Transdisciplinary Research

How can science contribute to practical solutions while remaining rigorous and independent? In this episode, Benjamin Hofmann and Shiila Infriccioli from the Transdisciplinarity Lab (TdLab) at ETH Zurich explore how transdisciplinary research brings scientific and local knowledge together. Drawing on examples from climate adaptation in the Alps and forest health monitoring, they discuss the opportunities, challenges and institutional conditions needed to make research genuinely useful for society.

Dans cet épisode, nous avons le plaisir de vous présenter une contribution de « Sustainability Talks @Unifr », un podcast créé par des étudiants de l’Université de Fribourg dans le cadre de la microcertification « Sustainability in Practice ». La saguf a soutenu ce projet étudiant et est heureuse de diffuser certains de ses épisodes, qui apportent un regard neuf sur le débat autour de la durabilité, de la transformation et de l’action. Cet épisode autour de la question essentielle de l'évolution complexe vers une agriculture plus durable, les animatrices Nina Mariethoz et Roxane Dalheimer reçoivent la Docteure Laure Weisskopf. Elle est Professeure au Département de Biologie de l'Université de Fribourg et ancienne chercheuse à l'Agroscope. Cet échange lève le voile sur les problèmes engendrés par notre système d'agriculture actuel et questionne les alternatives pour y remédier. En abordant la question controversée de l'introduction des OGM dans notre alimentation. La professeure conseille les auditeurs et auditrices sur les actions individuelles qui peuvent être adoptées dès aujourd'hui. Episode réalisé par Nina Mariethoz et Roxane Dalheimer Invitée: Laure Weisskopf

In this episode, we are pleased to share a contribution from Sustainability Talks @Unifr, a podcast created by students at the University of Fribourg as part of the microcertification Sustainability in Practice. saguf supported this student project and is happy to feature selected episodes that bring fresh perspectives to the dialogue on sustainability, transformation, and action. Today’s conversation explores the role of environmental law in practice. Bernadette Keirsey speaks with Gaspard Genton from Avocat·es pour le Climat, a coalition of Swiss lawyers working to strengthen environmental advocacy through legal expertise. Together, they discuss what environmental law looks like in Switzerland, how it connects to broader global developments, and where the field may be heading. The episode also offers insights into current trends, challenges, case law, and entry points for those curious to learn more.

Im Gespräch mit Prof. Dr. Caroline Wiedmer und Prof. Dr. Christoph Küffer blicken wir zurück auf mehr als 10 Jahre Environmental Humanities in der Schweiz. Caroline und Christoph gehören gemeinsam zu den Pionieren in diesem Themenfeld und beleuchten dazu nochmals wesentliche Meilensteine der letzten gut 10 Jahre, in welchen sie Teil der saguf-Arbeitsgruppe "Environmental Humanities" waren. Nun ist das Thema an den Universitäten teilweise institutionalisiert und die Arbeitsgruppe kommt in dieser Form zu einem Ende. Die Frage stellt sich demnach auch, wie die beiden künftig ihre Anliegen einbringen und was ihnen besonders wichtig ist.

In a world of deepening climate crises and accelerating social change, can science remain neutral? Or must it evolve into something more engaged, more transformative? This podcast explores how early-career researchers in Switzerland are navigating the landscape of sustainability science—between the demands of academic tradition and the urgency of societal transformation. Based on in-depth conversations with PhDs and postdocs from across disciplines, host Sarah Keller delves into the lived tensions between publishing and purpose, analysis and activism, ambition and care. Through three central themes, the podcast paints a nuanced portrait of a new generation of sustainability-oriented scientists and the questions they are faced with: 1. Rethinking the Purpose of Science “Science tends to overwhelmingly focus on causality... but it stifles creativity.” – Nathan How do young scientists (re)define rigor and relevance in times of crisis? 2. Sustaining Academia “The only reason anything meaningful comes out is thanks to the intrinsic motivation of the people within it.” – Stephen Despite the passion of early-career researchers, can academia sustain itself without evolving the structures that continue to devalue teaching, collaboration, and care? 3. Practicing Collaboration “We need meaningful cooperation—not just surface-level exchange.” – Marianna How do researchers navigate the promise and friction of inter- and transdisciplinary work? At its core, this podcast is not just about science—it’s about the people shaping it, the structures they must navigate, and the small but powerful shifts already underway. It invites listeners to rethink how knowledge is produced, valued, and shared—and to see sustainability science as a space of both critique and care. The podcast closes by reflecting on an often-overlooked dimension of academic life: the invisible labor known as academic citizenship. This includes mentoring, organizing, and contributing to institutional culture—quiet forms of work that are rarely rewarded, yet essential to sustaining research communities. They hold space for dialogue, build trust, and shape the environments in which science unfolds.