Swiss Stories

Senegal © Secours Protestant

The Swiss tap that saves water and lives

Science & Education
Good hand washing practice has come firmly into focus during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the clamour for hand sanitiser and protective face coverings in Europe, it must not be forgotten that there are around 3 billion people who are not able to wash their hands at home with soap and clean water. 1.7 million children die each year due to diseases transmitted by unclean hands. Exciting Swiss innovations, such as The Drop, recently recognised on UNICEF’s May 2020 list of ‘Handwashing Stations and Supplies for the COVID-19 response’, are being developed to meet these needs.
10 Climeworks Plant Greenhouse Background Copyright Climeworks Photo by Julia Dunlop

The Swiss CO2 vacuum cleaner

Environment
Swiss company Climeworks has developed a technology called direct air capture, which removes carbon dioxide from ambient air. Since the company was founded in 2009, its technology has made its mark in several different sectors. Climeworks aims to inspire one billion people to remove CO2 from the air.
petite vache en bois au bord du lac

The story behind Switzerland's iconic wooden toy cow

History

In Switzerland, the cow is an icon. Without them, there would be no milk, no cheese, no chocolate.
Ursula Keller

Ursula Keller has seen the light at the end of the laser

Science & Education
Ursula Keller, the well-known Swiss physicist, has more than one string to her bow: as the first woman to obtain a professorship in physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, this inventor specialised in ultra-fast laser technology won the 2018 European Inventor Award and was awarded a gold medal in 2020 by the international society for optics and photonics (SPIE). She is also committed to encouraging women to pursue careers in science or engineering.
Around thirty Zincarlin dala Vall da Mücc are delivered to the maturing cellar in Salorino each week.

The heritage cheese from Muggio Valley

Society
The art of making Zincarlin dala Vall da Mücc is an ancient one. In Ticino's Muggio Valley, the recipe for the heritage cheese has been handed down from one farming generation to the next. But it nearly disappeared overnight. Here is the story of its revival.

by Lea Huszno

Couple enjoys the food aboard the steam boat, Lake Lucerne, Central Switzerland © Swiss Travel System AG, 2019, Fotograf: Daniel Ammann.

Traveling in Switzerland: from snacking to fine dining on the move

Society
Pairing mobility with gastronomy is a deeply satisfying experience. In Switzerland, the views from large train windows are spectacular, but so is the selection of culinary delicacies that can be enjoyed on trains, boats and even cable cars. The Glacier Express has made this one of its hallmarks. With the introduction of its Excellence Class, it raised the bar in terms of culinary experience. But this article explores the gastronomic highlights aboard transport companies that may be less known.
Women in Digital © Marcus Veith

Female Startups founders made in Switzerland

Economics
Ever heard of Alisée de Tonnac, Abir Oreibi, Emilie Joly or Lea von Bidder? You should have. These Swiss women are the CEOs of businesses leading the way in tech research, entrepreneurship and promotion.