, arousing fascination and raising awareness of the vital tasks that insects perform in nature. These are the objectives of the new special exhibition at the Zoological Museum of the University of Zurich, which also addresses the consequences of insect population decline and illustrates what we can do in everyday life to protect insects.
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  • Michael Hall wins Charles Rodolphe Brupbacher Prize for Cancer Research 2019

    Michael Hall of the Biozentrum of the University of Basel is awarded the Charles Rodolphe Brupbacher Prize for Cancer Research 2019. The prize recognizes his discovery of the TOR enzyme which controls cell growth via a complex signalling network. His work has made a key contribution to the development of new cancer drugs. The award ceremony will take place on 31 January 2019 in Zurich.
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  • Statins Overprescribed for Primary Prevention

    Taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, or statins, as a preventive measure can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. A study by the University of Zurich now shows that this measure is recommended too often, as current guidelines fail to take into account the risks of side effects.
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  • International Relations

    A Second Life in Switzerland

    A new exhibition about the many people who found a new home in Switzerland after the suppression of the Prague Spring 50 years ago opened in the Lichthof yesterday, and a commemorative plaque was ceremoniously unveiled. And, at a joint symposium, Charles University in Prague and UZH reinforced their strategic partnership.
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  • Campus

    Drones on Irchel Campus

    Starting in December, drones will be transporting laboratory samples between UniversityHospital Zurich and the UZH lab on Irchel Campus – an approach that is time-saving as well as technologically and ecologically innovative.
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  • Increasing Crop Insurances Adoption in Developing Countries

    Farmers in developing countries often rely heavily on their yearly harvest to feed their families. A bad crop can have severe consequences for their livelihood. Despite the significant advantages crop insurances would offer in alleviating this risk, only a small percentage of farmers insure their crops. A simple but effective solution tested by researchers from the University of Zurich has increased insurance adoption to over 70 percent.
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  • Francis Fukuyama at UZH

    Not the End of History after all

    In his guest lecture at UZH, American political scientist Francis Fukuyama claimed that both right-wing and left-wing identity politics pose a threat to democracy. He pleaded for a rational return to universal values.
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  • Right Livelihood Award

    “What Future Do You Want for Your Children?”

    Instead of continuing to plant trees futilely, for decades Tony Rinaudo has been persuading African farmers to regenerate trees from the existing underground root system. The agronomist received a Right Livelihood Award for his longstanding efforts. On Wednesday he spoke about his work at the University of Zurich.
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  • ERC Grants: 14 Million Euros Awarded to UZH Researchers

    For the first time, researchers from the University of Zurich have received an ERC Synergy Grant from the European Research Council. The project awarded the grant aims to develop high-resolution 3D images of biological molecules in cells. Furthermore, five UZH researchers have been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant. The project topics range from neuropsychology and molecular and brain biology to international politics and trade agreements.
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  • University Medicine Zurich

    Precision Surgery of the Future

    At its annual event this week, the University Medicine Zurich initiative presented its new flagship project SURGENT. The new technology enables operations to be planned and carried out with the utmost precision, in part thanks to holographic navigation.
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  • Participatory Science Academy

    Citizen Science Zurich Style

    This past Wednesday the University of Zurich and ETH jointly unveiled the new Participatory Science Academy, an expansion of the Citizen Science Center Zurich that aims to bring citizen science to a new level. The Academy is generously sponsored by the Stiftung Mercator Schweiz.
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  • Campus

    An Internet of Things for UZH

    The University of Zurich has joined a global Internet of Things network. Two LoRaWAN gateways stand ready to be used for research and teaching purposes.
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  • New Stem-Cell Therapy to Improve Fight against Leukemia

    Stem-cell transplantation is an effective form of therapy to fight leukemia. In many cases, however, the transferred immune cells of the donor also attack the recipients’ healthy tissue – often with fatal consequences. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now identified a molecule that plays a key role in this process. Blocking this molecule could significantly improve the outcome of patients receiving stem-cell transplants.
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  • Internationality and Mobility

    A Matter of Networks

    Sociologist Katja Rost and molecular biologist Christian Mosimann discuss the significance of international experience and mobility for academic careers. They find that stays in renowned universities abroad aren’t enough.
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  • Political Science

    Students Researching Human Rights Violations

    Their research is making waves: Political science students taking part in a Capstone Course examined cases of police brutality in Kenya.
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  • Campus

    Artistic Associations

    As part of Kunst: Szene Zürich 2018, the University of Zurich has opened its doors to artists, creating a dialogue between art and research. The works on display in the Lichthof are part of several exhibitions by 250 artists in total which can be seen in various locations around the city until 2 December.
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  • UZH Foundation

    “The secret to success is good stories”

    Martin Gubser has headed the UZH Foundation since the beginning of May. He intends to step up efforts to raise funds from alumni and attract bequests to tap what he sees as the greatest potential – private individuals.
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  • Medicine

    Andrin’s Rare Disease

    Most rare diseases have genetic causes and cannot yet be healed. But treatments are improving, and this benefits patients, as the example of Andrin Walt demonstrates.
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  • New Journal

    Young Talent on the Move

    The November issue of the UZH Journal focuses on mobility and international experience. We present researchers from abroad who have been able to come to the University of Zurich thanks to EU grants. In the debate, we ask how important it is for academics to be mobile and gain international experience. Selected texts are now also available in English online.
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  • Long Night of Careers

    Long Night of Careers

    The effects of the digital revolution are being seen everywhere – including in jobseeking and recruitment. At the Long Night of Careers taking place this week on 22 November, you can get lots of useful tips for planning your career. Here’s a sneak preview.
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  • Astrophysics

    Encouraging prospects for moon hunters

    Astrophysicists of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich show how the icy moons of Uranus came to be. Their findings suggest that such potentially habitable worlds are much more abundant in the Universe than previously believed. The incredibly complex computer simulations were performed at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) in Lugano.
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  • From Receptor Structure to New Osteoporosis Drugs

    Researchers at the University of Zurich have determined the three-dimensional structure of a receptor that controls the release of calcium from bones. The receptor is now one of the main candidates for developing new drugs to treat osteoporosis. Knowing the receptor's blueprint will be instrumental for designing drugs that could even help to rebuild bones.
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  • Ignazio Cassis at UZH

    “Doing nothing is not an option”

    Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis was last week invited by the Swiss Institute of International Studies to give a talk at the University of Zurich. He warned of a deadlock in negotiations with the EU that was leading to an erosion of the markets.
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  • Master Info Event

    Master Info Event

    Sociology or cultural analysis? Computational or comparative linguistics? At the Master’s information event in mid-November, Bachelor’s students from the third semester or above could find out about selected Master’s degree programs at UZH. In the video, some students tell us which Master they could choose.
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  • Natural History Collections

    An Archive of Nature

    It’s not just the regular exhibits at the Zoological Museum that are spectacular — it also houses an impressive natural history collection. And while not normally accessible to the public, its doors will be open for a day on 17 November, National Natural History Collections Day, when visitors can enter the storage rooms and explore.
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  • Strategic Principles of UZH

    “Like a good compass”

    UZH is establishing new strategic principles to set the direction of its future development. A draft version is now being put to university-wide consultation. President Michael Hengartner and Deputy President Gabriele Siegert explain the principles in more detail in this interview.
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  • Social and Cultural Anthropology

    Inventing the Future

    Financial analysts' expertise and predictions are imaginary constructs, says Stefan Leins. The social anthropologist researched their daily routines and their work.
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  • Forensic Medicine

    Gantenbein's Shot

    With virtually reconstructed crime scenes, suspects, lawyers and judges are instantly transported to the spot where it all took place – and clues to the crime are revealed.
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  • Insect Antibiotic Provides New Way to Eliminate Bacteria

    An antibiotic called thanatin attacks the way the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is built. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now found out that this happens through a previously unknown mechanism. Thanatin, produced naturally by the spined soldier bug, can therefore be used to develop new classes of antibiotics.
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  • Best of Swiss Apps

    Three Awards for UZH Now

    UZH now is the most user-friendly Swiss app of 2018. At the Best of Swiss Apps 2018 awards ceremony, UZH’s official app also won two more prizes in the Innovation and Functionality categories.
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  • Day of Excellence in Teaching

    57 Semester Awards for Students

    This year’s Tag der Lehre at UZH focused on the topic of digitalization. The celebratory highlight was the presentation of 57 semester awards for students’ outstanding work.
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  • Epigenetics

    Inherited Trauma

    Traumatic events occurring shortly after birth cause changes to genetic traits that are passed on to offspring over as many as four generations, neuroepigenetics professor Isabelle Mansuy has shown.
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  • Exploiting Epigenetic Variation for Plant Breeding

    Epigenetic changes can bring about new traits without altering the sequence of genes. This may allow plants to respond quicker to changes in their environment. Plant biologists at the University of Zurich have now demonstrated that epigenetic variation is also subject to selection and can be inherited. This could expand the possibilities for crop breeding.
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  • FORUM UZH

    Winning Project Chosen

    The University of Zurich is planning to build a large teaching and learning center opposite its current main building – the FORUM UZH. The architectural competition for the new building was won by a general planning team made up of the renowned architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd. as well as b+p baurealisation ag. The winning project will be presented in January.
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  • Phonetics

    Drawing the Voice

    By decoding voices, forensic phoneticians provide important clues for the police or secret services. UZH phonetician Volker Dellwo hopes that in the future it will be possible to make identikit images based on voices.
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  • Small Genetic Differences Turn Plants into Better Teams

    Diverse communities of plants and animals typically perform better than monocultures. However, the mechanisms that are responsible for this have so far been a mystery to science. Biologists at the University of Zurich have now been able to identify the genetic cause of these effects. Their findings might help to improve crop yield.
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  • 67th UNI-POLY Rowing Regatta

