Swiss Stories

©️ Eawag, Tobias Ryser

Eawag – managing a precious resource

Science & Education
The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) works tirelessly to harmonise ecological, economic and social interests in relation to water usage. The organisation thus serves as a bridge between the scientific world and the 'real world'.

by John Durham

CaSSIS

CaSSIS, a Swiss-made Mars camera

Science & Education
A Swiss-made device has been orbiting and photographing Mars since 2018. It has obtained over 30,000 images to date. Developed by a team at the University of Bern, the CaSSIS camera system has sent spectacular images of Mars that have created a global sensation.
Start-up

Swiss start-ups provide competition for WhatsApp, Gmail and Facebook

Economics
Communications security has become a major social issue. In Switzerland some twenty companies have developed comparable software solutions for chatting, messaging and data storage which respect user privacy.
Gotthard base tunnel

The legend of the Gotthard pass

History
Switzerland's geography is extreme to say the least, ranging from the long and winding to the steep and narrow, with the occasional sheer drop thrown in. And to experience it you don't need to cross the Alps on an elephant like Hannibal did. Or at least that's the way the story goes... The Gotthard pass is truly a living legend.
SBB

Intelligent technology for greater energy efficiency

Environment
Tablets for saving electricity? They exist. Thousands of Swiss train drivers are now using tablets with a new innovative software for reducing the electricity consumption of trains. For this innovative solution, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has received the prestigious prize for energy efficiency Watt d’Or of the Federal Office of Energy (FOE).
Wild hay © Luzern Tourismus

Wild hay making – a fascinating Swiss tradition

History
In my family archives, I have come across a black and white reel dating back to the 1960s. The film documents my ancestors on a late summer day as they collect fresh hay off their pasture in the Rhine Valley. At one point, an elderly farmer loads a huge ball of hay onto a sledge in order to haul it to the valley. These scenes got me thinking: what is the tradition of alpine hay making all about, and is it still being practiced in this day and age?
Dimitri Burkhard

by Dimitri Burkhard

humanitarian aid

International Geneva - a laboratory for the digital revolution in humanitarian aid

Science & Education
The fifteen international organisations as well as many NGOs located in Geneva are using technological advances to bring innovation to their processes and humanitarian missions. An overview of the latest technologies being used in humanitarian aid.

by Mehdi Atmani