• · by Enya Föry, Graham Thomas Heath, Louis Moser, Mithushana Kunaratnam and Zhaoyu Fan · in Master's and PhD students projects, Teaching and studying

    Our space, my place

    Despite strong political pushback, the number of people searching for protection in Europe is not decreasing. Urban spaces, especially, are the destination of many seeking a new home. Yet, arriving in a new urban environment does not automatically mean feeling at home. Students from the GEO410 «Geography.Matters.» course accompanied two refugees to understand how physical places shape their sense of belonging in Zürich.

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  • · by Moira Ritler · in Teaching and studying

    User Experience schnuppern – als Geographin

    User Experience (UX) Design und Geographie haben mehr gemeinsam, als man denkt: Ein ganzheitliches Verständnis, barrierefreie Visualisierung und qualitative Methoden prägen beide Bereiche. Mein Praktikum zeigte: Das Geographiestudium liefert ideale Grundlagen für nutzerzentriertes Design – und macht Geograph:innen in dieser Branche begehrt.

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  • · by Meret Vogler, Franziska Clerc · in Research, Sustainability

    Wissenschaft zum Laufen: Erstelle deine eigene Audiotour

    Mit GPS-gesteuerten Audiotouren lassen sich wissenschaftliche Themen auf eine neue Art erleben, ganz ohne Blick aufs Smartphone. Unsere Exkursionen rund um das Thema Wasser führen durch Zürich, Bern, Baden und Reichenau – Städte, in denen das Wasser allgegenwärtig ist.

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  • · by Micha Franz · in Master's and PhD students projects

    Effective cartographic communication for Swiss policy planning and decision-making

    Well-designed cartographic displays turn complex geopolitical data into actionable insights for evidence-based policy. The Geographic Information Visualization and Analysis (GIVA) group has developed a streamlined mapping process to support decision-making on behalf of the FDFA’s Policy Planning Division. The solution combines established cartographic principles with efficient open data workflows.

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  • · by Annina Michel · in Teaching and studying

    When mountains connect: students writing across borders

    How do global pressures play out in mountain regions? In our joint course between GIUZ and Tbilisi State University, students from Georgia and Switzerland have been working in cross-border teams, navigating different academic cultures, time zones, and perspectives — and turned this into collaborative blog posts on key socio-political questions in mountain regions.

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  • · by Amélie Chatelain, Damian Glauser, Jari Kern, Luis Gentner, and Pascal Soland · in Master's and PhD students projects, Teaching and studying

    Beavers in the city: problem or partner?

    Zurich’s riverbanks are being reshaped—not by humans, but by beavers, whose return to the city brings both promise for biodiversity and friction with city life. In this post, students from the GEO410 Geography. Matters. course explore whether beavers can be partners rather than problems in our shared urban future.

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  • · by Ilja van Meerveld · in Campus, Teaching and studying

    Reversed roles: when students become the excursion guides

    For many students, excursions and field trips are among the most enjoyable and memorable parts of their studies, and may even be one of the reasons why they chose this subject. For us as teachers, they offer a chance to step outside the classroom and show what we study in the real world. But what happens when (former) students invite us on an excursion?

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  • · by Jacqueline Bannwart, Michael Zemp · in Research, Sustainability, Teaching and studying

    From research paper to classroom: Making glacier science accessible

    Latest research on measuring the melting of glaciers has been transformed into an engaging article for teens, making climate science accessible and inspiring for young minds. It is now available in Science Journal for Kids and Teens.

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  • · by Nitin Bathla, Norman Backhaus, Sophia Heller · in Research, Sustainability

    Uneven illumination and the infrastructure politics of light masterplanning

    Nocturnal illumination is both a hallmark and a driving force of global urbanisation—and increasingly an urgent environmental concern. Light infrastructures stretch the frontiers of economic and social life beyond daylight hours, enabling the expansion of urban networks and infrastructures.

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