    Two Victories for UZH

    At the 67th edition of the UNI-POLY rowing regatta last Saturday, the boats of the University of Zurich men and professors were victorious, while the women and alumni of ETH Zurich won their races. In the race between the 16-scull boats, held for the second time, ETH Zurich came out on top.
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  • Zebrafish Larvae Help in Search for Appetite Suppressants

    Researchers at the University of Zurich and Harvard University have developed a new strategy in the search for psychoactive drugs. By analyzing the behavior of larval zebrafish, they can filter out substances with unwanted side effects right from the start. This method has resulted in the discovery of a number of new appetite modulators.
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  • Linguistics

    Death – A Public Affair

    Things that were once strictly in the private sphere are becoming increasingly public thanks to the internet – even the end of life. Linguist Karina Frick researches the niceties of online mourning.
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  • Cocaine Adulterant May Cause Brain Damage

    People who regularly take cocaine cut with the animal anti-worming agent levamisole demonstrate impaired cognitive performance and a thinned prefrontal cortex. These findings from two recent studies at the University of Zurich indicate that levamisole could have a toxic effect on the brain. Drug-checking programs should therefore be expanded, argue the researchers.
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  • Zürich meets San Francisco

    Building Bridges with San Francisco

    Last week saw researchers from Switzerland and California gather at the Zürich meets San Francisco festival. On the agenda was the influence of social media on democracy.
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  • Center for Historical Mediology

    Center for Historical Mediology

    Fake news isn’t a new phenomenon. According to German philologist Christian Kiening, who has established a Center for Historical Mediology at UZH, authenticating information was already a problem back in the Middle Ages. In this interview he takes a historian’s look at today’s media landscape.
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  • How LSD Changes Perception

    LSD changes the communication patterns between regions of the brain, a new study by researchers of the University of Zurich and Yale University shows. The study also provides insights into how mental health disorders develop and how these could be treated.
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  • A New Alliance for Sustainability in Finance: California and Switzerland Team Up to Tackle a Key Factor in Implementing Sustainable Practices

    While sustainable policies at many levels have started to be applied worldwide, the role of banking and finance in sustainability has only recently come to the forefront. Now, the University of Zurich, USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and R20 are directly addressing this critical, often determining aspect of building a sustainable world.
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  • Digital Day

    Hands-On Digital Transformation

    Digitalization is becoming the Fourth Industrial Revolution. On Digital Day, UZH showcased some of the possibilities of digital technologies and specific aspects of digital transformation in Zurich Main Station.
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  • Tibet – More Than Religion and Politics

    Rethinking the usual Western image of a Tibet considered as traditional and opening up new approaches – this is what the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich wants to achieve with its current exhibition. It displays artifacts collected by mountaineers Peter Aufschnaiter and Heinrich Harrer in Lhasa in the 1940s – a time marked by transition and a political situation in Tibet which became increasingly tense.
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  • Climate Action Hub

    Boost to UZH’s Climate Network

    Thanks to its far-reaching and interdisciplinary research and teaching in the area of climate change, UZH has been chosen as a climate action hub. This distinction is awarded by the United Nations Academic Impact on the occasion of United Nations Day.
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  • Digitalization

    Digitalization

    The University of Zurich is investing in digital: With 18 new professorships, it is set to become a global hub for research into the digital revolution.
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  • Loss of First Baby Tooth a Positive Experience for Children

    Scared, ashamed, happy or proud – how do children feel when they lose their first baby tooth? An interdisciplinary research group at the University of Zurich has now found that children’s feelings are predominantly positive. The study also reveals that previous visits to the dentist’s as well as parental background and level of education affect how children experience the loss of their first tooth.
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  • Structural Biology

    Superlupe für Zellen

    Two UZH researchers have received an ERC Synergy Grant – an innovative funding scheme of the European Research Council. Biochemists Andreas Plückthun and Ohad Medalia want to use this support to develop a novel high-resolution imaging method for molecules.
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  • Digital Day

    Breath-Taking Research

    Neuroscientist Olivia Faull researches the links between anxiety and breathing. Her research project is one of the many being presented on the upcoming Digital Day.
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  • Digital Day

    How Digitalization Changes Medicine

    Apps to help us lead healthier lives, artificial intelligence to enhance monitoring of intensive care patients, and electronic diaries to improve the lives of multiple sclerosis sufferers: On Digital Day, UZH presents ways in which digital technology can change and advance medicine.
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  • Gravitational Waves Could Shed Light on Dark Matter

    Black holes colliding, gravitational waves riding through space-time – and a huge instrument that allows scientists to investigate the fabric of the universe. This could soon become reality when the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) takes up operations. Researchers from the University of Zurich have now found that LISA could also shed light on the elusive dark matter particle.
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  • OECD

    Human Rights for the Global Economy

    Creating good living conditions for all – that is law professor Christine Kaufmann’s goal as new chair of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct, as she explains in this interview.
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  • Biodiversity Can Also Destabilize Ecosystems

    According to the prevailing opinion, species-rich ecosystems are more stable against environmental disruptions such as drought, hot spells or pesticides. The situation is not as simple as it seems, however, as ecologists at the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) have now discovered. Under certain environmental conditions, increased biodiversity can also lead to an ecosystem becoming more unstable.
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  • 100 Ways of Thinking

    Food for Thought

    For Elisabeth Bronfen, any day without cooking is a sad day. As part of the 100 Ways of Thinking exhibition, the professor of English literature cooked a mouthwatering meal for the visitors in the Kunsthalle – and showed that cooking and thinking go hand in hand.
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  • Plant Hormone Makes Space Farming a Possibility

    With scarce nutrients and weak gravity, growing potatoes on the Moon or on other planets seems unimaginable. But the plant hormone strigolactone could make it possible, plant biologists from the University of Zurich have shown. The hormone supports the symbiosis between fungi and plant roots, thus encouraging plants’ growth – even under the challenging conditions found in space.
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  • Crowdfunding

    Big Help for Small Projects

    A workshop at the Crowdfunding Science Festival 2018 showed researchers how to get funding for their projects and at the same time build up a community of supporters.
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  • A Selfish Gene Makes Mice into Migrants

    House mice carrying a specific selfish supergene move from one population to another much more frequently than their peers. This finding of a University of Zurich study shows for the first time that a gene of this type can influence animal migratory behavior. It could help in dealing with invasive plagues of mice.
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  • UZH Professor Elected New Chair of OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct

    Christine Kaufmann, professor of law at the University of Zurich, has been appointed as the new Chair of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct. In her new role, she will be responsible for implementing and developing the OECD’s guidelines on responsible business conduct among its 48 member and participating countries.
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  • Link between Gut Flora and Multiple Sclerosis Discovered

    In multiple sclerosis, a defective response of the body’s own immune system leads to brain tissue damage. Gastrointestinal microbiota could play a far greater role in the pathogenesis of the disease than previously assumed, researchers at the University of Zurich have now found.
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  • 21st Churchill Lecture

    “It’s high time to rescue Europe.”

    On Tuesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda spoke about Poland and European integration at the Churchill Symposium. Duda showed himself to be a firm believer in a unified Europe.
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  • Plagiarism Detection

    Exposing Text Thieves

    A new plagiarism detection software program allows members of the UZH teaching staff to check papers for unmarked sources and plagiarized sections.
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  • Larger Families Reduce Cancer Risk

    Families with many children have a lower risk of cancer. Greater family size reduces the risk not only in women but also in men, a global study using data from 178 countries by the University of Zurich and the Adelaide Medical School has found.
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  • Campus

    Budding Careers

    UZH isn’t only a place of research, but also has an important role when it comes to teaching. And this doesn’t only apply to students: Around 80 young people are receiving vocational training at UZH. We met two of them, Alessandro Savoca and Joana Hauser.
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  • The Stuff that Planets Are Made of

    UZH researchers have analyzed the composition and structure of far-away exoplanets using statistical tools. Their analysis indicates whether a planet is earth-like, made up of pure rock or a water-world. The larger the planet, the more hydrogen and helium surround it.
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  • 50 Years of Banking and Finance

    Artificial intelligence and Cryptobanks

    UZH’s Department of Banking and Finance was founded as the “Institut für Schweizerisches Bankwesen” in the winter semester of 1968/69. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary celebrations, we look back on half a century’s worth of successful research and teaching.
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  • Species-Rich Forests Store Twice as much Carbon as Monocul-tures

    Species-rich subtropical forests can take up on average twice as much carbon as monocultures. An international research team with the involvement of the University of Zurich has evaluated data from forests grown specifically for this purpose in China with a total of over 150,000 trees. The results speak in favor of using many different tree species during reforestation.
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  • Behavioral science

    Animals and us.

