Swiss Stories

Alver: Protein Soup

Algae to feed the planet

Science & Education
Mine Uran stepped down as Head of Protein R&D at Nestlé to set up a start-up. Her vision is to produce food for the future by growing micro-algae in the dark.
Sophie Lavaud on the summit of Everest

Conquering the Himalayas

History
Known as the '88,000 lady' among the mountaineering cognoscenti, Sophie Lavaud is the first Swiss woman to have climbed eleven peaks of over 8,000 metres in the Himalayas. Quite a topical achievement, as mountaineering was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible World Heritage in December 2019. Portrait of an astonishing woman at the top of her game.

by Lea Huszno

militaire

Military peace support

Society
Some 250 Swiss nationals are currently engaged in military peace support missions worldwide. With its strong commitment to international conflict management efforts, Switzerland is thus helping to preserve peace and protect local populations. Swiss military personnel are highly valued because of their consensual approach and multilingual skills and their country's neutrality.
Slalom

A clear run for Swiss slalom

Society
After years on the sidelines, the slalom is finally reclaiming the spotlight in Swiss competitive skiing – thanks largely to the success of two rising stars, Ramon Zenhäusern and Daniel Yule. A profile of two extraordinary champions making their mark both on and off the piste.

by Bertrand Monnard

Some six million tonnes of goods are transhipped annually at the Port of Switzerland alone. © Patrik Walde

Full speed ahead thanks to Swiss batteries

Science & Education
ll aboard Ellen, the world's largest fully electric-powered ferry. As it makes its regular crossing, there is none of the noise or the fumes and smoke of a diesel engine. Without a single drop of heavy fuel oil, Ellen has paved the way for further advances in electric maritime mobility. The electrification of shipping is gaining ground, making an important contribution to emissions-free transport. Among the global leaders in innovative e-transport solutions are Swiss companies such as Leclanché.
Cargo sous terrain

Cargo sous terrain: the project taking Swiss innovation to a whole new level

Environment
Cargo sous terrain (CST) is a new, innovative, totally ecological, state-of-the-art project. As the idea is so new, it also brings with it uncertainties and doubts about its implementation. However, this did not dissuade the Federal Council: in February 2020 it issued the legal basis for the project, which aims to take freight transport underground.
Frauenstreik

Women's strikes in Switzerland: from one 14 June to another

Society
It is 14 June 2019, and a purple wave is sweeping the streets of Switzerland's largest cities. In fact, it's the second time that Swiss streets have been bathed in purple, the colour of the women’s movement. The first time was 28 years ago, in 1991. A vast number of Swiss women are demonstrating for their rights, specifically – equality. Strikes are relatively rare in Switzerland, as the right to strike is subject to precise conditions listed under Article 28 of Switzerland's constitution. Before it comes to a strike, labour conflicts are often resolved through mediation between the unions and employers. Why are women's strikes an exception in the history of Swiss labour disputes? We look back at two historic days of mobilisation in a country seen as a model of social harmony.