Archive – Science

Bright idea offers hope for drinking water

This content was published on Mar 22, 2006 The award-winning breakthrough could improve the lives of millions worldwide who face serious health problems caused by drinking arsenic-contaminated water. Arsenic can lead to chronic poisoning if ingested regularly in small doses and is an acute problem in Bangladesh and Vietnam. It is also present in drinking water in China, Argentina, Hungary, New Zealand and…

Youth caught in mental health welfare trap

This content was published on Mar 22, 2006 This trend comes as parliament debates a draft revision law for the beleaguered disability benefit scheme, which posted a deficit of SFr1.7 billion ($1.31 billion) last year. Between 2000 and 2004, the number of 18 and 19 year olds receiving disability welfare payments for psychiatric reasons increased by 40 per cent. The latest figures come…

Geneva fights prejudice with anonymous CVs

This content was published on Mar 21, 2006 The trial, the first of its kind in Switzerland, has been launched by the canton’s integration office and involves three major employers. Retailer Migros, energy provider SIG and the commune of Vernier have all signed up to the scheme. Under the terms of the project, which will last for three months, jobseekers will send in…

Forestry Day highlights Swiss situation

This content was published on Mar 21, 2006 Falling timber prices and increasing competition pose a challenge to the domestic forestry industry, which has to be propped up with subsidies. In the 20th century the amount of forest cover in Switzerland almost doubled. Today if all the trees were felled they would yield 420 million cubic metres of wood, a European record. “Switzerland…

The importance of explaining nanotechnology

This content was published on Mar 21, 2006 Researchers from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich found a lack of guidelines and effort to identify potential side effects, but the Swiss authorities are working to redress the problem. Only two of the 32 companies in Switzerland and Germany surveyed by the institute had investigated the effects of absorption of nanoparticles by living…

Swiss authorities prepare ground for bears

This content was published on Mar 11, 2006 In response, the authorities have put together a strategy document – known as the Bear Concept – to manage and protect the species. The Federal Environment Office’s document, which gives guidelines on the balance between the interests of bears and humans, has been sent to the relevant organisations for consultation. “It is necessary to create…

Workers run risk of burnout

This content was published on Mar 9, 2006 Thursday’s conference in Fribourg in western Switzerland heard that teachers, health workers and call centre workers were most at risk. Special training is needed in the workplace to make people aware of the symptoms of burnout, Peter Richter, professor of work and organisational psychology at Dresden University and a key speaker at the conference told…

Life sciences flourish in Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 8, 2006 Zurich is also well positioned in international comparisons, having built up very respectable potential in the field of medical devices. The report from the BAK Basel Economics research group, “Monitoring Life Sciences Locations”, links information on the performance of life sciences locations in 16 regions and 15 countries. Of the regions surveyed, average financial growth…

Career women should plan early

This content was published on Mar 8, 2006 Siegel says attitudes are changing in Switzerland – with more women in managerial positions – but adds that getting women to climb the professional ladder needs to be taken far more seriously. Among the newer faces leading Swiss firms are Inge Beale at reinsurer Converium, Jasmin Staiblin at ABB Switzerland and Miriam Meyer Stutz at…

School uniforms carry little sway with Swiss

This content was published on Mar 7, 2006 But they are virtually unknown in Swiss culture and there is strong opposition to the notion of children and teenagers wearing them to school. A Basel newspaper, the Basler Zeitung, has opened up an internet debate forum on the issue. “The idea is well-intentioned but I have… some difficulty with school uniforms. It has something…

Archive – Science

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Archive – Science

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Bright idea offers hope for drinking water

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Youth caught in mental health welfare trap

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Geneva fights prejudice with anonymous CVs

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Forestry Day highlights Swiss situation

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The importance of explaining nanotechnology

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Swiss authorities prepare ground for bears

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Workers run risk of burnout

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Life sciences flourish in Switzerland

More

Career women should plan early

More

School uniforms carry little sway with Swiss

Popular Stories

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