    Language, intelligence, cooperation – the things that supposedly set humans apart are increasingly being discovered in the animal kingdom. Animals hold a mirror up to our own nature and help us understand what makes us human.
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  • UZH Alumni: Women’s Chapter Founding Party

    The Difference between Men and Women

    UZH alumnae celebrated the founding of the UZH Alumni women’s chapter. As the evening showed, there is still a long way to go until women are fully equal.
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  • Even Small Gifts Boost Business

    If a sales agent brings their customer a small gift, the customer is much more likely to make a purchase, a study by the university of Zurich has shown. This works particularly well when the person receiving the gift is the boss. The fact that even small gifts can result in conflicts of interest has implications for the debate about where the line should be drawn between tokens of appreciation and attempted bribery.
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  • Center for Reproducible Science

    Improving Research

    Many studies of empirical research do not stand up to scrutiny upon review. The new Center for Reproducible Science at UZH aims to improve the quality of research in this area and set the tone for research in Switzerland.
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  • Giraffe Babies Inherit Spot Patterns from their Mothers

    Some features of a giraffe’s spot pattern are passed on from mother to calf, a new study led by researchers from University of Zurich and Penn State reveals. The study also shows that the survival of young giraffes is linked to their spot patterns, which may help provide camouflage from predators. The study also highlights a new set of tools that can be used to study the markings of other wild animals.
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  • Trans Identity

    Woman, Man, Trans

    Often discriminated against, pathologized or simply ignored: People identifying as transgender don’t have an easy ride, even in these supposedly liberal times. At an event at UZH, experts and those affected discussed what can be done to provide fair studying and working conditions at the University.
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  • Eco-Friendly Nanoparticles for Artificial Photosynthesis

    Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a nanoparticle type for novel use in artificial photosynthesis by adding zinc sulfide on the surface of indium-based quantum dots. These quantum dots produce clean hydrogen fuel from water and sunlight – a sustainable source of energy. They introduce new eco-friendly and powerful materials to solar photocatalysis.
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  • End of Life

    Death with Dignity: Maria’s Story

    People who suffer from dementia are unable to express themselves. They rely on outside help, particularly at the end of their lives. The research team behind the Zurich Life and Death with Advanced Dementia Study has published a guide for relatives of dementia patients.
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  • The Soothing Effects of Strangers

    Pain-relieving actions by other people trigger a learning effect in the brain which reduces pain. A new study led by the University of Zurich shows that pain relief is more effective when it is provided by a stranger.
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  • Genome Duplication Drives Evolution of Species

    Polyploid plants have a duplicate set of chromosomes. As a result, large-scale genetic changes are therefore possible in the new species, making it more adaptable in comparison with the parental species, as has now been proven by UZH researchers with rockcress.
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  • Right Livelihood Award

    The Forest Maker

    The winners of this year’s Right Livelihood Award were announced this week. Among them is Australian agronomist Tony Rinaudo, who will be giving a lecture at the University of Zurich on 28 November 2018.
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  • 20 Years of the Center for Gerontology

    Aging Well

    Twenty years ago, the Center for Gerontology of the University of Zurich marked the start of interdisciplinary research on aging. In our interview, the center’s director Hans Rudolf Schelling discusses how gerontology research has developed since then.
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  • New UZH Magazine

    Animals and Us

    Language, intelligence, cooperation – the things that supposedly set humans apart are increasingly being discovered in the animal kingdom. Animals hold a mirror up to our own nature and help us understand what makes us human, as the new UZH Magazin shows.
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  • Alumni and Family

    Oohs, Aahs and Sparkling Eyes

    The UZH Alumni & Family Day 2018 at Irchel Campus gave alumni and their children the opportunity to get a taste of modern student life and do hands-on scientific experiments. Our author Caitlin Stephens spent a memorable morning at the event with her daughter Evie and her friend Alice.
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  • UZH Digital Forum

    The Future of Work

    Are digitalization and automation making jobs disappear? Not according to American organizational theorist Thomas Malone, who gave a guest lecture at the UZH Digital Forum last week.
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  • Private Banks Do too Little to Communicate Their Sustainable Investment Products

    More and more private banks are offering sustainable investment options to wealthy clients. How do these products differ from one another? And do the banks' advisory services meet the expectations of investors? A study by the University of Zurich into the products and services of the 15 leading European private banks shows that most still have room for improvement.
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  • Kiosks Reopen

    Time for a Coffee

    Just in time for the start of the new semester, the kiosks in the University’s main building and on Irchel Campus have reopened, selling freshly brewed coffee and the little treats that every student needs occasionally.
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  • Biodiversity

    Biodiversity from Above

    Remote sensing expert Michael Schaepman wants to use a new aerial sensing method to investigate the complex interplay between ecosystems, species and genes. It could help measure global biodiversity. His research project is supported by the NOMIS Foundation.
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  • Partner Day

    Cultivating Relationships

    On Partner Day, on which UZH’s international partner universities come together, delegates from universities all over the world visited the main building of UZH. Hear from the participants in our video.
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  • swissuniversities

    Tackling Global Challenges Together

    Two UZH researchers have been awarded grants under swissuniversities’ Development and Coordination Network program (SUDAC). These promote collaboration between Swiss higher education institutions and their partners from the Global South who are committed to researching and overcoming global challenges. The International Relations Office at UZH shares this goal, which is why it is staging a workshop on the topic.
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  • Neuroscience

    Pioneer of Multiple Sclerosis Research Honored

    This year’s award of the Betty and David Koetser Foundation for Brain Research was presented to Professor Alastair Compston from the University of Cambridge. He was awarded for his research into the causes of multiple sclerosis and the discovery of new therapies.
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  • New Journal

    Opening Doors to Knowledge

    In the September issue of the UZH Journal, we find out what motivates students to become tutors during their studies. Meanwhile, this issue’s debate section is dedicated to the much-discussed library project, “UZH Library of the Future”. And, the Journal will also be available online in English for the first time.
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  • 100 Ways of Thinking

    100 Ways of Thinking

    In the Kunsthalle Zürich, the 100 Ways of Thinking festival is for once focusing on the sensory and aesthetic side of UZH’s research. The following picture gallery presents some of the highlights of the science festival so far.
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  • Number of Students at UZH Remains High

    Around 26,500 students have enrolled for the Fall Semester 2018, with the University of Zurich registering a slight increase in the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine as well as in the number of Master's students. The University Program for School Students has got off to a good start with some 40 registrations.
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  • Precision Medicine

    Seeing Through Cancer

    Anita Rauch can make precise diagnoses of diseases through genetic analyses and find pointers for the right therapy, for example for breast cancer patients.
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  • Competence Center UZH and ETH

    “Citizen science means excellent research”

    After an intensive set-up phase, the Citizen Science Center of UZH and ETH is now ready to hit the ground running. With the new Participatory Science Academy, it aims to bring citizen science to a new level. In this interview, co-director Mike Martin, professor of gerontopsychology at UZH, co-founder Effy Vayena, professor of bioethics at ETH, and managing director Rosy Mondardini explain the concept and future plans for the center.
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  • International Relations

    Increased Exchange Opportunities

    Ties between the University of Zurich and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China have become stronger with the signing of a university-wide agreement. The agreement in particular supports student exchanges between the two universities.
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  • Special Antibodies Could Lead to HIV Vaccine

    Around one percent of people infected with HIV produce antibodies that block most strains of the virus. These broadly acting antibodies provide the key to developing an effective vaccine against HIV. Researchers from the University of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich have now shown that the genome of the HI virus is a decisive factor in determining which antibodies are formed.
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  • 100 Ways of Thinking

    A Collective Visual Conversation

    The 100 Ways of Thinking science festival, which will be on for the next 10 weeks, has finally kicked off. UZH has taken up space in the Kunsthalle Zürich to showcase the links between art and science. Last Tuesday saw a very special event take place: Famous Polish artist Artur Żmijewski invited people to join him in producing a collective painting – as seen in the video.
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  • Health

    "Arboviral diseases are spreading"

    Eva Veronesi researches arboviruses at the Institute of Parasitology. These viruses are mainly transmitted by mosquitoes and cause diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever and Zika. Arboviral diseases are on the rise and should be given more attention, says Veronesi.
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  • Cancer Research

    "Skin cancer is a ticking time bomb"

    Burkhard Becher uses cutting-edge procedures to determine highly complex blood profiles. They provide the immunologist with information about how successful various cancer therapies are likely to be.
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  • International Cooperation

    Building Bridges with India

    Shraddha Karve is a postdoc at the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies. She researches the stress resistance of bacteria and the evolution of proteins. She is currently organizing a conference to strengthen cooperation between researchers from India and UZH. We met with her to find out more.
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  • B Cells Among Factors Leading to Brain Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis

    A team of researchers the University of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich has shown that in multiple sclerosis, it is not only specific T cells that cause inflammation and lesions in the brain. B cells, a different type of immune cell, also play a role. These cells activate T cells in the blood. This discovery explains how new MS drugs take effect, opening up novel options for treating the disease.
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  • Core Day

    In the Service of Research

    On Core Day, UZH’s technology platforms showcase their work on Irchel Campus. They make it possible to share the infrastructure needed for research and include small highly specialized facilities as well as large centers such as the Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis.
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  • Dreaming of Flying

    How does it feel to fly like a bird? What happens when our heart skips a beat? The varied new program of the Children’s University begins in the Fall Semester 2018.
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  • Protein modifications pointing to cancer

    Researchers from the University of Zurich can, for the first time, precisely characterize the protein modification ADP-ribosylation for all proteins in a tissue sample. The changes, which are a typical reaction to stress, provide information about the condition of a cell. Together with the University Hospital Zurich, they are now testing the new method to diagnose and treat cancer.
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  • Jupiter had growth disorders

    Researchers of the Universities of Zurich and Bern and of ETH Zurich show how Jupiter was formed. Data collected from meteorites had indicated that the growth of the giant planet had been delayed for two million years. Now the researchers have found an explanation: Collisions with kilometer-sized blocks generated high energy, which meant that in this phase hardly any accretion of gas could take place and the planet could only grow slowly.
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  • The University of Zurich at the Kunsthalle

    The Kunsthalle Zürich as a makeshift university: From 25 August, researchers will present their projects to the general public at the "100 Ways of Thinking" event. The exhibition and the accompanying science festival will see UZH bridge the gap between science and art.
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  • Space Research

    NASA Lands at UZH

    UZH had the honor of welcoming Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA. He was able to gain an impression of current aviation and spaceflight projects that are being carried out at the UZH Space Hub, which already is collaborating with NASA and further partners.
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  • Cyborgization

    "Siri never says no"

    Does the future belong to cyborgs and intelligent machines? Literature scholar Philipp Theisohn and ethicist Johann Roduit discuss the future of humans and society.
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  • Species-Rich Forests Better Compensate Environmental Impacts

    To offset CO2 emissions, China is reforesting. If a mixture of tree species instead of monocultures were planted, much more carbon could be stored. An international team including UZH researchers has shown that species-rich forest ecosystems take up more CO2 from the atmosphere and store more carbon in biomass and soil, making them more effective against climate change.
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  • Ethics

    Rethinking Our Relationship with Nature

    Should we protect nature because it provides us with resources, or do so simply for its own sake? Philosopher and biologist Anna Deplazes Zemp wants to look at this question from a new point of view using an argumentation of environmental ethics. Her research project is made possible thanks to the generous funding of the NOMIS Foundation.
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  • The Wheat Genome Is Five Times Bigger than the Human Genome

    Scientists at the University of Zurich, together with international research partners, have been able to sequence the complete genome of common wheat for the first time. The information will enable more effective measures to be taken to combat pests and climate stress in wheat.
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  • UZH Alumni

    Kimonos and Cherry Blossom

    Not long after returning from a holiday, many people already start thinking about their next trip. UZH Alumni offers a number of exciting trips each year. Below you can read about a recent voyage of discovery to Japan with UZH Alumni.
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  • Medicine

    Lymphatic vessels spread cancer metastases

    Lymphatic vessels actively contribute to the spread of cancer metastases from various organs. This unexpected realization is the result of a joint study as part of the research initiative Skintegrity.
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  • Preliminary Project “Library of the Future”

    Etappenziel erreicht

    The preliminary project for the UZH Library of the Future has reached another major milestone: Following data collection, the formulation of strategic guidelines and the development of solution designs, the concept report has now been put forward for consultation.
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  • Learning Process

    How birds learn

    Songbirds can acquire new abilities both through observation and through trial and error. However, skills acquired with the latter method are more easily adapted to new situations, as scientists at ETH and the University of Zurich have been able to demonstrate. The researchers also see parallels to how children learn.
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  • New Approach to Treating Chronic Itch

    Two receptors in the spinal cord and the right experimental drug: Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered a new approach that suppresses itch. In a series of experiments in mice and dogs they successfully alleviated different forms of acute as well as chronic itch. For the latter, current treatment options are very limited.
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  • Medicine

    Joining Forces to Combat Cancer

    The University of Zurich and the UniversityHospital Zurich have been pooling their efforts in cancer research and medicine since the beginning of 2018 with the new Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich. By introducing a new funding program, the center is further stepping up its patient-centered cancer research efforts.
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  • Four Million Euros Awarded to Three UZH Researchers

    Three scientists of the University of Zurich have been awarded the EU’s coveted ERC Starting Grants. The grants, each worth approx. 1.3 million euros, enable the researchers to pursue promising projects and build up their own research groups over the next five years.
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  • Slavonic Studies

    Seeing through the Masquerade

    Slavonic studies expert Sylvia Sasse grew up in the German Democratic Republic. The state wanted her to take up a commercial training program, but she headed to the West and went to university. Today she researches how performance artists stood up against the totalitarian regimes of Eastern Europe.
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  • Lead or Follow: What Sets Leaders Apart?

    Leaders are more willing to take responsibility for making decisions that affect the welfare of others. In a new study, researchers at the University of Zurich identified the cognitive and neurobiological processes that influence whether someone is more likely to take on leader-ship or to delegate decision-making.
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  • Organizational Reform

    Executive Board of the University Restructured

    The Executive Board of the University is renewing its structures and processes. The first changes entered into force on 1 August 2018. The Offices of the Vice Presidents have been given new designations, Professor Beatrice Beck Schimmer is the new Vice President Medicine, and Professor Gabriele Siegert has taken on the position of Deputy President in addition to her role as Vice President. The complete reform package will be implemented in stages and completed by 2020.
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  • New Method Refines Cell Sample Analysis

    Innovation in the field of biomedicine: Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a novel method which increases more than tenfold the number of proteins that can be visualized per sample, making it possible to generate a comprehensive map of cellular organization across the various cellular states. This highly sophisticated and refined view can be used to advance precision medicine and is already being applied in cancer medicine.
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  • Innovators Camp

    Von Hipstern, Hackern und Hustlern

    The first UZH Innovators Camp was held recently at the University of Zurich. Aimed at students and young researchers, it gave participants the chance to work together on developing business ideas from their projects.
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  • Campus

    Death of Former UZH President Verena Meyer

    She built particle accelerators, shaped national research policy, and was the first woman to lead a Swiss university: Nuclear physicist Verena Meyer passed away on 21 July at the age of 89.
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  • Fields Medal Winner Artur Avila Appointed Full Professor at the University of Zurich

    The internationally renowned French-Brazilian mathematician Artur Avila has been appointed full professor at the Institute of Mathematics of the University of Zurich. At the age of 35, he was awarded the Fields Medal – the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in mathematics – for his profound contributions to the field of dynamical systems and spectral theory.
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  • Musicology

    Cultural History with Reverberations

    The Royal Musical Association has awarded its Dent Medal to a member of the University of Zurich for the third time, recognizing musicologist Inga Mai Groote for her outstanding work on music history.
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  • Vacation

    Culture, sports, and lounging in the sun

    What should you do to make sure you get back from vacation healthy and rested? Professor Jan Fehr at the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute advises getting prepared early and taking your time so that your vacation doesn’t turn into a stressful experience.
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  • Summer Schools

    School’s Not Out for Summer

    Summer schools make a significant contribution to UZH’s international visibility. The first UZH International Summer School for Bachelor’s and Master’s students from around the world is currently taking place. The 19 visiting and seven UZH students are exploring how Switzerland became one of the richest countries. Over at the Department of Psychology, an international summer school for PhD candidates has just finished.
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  • Epigenetics

    Tumor Therapy of the Future

    Four group heads from different departments across faculties have joined forces in a pioneering three-million franc project. This collaboration will enable research into new epigenetic approaches for treating cancer.
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  • Developmental Psychology

    Systematische Babys

    A research group at the chair for developmental psychology in infancy and childhood has shown that babies as young as six months can recognize changes in patterns of activity. The findings also have consequences for our understanding of language development in young children.
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  • Nobel Laureate Meeting

    UZH Doctoral Candidate at the Nobel Laureate Meeting

    The annual Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings see Nobel laureates and outstanding junior researchers from all over the world descend on Lake Constance. Karin Prummel of the University of Zurich attended this year’s meeting as an Internationale Bodensee Hochschule (IBH) grant-holder.
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  • Talk im Turm

    “We’ve come a long way already”

    After years of little progress, cancer research has now entered into a gold rush. The Talk im Turm event on cancer and precision medicine shone an optimistic light on a difficult topic.
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  • New control of cell division discovered

    When a cell divides, its constituents are usually evenly distributed among the daughter cells. UZH researchers have now identified an enzyme that guarantees that cell constituents that are concentrated in organelles without a membrane are properly distributed. Their discovery opens up new opportunities for the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging processes and viral infections.
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  • Measuring the Effects of Drugs on Cancer Cells

    A new approach established at the University of Zurich sheds light on the effects of anti-cancer drugs and the defense mechanisms of cancer cells. The method makes it possible to quickly test various drugs and treatment combinations at the cellular level.
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  • Continuing Education Course

    When our Lifestyle Damages our Health

    Everyone knows that they ought to lead a healthy lifestyle. But not everyone finds it so easy to put into practice. That’s where experts offering effective and sustainable support can be of help. In order to train such experts, UZH is offering a new continuing education course, the first of its kind in Switzerland, in physical and mental lifestyle change and mind-body medicine.
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  • Every Person Has a Unique Brain Anatomy

    Like with fingerprints, no two people have the same brain anatomy, a study by researchers of the University of Zurich has shown. This uniqueness is the result of a combination of genetic factors and individual life experiences.
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  • Black carbon ages in soils and rivers before being transported to sea

    Most of the carbon resulting from wildfires and fossil fuel combustion is rapidly released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now shown that the leftover residue, so-called black carbon, can age for millennia on land and in rivers en route to the ocean, and thus constitutes a major long-term reservoir of organic carbon. The study adds a major missing piece to the puzzle of understanding the global carbon cycle.
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  • Graduate Campus Annual Ceremony

    Playful Research

    The Annual Ceremony of the Graduate Campus was focused on the topic of creativity and science. The improv theater group “anundpfirsich” added a playful and participatory twist to the event, at which this year’s Mercator Awards were also handed out.
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  • Economics

    In the Engine Room of the World

    Can poverty be tackled by systematically influencing the behavior of those affected? Or does that just perpetuate it? Christian Berndt and Guilherme Lichand discuss the effects of social intervention.
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  • Medicine

    Targeted Treatment for Leukemia

    Nicole Bodmer can use the individual genetic fingerprint of blood cancer cells to determine a suitable therapy for children suffering from leukemia. Often this helps – but not always.
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  • François Chapuis Appointed New Director of Real Estate and Facility Management

    The current master builder of the Canton of Aargau is joining the University of Zurich as its new Director of Real Estate and Facility Management from December 2018 onwards. As a member of the Executive Board of the University, he will oversee the planning and management of UZH’s real estate portfolio, new building and renovation projects as well as the University’s building management.
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  • Loss of Cilia Leads to Melanoma

    Most cells in the human body have a cilium, a slender cell protuberance that picks up signals from the cell’s external environment. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now shown that these fine sensory antennae play a key role in the formation of melanoma. When cilia are prevented from developing in benign pigment cells, the cells degenerate and develop an aggressive form of melanoma.
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  • Honor

    Researcher with Multiple Talents

    UZH doctoral candidate José Parra Moyano has been bestowed with a very special honor: The 27-year-old Spaniard was included on Forbes magazine’s prestigious 30 under 30 list. Parra Moyano researches blockchain technology at UZH.
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  • Medicine

    DNA Set to Replace the Stethoscope?

    Family doctors have always done personalized medicine. While genetic patient data might sometimes make their lives easier, it won’t change the profession in itself, claims Thomas Rosemann, director of the Institute of Primary Care.
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  • From Wooden Combs to the Lives of the Saamaka Marron in Suriname

    Stone tools from New Guinea, ritual headdress from Suriname and a Thai spirit house – these and many more exhibits feature in the Ethnographic Museum’s latest exhibition. The objects were collected by mountaineer Heinrich Harrer on his expeditions in the 1960s. They provide visitors with new insights into indigenous societies as well as the explorer himself.
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  • Robotics

    Learning by Flying

    Will our cities soon be full of whirring aerial devices? Robotics expert Davide Scaramuzza is working on making drones so smart that they can navigate fully autonomously.
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  • Medicine

    Helping Weary Hearts

    If the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood around the body, our bodies’ capabilities diminish and the risk of sudden cardiac death increases. But thanks to preventive measures and modern treatment options, the disease has become less of a threat. Cardiologist Frank Ruschitzka reported on developments in the field in a talk at the Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology.
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  • Medicine

    The Secrets of Kidneys

    The National Center of Competence in Research Kidney.CH, with UZH as its leading house, is highly successful. Its kidney research is now entering its third funding period.
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  • Psychiatry

    Nobody Likes Me

    Coming off anti-depressants can be difficult. Quentin Huys wants to find out what goes on inside the head during the process. That would make the decision about whether to stop taking medication or not easier.
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  • Second LERU Gender Conference

    Gender Always Plays a Role

    Women are less likely than men to reach top positions in academia and are under-represented at higher levels – the result of unconscious prejudices? The LERU Gender Conference, which took place at UZH last week, was devoted to exploring the topic of implicit bias.
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  • Plant Immune Systems

    Heyday for Plant Researcher

    Until recently Cyril Zipfel was head of the prestigious Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, Great Britain. Now he’s taken up a role as professor of plant physiology at UZH – armed with an ERC Consolidator Grant as well as a prestigious Japanese award.
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  • Football World Cup

    football world championship

    The football World Cup kicks off in Russia today. We asked some UZH professors which teams they would be rooting for.
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  • Vice President Medicine

    The aim is for Excellence

    Beatrice Beck Schimmer takes up the new role of Vice President Medicine from August. Her goal is to develop university medicine in the Zurich area. A portrait.
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  • Life Sciences Spin-off

    Anaveon Immunotherapy

    Onur Boyman, an immunologist working at the University Hospital Zurich and UZH, has joined forces with Andreas Katopodis to establish Anaveon, a company aiming to translate breakthroughs in research in the field of cytokines into new and innovative immunotherapies for cancer. The spin-off has been made possible thanks to support from the UZH Life Sciences Fund.
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  • CHESS Talk

    Part-Time Leadership

    More should be done to promote part-time models for university professors, leaders and managers. CHESS, the Center for Higher Education and Science Studies at UZH, surveyed the current state of affairs.
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  • First UZH Space Hub Research Flight Campaign

    Research goes airborne: The UZH Space Hub is holding its first research flight campaign from 11 to 13 June. An airbus performing parabolic flights will take off from the military airfield in Dübendorf. In addition, a zeppelin will be used to investigate how to discover plastic in water from above using special image sensors. This could help to detect plastic pollution in the world’s seas.
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  • Precision Medicine

    How Cancer Cells Communicate

    Bernd Bodenmiller’s research provides in-depth insights into tumors. The quantitative biologist investigates how different cells in diseased tissue interact, paving the way for increasingly targeted interventions.
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  • New UZH Magazin

    Inside Cancer

    Bigger pictures, more flexible layout: UZH Magazin gets a complete new look. Cancer research and therapy are the focus of the latest edition. It reveals how precision medicine can lead to therapies that are more targeted, more successful and less aggressive.
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  • My Alma Mater

    How Pizzas Went Online

    Celebrated alumni look back at their time at the University of Zurich. This time, we hear from Andrej Vckovski, CEO of Netcetera.
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  • Individual “Names” Reveal Complex Relationships in Male Bottlenose Dolphins

    Male bottlenose dolphins retain their individual “names” well into adulthood. Similar to humans, this plays a central role in forming and maintaining complex social relationships, recent findings carried out by researchers at the universities of Zurich and Western Australia suggest. Dolphins form long-lasting alliances in which they give each other mutual support.
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  • Political Science

    “Media loss is a threat to democracy”

    The less the press report on local politics, the lower the voter turnout in the municipalities, a study by political scientist Daniel Kübler has shown. He warns that the crisis of local journalism poses a threat to democracy.
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  • Male Vervet Monkeys Use Punishment and Coercion to De-Escalate Costly Intergroup Fights

    Male vervet monkeys attack members of their own group to prevent them from escalating intergroup encounters into high-risk fights, or to de-escalate ongoing intergroup fights. In contrast, female monkeys use “the carrot and the stick” to promote male participation in intergroup fights, anthropologists at the University of Zurich and University of Neuchâtel have shown.
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  • Stem-Cell Niche for 10 Billion Colon Cells a Day

    Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered the identity of the stem-cell niche of the colon. The niche comprises special cells that activate the stem cells of the adjacent intestinal epithelium and are responsible for its continuous renewal. Without the activation signal, the epithelium perishes. If it’s constantly activated, early stages of cancer develop. The discovery helps to improve our understanding of intestinal cancer and inflammation.
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  • Rules about Technology Use Can Undermine Academic Achievement

    Parents who restrict their children’s use of new media technologies may be acting counterproductively in the long run, particularly if they invoke afterschool homework time as the reason. Their children’s scholastic achievements at college lag behind the academic performance of same-age peers, a University of Zurich study shows.
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  • Direct Coupling of the Higgs Boson to the Top Quark Observed

    An observation made by the CMS experiment at CERN unambiguously demonstrates the interaction of the Higgs boson and top quarks, which are the heaviest known subatomic particles. This major milestone is an important step forward in our understanding of the origins of mass. Physicists at the University of Zurich made central contributions by incorporating sophisticated data analysis methods that allowed this benchmark to be reached much earlier than expected.
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  • Novel Insulators with Conducting Edges

    Physicists at UZH are researching a new class of materials: Higher-order topological insulators. The edges of these crystalline solids conduct electric current without dissipation, while the rest of the crystal remains insulating. This could be useful for applications in semiconductor technology and for building quantum computers.
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  • Annual media conference

    Innovation in the Service of Society

    Jane Beil-Wagner and Stefan Kleiser are among the first recipients of the new UZH funding program created to support innovation in biomedicine and the life sciences. The “BioEntrepreneur Fellowships” for young researchers were presented at the annual media conference this week. And thanks to a donation from the Werner Siemens Foundation, UZH can expand the program.
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  • Gender Equality

    Inclusive Language

    The new language guidelines published by the UZH give specific examples and practical solutions for everyday use of inclusive language.
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  • UZH Start-Up Funding for Young Innovators

    In addition to its core responsibilities in research and teaching, the University of Zurich provides targeted funding for innovative projects. With its new BioEntrepreneur Fellowships, UZH supports junior researchers in adapting scholarly findings and technologies for commercial use. And thanks to a generous donation, UZH is now able to expand the program.
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  • Spotlight

    Diving with Dolphins

    Marine biologist Angela Ziltener’s most important work is done in El Gouna on the Red Sea. It is here that the UZH scientist conducts her research on dolphins and campaigns to save the habitat of these fascinating creatures.
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  • Out in the Cold or One of the Gang: Initial Contacts Set the Scene

    Ostracism within a group is not always a disciplining tool. Rather, it can be an unintentional side effect of people joining up with individuals they have previously had good experiences with, researchers from the Department of Economics of the University of Zurich have found.
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  • swissuniversities

    Michael O. Hengartner Re-Elected President of swissuniversities

    It its meeting of 24 May 2018, the plenary assembly of swissuniversities elected Michael O. Hengartner to a second term (2019–2021) as President of swissuniversities. Hengartner plans to continue his work promoting collaboration among Swiss higher education institutions.
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  • Theology

    World News from the Reformer

    It should be impossible to mention Zwingli without also invoking Bullinger. And yet Zurich’s second-most important reformer has remained an unknown figure. This is about to change thanks to the work of UZH researchers. Bullinger's writings are important for interpreting the events of his time, as shown by an exhibition at UZH.
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  • UZH Alumni

    UZH Women Open New Chapter

    A new chapter has been added to UZH Alumni: As part of the final Alumnae Talks event under the auspices of UZH Alumni Co-President Denise Schmid, four UZH graduates presented the newly founded Women’s Chapter. It brings together alumnae of UZH at regular meetings where discussions are bound to be lively and controversial, but also entertaining and eye-opening, says the new chapter’s co-founder, Dr. Elefteria Xekalakis Matthys.
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  • Debate

    “Non-professorial academic staff need prospects”

    What can be done to ensure that the growing number of non-professorial academic staff have adequate career prospects? Where do the challenges lie? UZH Journal discussed these questions with Matthias Egger, President of the SNSF’s National Research Council, Claudine Leysinger from the Graduate Campus, and Georg Winterberger, who represents the non-professorial academic staff. One solution – advocated by the SNSF – lies in creating new tenure-track assistant professorships.
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  • Citizen Science

    Exhibition on Tour

    The UZH Graduate Campus’ citizen science exhibition has been shown abroad for the first time – at two universities in India. Rafael Küng and Barbara Strobl traveled to India with the exhibition to report on their UZH citizen science project.
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  • CrowdWater: An App for Flood Research

    UZH researchers and citizen scientists are collecting data on water levels of rivers and streams, as well as on soil moisture. An app makes it possible to capture hydrological data for any river or location in the world. The aim of the CrowdWater project is to improve water management and forecasts in regions with a sparse or inexistent network of conventional measurement stations.
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  • The Reformation and the Bolt from Above

    Zurich reformer Heinrich Bullinger corresponded with people across Europe, and his letters document the history and culture of the Protestant Reformation period in Switzerland. A new exhibition at the University of Zurich with an accompanying book and program of events shows the influence of Zwingli's successor on the interpretation of events of that time.
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  • New UZH Journal

    Competent Leadership

    The May edition of the UZH Journal is dedicated to the topic of leadership. The University of Zurich has developed eight Leadership and Management Principles which were approved by the Extended Executive Board of the University in April. They contain specific recommendations for leaders and managers, and ideas to help them reflect on their own leadership style and behavior.
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  • Cellular Valve Structure Opens Up Potential Novel Therapies

    Biochemists at the University of Zurich have determined the detailed structure of a volume-regulated chloride channel. This cellular valve is activated in response to swelling to prevent the cell from bursting. The protein also plays an important role in the uptake of chemotherapeutics and the release of neurotransmitters after a stroke. The controlled regulation of its activity thus opens up a promising strategy for novel therapies.
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  • Nouns Slow Down Our Speech

    Speakers hesitate or make brief pauses filled with sounds like “uh” or “uhm” mostly before nouns. Such slow-down effects are far less frequent before verbs, as UZH researchers working together with an international team have now discovered by looking at examples from different languages.
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  • Leprosy Possibly Originated in Europe

    Researchers of the University of Zurich, the University of Tübingen and the Max Planck Institute in Jena have discovered that there were multiple strains of leprosy bacteria in medieval Europe rather than only two, as previously assumed. In addition, the researchers have succeeded in reconstructing the oldest leprosy genome so far.
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  • Computer-Designed Customized Regenerative Heart Valves

    Cardiovascular tissue engineering aims to treat heart disease with prostheses that grow and regenerate. Now, researchers from the University of Zurich, the Technical University Eindhoven and the Charité Berlin have successfully implanted regenerative heart valves, designed with the aid of computer simulations, into sheep for the first time.
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  • Research Expedition to Greenland

    Researching Arctic Vegetation

    Gabriela Schaepman-Strub of the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies and a research group are set to travel to Greenland on a mission to strengthen cooperation between Switzerland and Greenland in the area of ecological Arctic research.
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  • Exhibition on Bullinger’s Correspondence

    When Lightning Struck the Grossmünster

    On 17 May, an exhibition about Swiss reformer Heinrich Bullinger will open at UZH. Peter Opitz, professor at the Institute of Swiss Reformation History, explains the significance of Bullinger for the Reformation.
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  • Campus

    TV Örlikä Wins 2018 SOLA Relay Race

    Around 14,000 runners took part in this year’s SOLA relay race. The race was won by team TV Örlikä, who finished about seven minutes ahead of their competition.
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  • Carnivores in Captivity Give Birth at the Same Time of Year as Those in the Wild

    Reproductive seasonality is a fixed characteristic of a species - University of Zurich researchers have now found that carnivores in captivity give birth at the same time of year as their counterparts in the wild. In some species, the gestation period is shortened in order to provide ideal conditions for the offspring, while for others it is extended.
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  • Latin American Center

    Interdisciplinarity is our trademark

    The second edition of the Tschudi Lecture in honor of the polymath from Glarus, Johann Jakob von Tschudi, takes place next week. For the University’s relatively new Latin American Center, the event presents an opportunity to consolidate its reputation.
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  • Campus

    Research in Pictures

    The SNSF Scientific Image Competition encourages researchers to pick up a camera and present scientific work from a different angle. Our picture gallery features some of the photos submitted by UZH researchers.
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  • UZH Awards Eight Honorary Doctorates

    At this year's Dies academicus ceremony, the University of Zurich awarded honorary doctorates to eight outstanding individuals: Zurich ombudswoman Claudia Kaufmann, former federal judge Vera Rottenberg Liatowitsch, photographer Hannes Schmid, Korea scholar Martina Deuchler, immunologist Richard A. Flavell, neurologist Kathleen Digre, economist Royston Greenwood, and Pastor Martin Fontana. The annual ceremony commemorates the foundation of the University.
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  • Genetics

    Atlas of human cells

    First there was the Human Genome Project. Now, something even bigger is starting: the Human Cell Atlas. UZH statistician Mark Robinson is part of this global endeavor, developing computational tools to analyze large datasets of human cells.
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  • Open Access

    “We’re negotiating open access”

    Thanks to the internet, academic publications are increasingly distributed and read online. But open access comes at a price. The Swiss universities are negotiating with the world’s three largest scientific publishers for fair – in other words affordable – terms of access. Michael Hengartner, president of swissuniversities and UZH, explains the background.
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  • Alumni Chapter Tokio

    How Heidi came to Japan

    Thanks to Yuta Daigi, co-chair of the UZH Alumni Chapter in Tokyo, UZH alumni in Japan are part of a close-knit network. Yuta Daigi studied at the University of Zurich and now teaches at Mie University in Japan. His area of research: Language in Johanna Spyri’s Heidi. A portrait.
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  • Campus

    Library of the Future

    Increasing digitalization poses great challenges for library services wishing to remain attractive and modern. In this interview, Vice President Christian Schwarzenegger discusses the plans for the future of libraries at UZH.
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  • Death and Dying

    A Legacy on Film

    The Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine is presenting a series of events devoted to the topic of film and dying. On Tuesday the discussion focused on the film Vergiss mein nicht.
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  • How Do People Die in Switzerland Today?

    The behavior of people in Switzerland facing death varies according to their linguistic region. Researchers from the universities of Zurich and Geneva have now demonstrated how cultural context influences medical practice when it comes to end-of-life decisions.
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  • Eastern European Studies

    “Russia has not yet found its place in the world”

    A dangerous dynamic is developing in Russia’s foreign policy, says UZH Professor Jeronim Perović in an interview. He is director of the Center for Eastern European Studies at UZH, which opens next week with a discussion event on the subject of “Russia and the West”.
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  • Talk im Turm

    Discussing Educational Opportunities and Fair Taxation

    At the latest Talk im Turm event, educational scientist Katharina Maag Merki and economist Florian Scheuer discussed equal opportunities in education and a tax system that provides performance incentives rather than merely redistributing wealth.
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  • Privacy

    Privacy on the Web

    Modern technologies are dangerous. Does this mean that individuals should be as seamlessly protected as possible? UZH professor of law Florent Thouvenin believes that this, the current approach to data protection, is misguided.
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  • Board of the University

    Election of the Executive Board of the University

    The Board of the University has elected Beatrice Beck Schimmer as Director of Medicine. Michael Hengartner, Gabriele Siegert, Michael Schaepman, and Christian Schwarzenegger have been re-elected for a further term of office.
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  • Joint Exhibition with Ugandan Museums

    In a novel project, the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich has shifted the spotlight onto ethnological museum work itself. The exhibition Points of View: Visions of a Museum Partnership showcases the innovative cooperation between two Ugandan museums and the Ethnographic Museum in Zurich, where visitors can now explore three exhibitions in one.
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  • When Enemies Come to Help

    The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Now UZH researchers now show that this principle also holds for crab spiders and flowering plants. While it’s true that the spiders do eat or drive away useful pollinators such as bees, they’re also attracted by floral scent signals to come and help if the plant is attacked by insects intent on eating it.
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  • UZH Researcher Granted EUR 2.5 Million in Funding

    UZH scientist Raffaella Santoro has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant from the European Research Council. This will allow her to pursue her molecular biology research project for another five years. Santoro is investigating the organization of genomes in the nucleolus and how this contributes to higher-order gene regulation.
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  • Economy

    Rip-Off Merchants, Profiteers, and Superstars

    High incomes are not always unfair, and too-high taxes can be bad for the economy, shows economist Florian Scheuer’s research into taxation of the super-rich.
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  • My Alma Mater

    On Art (Dis)course

    Celebrated alumni look back at their time at the University of Zurich. This time, Fanni Fetzer, Director of the Kunstmuseum Luzern.
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  • Day of Clinical Research

    Scientists Honored

    Nephrologist Johan Lorenzen and gastroenterologist Michael Scharl have received the renowned Georg Friedrich Götz Award. This prize is awarded annually at UZH for outstanding contributions in the field of medical research. The award was presented at the Day of Clinical Research at the UniversityHospital Zurich, alongside the presentation of the 2018 Hartmann Müller Memorial Prize.
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  • University Conference

    Universities Shaping Europe

    This week, UZH has been hosting university leaders from around Europe. The annual conference of the European University Association, held from 4 to 6 April, was devoted to the question of how universities can shape the Europe of today and of tomorrow.
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  • B2Run Corporate Fun Run

    Move and Mingle

    This year’s Swiss corporate running event takes place on 24 May 2018. All employees of the University of Zurich are invited to take part – jogging or walking.
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  • University Spine Center Zurich

    Treating Back Problems

    Balgrist University Hospital yesterday opened the new University Spine Center Zurich. It brings together expertise in eight different disciplines to offer patients the full range of spinal care services under one roof.
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  • Preventive Medicine

    Fighting the Kilos

    A growing number of people are overweight. Studies show that the worst affected are those in more disadvantaged sections of society. Food manufacturers could have a key role to play in the fight against obesity.
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  • Europe's University Leaders Meet at UZH

    The European University Association's Annual Conference is being hosted by the University of Zurich for the first time. The EUA is the largest and strongest association of European universities, with 850 members. Around 400 presidents, rectors, and other university leaders will come together to spend three days debating the current and future role of universities in society.
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  • Enhanced therapeutic vaccine platform achieves two proof of concepts in veterinary medical use

    Chronical allergic diseases of dogs and horses can now be treated with an innovative vaccine. It was developed by an international research team led by he University of Bern and in cooperation with the University of Zurich, together with private enterprise companies. The findings obtained in horses and dogs could lead to similar therapeutic vaccines for humans.
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  • Inner Ear Provides Clues to Human Dispersal

    Slight differences can be found in the inner ear of different populations of modern humans. Paleoanthropologists from UZH have found that these differences can provide information about the global dispersal of humans from Africa.
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  • Attacking Flu Viruses from Two Sides

    UZH researchers have discovered a new way in which certain antibodies interact with the flu virus. This previously unknown form of interaction opens up new possibilities for developing better vaccines and more efficient medication to combat the flu.
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  • Medicine

    New Heart, New Life

    What does it mean to have another person’s heart in your body? As part of the lecture series of the Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, heart surgeon Michele Genoni reported on his experiences with heart patients and on alternatives to donor hearts.
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  • Cultural Studies

    Wolf Territories

    Wolves are here and making political waves: their presence is fueling wild debate about different moral values, and even causing cantonal boundaries to be redrawn. These are the findings of researchers at the UZH Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies.
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  • Campus

    UZH Considers Dentistry Move

    The University Children’s Hospital Zurich is set to move to a new location in the Lengg neighborhood of Zurich, freeing up its former site in Zurich-Hottingen for a new occupant. The Government Council of the Canton of Zurich recommends making the current location of UZH’s Center of Dental Medicine available as a new outpatient clinic of the UniversityHospital Zurich. In turn, the Center of Dental Medicine is to move to the current site being freed up by the Kispi’s relocation.
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  • Cell Biology

    Burned-Out Cancer Cells

    Cancer cells are very resourceful when it comes to evading the body’s repair mechanisms. Cell biologist Matthias Altmeyer researches these strategies, paving the way for novel therapies.
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  • New Method Speeds Up Development of Medication

    UZH researchers have developed a novel method that speeds up the process of determining crystal structures of organic salts and significantly reduces the effort required to do so. As about 40 percent of all active pharmaceutical ingredients are salts, this new crystallographic method is set to greatly accelerate drug development.
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  • North and South Cooperation to Combat Tuberculosis

    Tuberculosis can be cured and could be eradicated. For this to happen, however, patients have to receive the right treatment. Researchers at the Makerere University and the University of Zurich were able to demonstrate that the levels of medication used are often too low. As a result, patients remained contagious with the dangerous disease for longer than necessary.
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  • Pediatrics

    Protector of Preemies

    Children born prematurely, with heart defects, or who have developmental disorders have a difficult start in life. Physician and researcher Bea Latal has dedicated her career to supporting them.
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  • Childcare

    Playing without Distractions

    The Foundation for Childcare in the Zurich University Area (kihz) supports members of UZH and ETH Zurich when it comes to childcare. One of the offers is "kihz Flex", which now also provides flexible temporary childcare services on Plattenstrasse near UZH City Campus.
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  • Gender Equality

    Of Concern to All of Us

    From informal groups to a modern diversity policy: At the reception for female professors, which took place for the 10th time this year, attendees recalled the grassroots beginnings of the gender equality movement at UZH, and discussed future steps.
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  • LSD Blurs Boundaries between the experience of Self and Other

    LSD reduces the borders between the experience of our own self and others, and thereby affects social interactions. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now found that the serotonin 2A receptor in the human brain is critically involved in these intertwined psychological mechanisms. This knowledge could help develop new therapies for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or depression.
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  • Executive Board of the University

    Strengthening the Ability to Act

    The Executive Board of the University is renewing its structures and processes to remain viable for the future. The Offices of the Vice Presidents will be renamed in August 2018, while other elements of the reform will gradually enter into force by 2020.
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  • Ethics

    Rewarding Reflection

    Medics in their first semester at UZH are confronted early on with thorny ethical questions. Now, a new prize is being awarded for the best essays on the subject. Selina Steiger was crowned winner of the very first Premio Pusterla Junior by public vote at an event this week.
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  • Mice Change Their Appearance as a Result of Frequent Exposure to Humans

    Many tame domesticated animals have a different appearance compared to their relatives in the wild, for example white patches in their fur or shorter snouts. UZH researchers have now for the first time shown that wild house mice develop the same visible changes – without selection, as a result of exposure to humans alone.
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  • Mercator Awards

    Award-Winning Research by Junior Scholars

    This year's Mercator Awards recognize the research achievements of immunologist Natalia Arenas-Ramirez, theologian Christoph Heilig, and economist Bruno Caprettini. The awards will be presented at the Annual Event of the Graduate Campus of UZH on 3 July.
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  • Social and Cultural Anthropology

    Dried Stars

    Star anise is a popular spice used in cooking and also known for its medicinal properties. Social and cultural anthropologist Annuska Derks follows the fruit from its cultivation in Vietnam on its journey through a globalized world.
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  • Sustainability Week

    Change Attitudes Not Rules

    Last Wednesday, leaders and representatives from five Zurich-based higher education institutions joined a panel discussion to set out their vision for "a sustainable university".
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  • Technology and Philosophy

    Der Hype um die künstliche Intelligenz

    What are the philosophical questions that we need to debate in connection with artificial intelligence? UZH sociologist of law Christoph Graber organized a workshop on this topic at UZH in cooperation with Harvard University.
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  • Alumni

    Founding an Alumni Chapter

    In 2017, UZH Alumni introduced the idea of chapters, a new format designed to make it easier for University graduates to connect. An example is the new Entrepreneurs Chapter.
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  • Innovation Park Zurich

    Research and Innovation Fly High

    The Innovation Park Zurich promises great opportunities for research at UZH. The information pavilion was officially opened at an event in Dübendorf on Friday. Air and space travel was the topic of the hour – and UZH's Space Hub initiative is already using the airfield infrastructure for projects from all over Switzerland.
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  • Recovery from Spinal Cord Injuries Can Be Predicted

    Injuries to the spinal cord result in tissue loss in the spinal cord and brain. These neurodegenerative changes can be analyzed in detail using neuroimaging methods. UZH researchers have now for the first time been able to reliably predict the extent of functional recovery in patients suffering from a spinal cord injury two years after a trauma based on the extent and progression of neurodegenerative changes within the first six months after injury.
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  • Survey

    UZH Researchers Embrace Open Access

    Researchers at UZH welcome the shift towards open access publishing, which makes academic work available publicly for free. Around half of researchers already publish their work with open access, according to a comprehensive survey carried out by the Main Library of the University of Zurich. Besides a number of positive results, the survey also revealed a need for more information.
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  • Economy

    Out of the Poverty Trap by Text Message

    Poverty reduces people’s ability to think and take action. Poor people often make the wrong decisions, which means they stay poor. Brazilian economist Guilherme Lichand wants to change this – by text message.
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  • Open Access

    Free-of-Charge Journals on HOPE

    The specialist journal for communications science SComS has recently been made available free of charge on UZH’s HOPE platform. The journal has moved from the renowned publisher Elsevier to the platform managed by the Main Library of the University of Zurich.
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  • Swiss National Science Foundation

    The Swiss National Science Foundation has this year awarded 39 professorships to outstanding young researchers. Almost one in four of them are at the University of Zurich.
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  • Education

    The Swiss education system is full of hurdles. For children from less privileged families, navigating the route to university is tough. Reforming the system could change that
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  • Psychology

    "Leave the mobile phone in your bag"

    The first thing many of us think about in the morning is our mobile phone. Indeed, our daily lives are dominated by smartphones. According to psychologist Theda Radtke, we should deliberately keep our mobile phones out of sight as well as out of the hands of small children. By Thomas Gull and Roger Nickl
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  • Media Relations

    medien top ten

    A new orangutan species, gender differences, and simulations of outer space: The public are fascinated with research topics. An overview of the 10 UZH media releases that received the most attention in 2017.
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  • Endowed Professorship

    Breastfeeding Research

    With the help of a 10 million franc donation, the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics of the University of Zurich is to establish a center to research the long-term effects of breastfeeding. The professorship and associated research fund is financed by the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation.
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  • Non-Professorial Academic Staff

    Mittelbau

    The Association of the Non-Professorial Academic Staff of the University of Zurich (VAUZ) has carried out a survey about the job satisfaction and student-to-instructor ratio of doctoral candidates and postdocs at UZH. Vice President Gabriele Siegert discusses the results of the survey below.
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  • Debate

    «Die Publikationspraxis muss sich ändern»

    A deluge of scientific publications is pushing the system to its limits. Studies are questioning the reproducibility of results. In this interview, neuropsychologist Lutz Jäncke and systems biologist Lawrence Rajendran talk about the crisis in the publication process and new solutions such as the Matters of Reproducibility platform.
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  • Human Resources

    Beratung

    Problems and conflicts are easier to solve with the advice and support of neutral third parties. This is why UZH is setting up an office for counseling and mediation.
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  • Essay

    Science-Fiction bereichert die Ethik

    Science fiction in literature and film can offer us insights into ethics for the post-human age, says Johann Roduit. On the occasion of the 50th birthday of the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, the UZH ethicist has launched a series of events.
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  • Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation to Finance New Center for Research into Long-Term Effects of Breastfeeding

    As part of its efforts to increase its research in the area of child and youth development, the University of Zurich is set to create a new center for breastfeeding research at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics – the first center of its kind in the world. The endowed professorship and associated research fund will be financed by the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation in the amount of 10 million Swiss francs.
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  • New Interaction Mechanism of Proteins Discovered

    UZH researchers have discovered a previously unknown way in which proteins interact with one another and cells organize themselves. This new mechanism involves two fully unstructured proteins forming an ultra-high-affinity complex due to their opposite net charge. Proteins usually bind one another as a result of perfectly matching shapes in their three-dimensional structures.
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  • University Board

    A great loss for UZH

    Markus Graf, a member of the Board of the University since 2016, was particularly committed to real estate development at UZH. He passed away last Saturday at the age of 69.
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  • Engaging in University Education in Old Age

    The new semester of the Senior Citizens University of UZH begins at the end of February. An extremely varied range of lectures offers fascinating insights in the fields of medicine, law, philosophy, and natural sciences. Lively discussions and open-minded debates on the various topics are welcome and encouraged.
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  • Portrait

    Sport with Head and Heart

    Triathlete and cultural studies scholar Yonca Krahn researches the links between space, sport, and the body.
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  • New UZH Journal

    New UZH Journal

    It’s a special birthday for the Association of the Non-Professorial Academic Staff of the University of Zurich (VAUZ) this year: The group was founded 50 years ago by a committed group of staff with the aim of improving their employment conditions and having more of a voice within the University. The UZH Journal looks back at the history of the association that arose out of the turbulence of 1968, and asks where it is headed in the future.
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  • Law and Ethics

    Surrogacy and Child Protection

    Surrogacy has become a trans-national industry. At UZH, an international group of experts has come together to develop principles for the protection of the children involved. In this interview, UZH professor of law Andrea Büchler discusses the challenges.
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  • Exhibition

    Pacific Entanglements

    The new exhibition in the Johann Jacobs Museum focuses on Japan's rise as a global power. The exhibition was developed in cooperation with the professorial chairs of UZH art historian Hans Bjarne Thomsen and UZH historian Martin Dusinberre.
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  • Public Lectures about 1918, Aging, Ethics, and Truth

    From memories of the First World War to cultural theory and philosophical debates on truth and lies; from 50 years of the non-professorial academic staff association to social rela-tionships in old age and dying in the media spotlight: Variety is the order of the day in the six series of open public lectures beginning on 19 February at the University of Zurich.
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  • Stem cell divisions in the adult brain seen for the first time

    Scientists from the University of Zurich have succeeded for the first time in tracking individual stem cells and their neuronal progeny over months within the intact adult brain. This study sheds light on how new neurons are produced throughout life.
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  • Communications research

    Learning to Surf

    The Swiss National Science Foundation elected UZH communications scholar Eszter Hargittai to be a member of its National Research Council from April 2018 onwards. Her research focuses among other things on the different ways in which people can benefit from the internet.
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  • swissuniversities

    Michael Hengartner's presidency of the umbrella organization swissuniversities runs until the end of 2018. In this interview, the UZH President talks about what has been achieved so far, the challenges ahead – and why he is planning to stand for re-election.
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  • Board of the University

    Appointments of 29 January 2018

    In its meeting of 29 January 2018, the Board of the University approved a number of appointments.
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  • High Number of Science Enthusiasts in Switzerland

    When it comes to attitudes toward science and research, Swiss people fall into four distinct categories ranging from enthusiasts (28 percent) to completely uninterested (13 percent). Despite many differences between them, people in all categories support the promotion of science and research, reveals a study by the universities of Zurich and Fribourg.
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  • Pfizer Research Award

    Award-Winning Medical Research

    This year's winners of the Pfizer Research Awards include seven researchers from the University of Zurich and the University's hospitals.
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  • University Program for School Students

    Studying at University While Still at School

    In the Fall Semester of 2018, UZH will launch a pilot project giving high school students the opportunity to study at the University. The initiative was announced by UZH President Michael Hengartner in a press conference.
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  • 0.5 Percent of the Population Suffer from Severe Psychological Trauma

    Trauma-related disorders were previously classified under one single diagnosis – post-traumatic stress disorder. Now, a representative survey carried out by a UZH psychopathologist has shown for the first time how often such disorders are present in a more severe form. According to the findings, more than 0.5 percent of people in Germany suffer from complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
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  • Order of Merit

    UZH Virus Researcher Honored

    Karin Mölling, professor emerita of virology at UZH, has been awarded the Cross of Merit (First Class) of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
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  • Chemistry Days

    The Energy of the Future

    They're young and interested in learning about the energy of the future: 40 high school students were given the opportunity to explore the chemistry laboratories at UZH last week. Some impressions can be seen in the video below (in German).
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  • Digitalization

    Democracy under Pressure

    The 10th edition of the Aarau Democracy Days is dedicated among other things to looking into the effects of digitalization on democracy. In his essay, UZH political science scholar Uwe Serdült discusses the potential of digitalization to change our day-to-day political life. He makes the case for using the opportunities of digital democracy in a constructive way.
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  • Gender Equality

    UZH Pays Equal Salaries

    When it comes to salary, UZH treats men and women virtually the same. This is one of the findings of an analysis of over 9,400 sets of data carried out by the Human Resources Office.
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  • Stealth Virus for Cancer Therapy

    Scientists from the University of Zurich have redesigned an adenovirus for use in cancer therapy. To achieve this they developed a new protein shield that hides the virus and protects it from being eliminated. Adapters on the surface of the virus enable the reconstructed virus to specifically infect tumor cells.
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  • Society

    On Feeling at Home and Citizens' Rights

    The exhibition "Zürcher!nnen machen" examines what being a "Zürcher" actually means. The question was also the fiercely debated topic of a panel discussion.
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  • Unexpected Helpers in Wound Healing

    Nerve cells in the skin help wounds to heal. When an injury occurs, cells known as glial cells change into repair cells and disseminate into the wound, where they help the skin to regenerate, researchers from the University of Zurich have shown.
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  • Drones learn to navigate autonomously by imitating cars and bicycles

    Developed by UZH researchers, the algorithm DroNet allows drones to fly completely by themselves through the streets of a city and in indoor environments. Therefore, the algorithm had to learn traffic rules and adapt training examples from cyclists and car drivers.
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  • Talk im Turm

    Wormholes and the Cradle of Modernity

    Screws, glasses, printing: The inventions of the Renaissance triggered a dramatic surge in development. Will digitalization have a comparable impact on modern society? Historian Bernd Roeck and physicist Titus Neupert debated the question at UZH’s Talk im Turm podium discussion.
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  • Combination of Resistance Genes Offers Better Protection for Wheat against Powdery Mildew

    UZH plant researchers have tested newly developed wheat lines with improved resistance in field trials. They have demonstrated that a combination of two variations of a resistance gene provides wheat with better protection against the fungal disease.
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  • Debate

    The Conflicts around Data Protection

    Research requires more and more data, while data protection rules exist to protect the privacy of the people involved. Vice President Christian Schwarzenegger, epidemiologist Milo Puhan, and data protection delegate Robert Weniger came together to discuss conflicts arising from these contradictory needs.
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  • Campus

    Row, Row, Row Your Boat

    UZH student Luca Baltensperger rowed across the Atlantic as part of the “Swiss Mocean” team. No mean feat, with about a million rowing strokes over 4,700 kilometers.
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  • Film Studies

    Utopian Cinema

    Movies such as Blade Runner paint a grim picture of the future. Positive utopias, hardly ever seen in entertainment cinema, have found a home in documentaries. Film studies scholar Simon Spiegel tells us why.
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  • Japanese Studies

    Water Clocks and Eternity

    Medieval Japan wasn’t a pre-modern timeless paradise, says Raji C. Steineck. The Japanese studies scholar is examining the nature of time and researching how time is perceived in the land of the rising sun.
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  • Psychology

    Sleepless Nights

    According to a study by psychiatrist Wulf Rössler, almost 30 percent of people in Zurich have problems sleeping. The main cause is stress.
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  • Anthropology

    Tailing apes

    Anthropologist Carel van Schaik has spent years observing orangutans and tackling the major questions of human evolution. He finds new answers to them time and time again.
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  • Philosophy

    “The freedom of thought appealed to me”

    The first-ever Zurich Philosophy Festival kicks off next week. The theme: “Me, Me, Me.” We spoke to the man behind the festival, UZH philosophy student Urs Siegfried.
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  • Social Policy

    “Investment instead of insurance”

    Polarization in Swiss politics makes the country less able to reform, says political scientist Silja Häusermann. She wants to see a welfare state that helps people to stay in the employment market.
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  • New Resistant Tuberculosis Pathogen Discovered

    Between February and November 2016, the Institute of Medical Microbiology at the University of Zurich discovered a multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in eight refugees arriving in Europe from the Horn of Africa. The analyses provided an impulse for launching a transnational investigation and developing a pan-European alerting system.
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  • New Biomarkers Predict Outcome of Cancer Immunotherapy

    Researchers at the University of Zurich have identified biomarkers in the blood that make it possible to predict whether cancer patients will respond positively to immunotherapy. Patients for whom therapy does not work can thus be treated using different methods at an earlier stage.
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  • Flame-Throwing Ogres and Cyclopes in the Lecture Hall

    Monsters in the middle ages, fish with sunburn, optical illusions, and advertising tricks: The fun-packed new program of the Children’s University begins this spring.
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  • New UZH Magazin

    Striving Upwards. Chances for a Better Life

    Life chances are the focus of the latest issue of the UZH Magazin. Academics at UZH are researching inequality and examining what can be done about it.
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