Dreams for the future at the Dies academicus 2023

The University of Bern’s 189th foundation ceremony was dedicated to self-reflection and looking to the future. Three honorary doctorates and five academic prizes were awarded, with one recipient joining the ceremony at the Casino via livestream for the first time.

Text: Serena Wölfel / Photography: Manu Friederich

Read the original uniAKTUELL article here. (in German)

On Saturday, the 189th Dies academicus took place, as is tradition, at the Casino Bern. An “eventful year” was drawing to a close, said Rector Christian Leumann at the start of his address. It had also been a “challenging year”, “not only with regard to the current geopolitical situation, but also the situation of higher education institutions in our country,” said Leumann. He first recalled global events: the ongoing war in Ukraine and, in particular, the armed conflict in the Middle East, which also poses challenges for the University.

Structural change and alliances #

In the main part of his address, Christian Leumann turned his attention to the future of the University – not only as a place of teaching and research, but also as part of society. In order to continue to meet future challenges such as the ongoing development of artificial intelligence, the University has launched the “Fit for Future” project. It is a process that “aims to question our structures, processes and ways of working and to align them with the future,” the Rector continued. He named the University’s digitalisation strategy and the promotion of transdisciplinarity as the mindset of the next generation as key priorities. Above all, it would be “a change process that we must face without prejudice or taboos and with an open mind as to the outcome”.

Christian Leumann concluded his words of welcome with a “dream for the future of Swiss universities”. Following the exclusion from the Horizon Europe research programme, all Swiss universities had joined European university alliances, “but the most obvious thing, namely a comprehensive Swiss university alliance, does not exist,” the Rector noted. The main obstacle, he said, was “the lack of a culture of cooperation”. This had to change, because “we must recognise that we can no longer afford not to cooperate if we want to maintain the high international standard in teaching and research”. For this reason, he hoped for “a new understanding” and “an encounter on an equal footing” in pursuit of this shared future.

Continuing to promote equal opportunities and diversity in the future #

Cantonal Councillor Christine Häsler also addressed “future challenges”. As Director of Education and Culture of the Canton of Bern, she focused on issues of work-life balance and gender equality, which, she said, remain relevant for women in academia. She praised the positive developments already brought about in recent years by the University’s measures. As an example, the Cantonal Councillor cited the “targeted career development of women”. She emphasised the significance of the appointment of Virginia Richter as Christian Leumann’s successor, with whom “for the first time in its almost 200-year history, a female rector will lead the University of Bern”.

Christine Häsler was also confident about how the University deals with diversity and equal opportunities in a broader sense. In addition to the “newly created contact points for equal opportunities and racism”, the “Better Science” initiative was an important step for the University. “In building a sustainable scientific culture”, people “with their needs, abilities and actions” were at the centre. The University was playing a “leading role” in promoting equal opportunities and was well positioned “to master future challenges in the areas of equality, diversity and inclusion”, the Cantonal Councillor summarised. Now it was important “to stay on the topic and consistently continue along this path”.

Finally, the Cantonal Councillor addressed Christian Leumann. At his last Dies academicus as Rector, she highlighted the good he has done for the University. As “captain”, he had “navigated the University excellently for 7 years through sometimes calm, but often stormy seas”. Promoting young researchers and the University’s international networking had been particularly close to his heart. At this point, Christine Häsler thanked the Rector for his “passion” and for his circumspect and far-sighted steering of the “supertanker” University of Bern.

Enlightenment in post-factual times #

As Rector Christian Leumann emphasised, it is important to also take a look “from the outside” at the University and its role in society. This year, Guy Parmelin shared his perspective. In his speech, the Federal Councillor first highlighted pioneering achievements of the University of Bern, such as the Bernese solar wind sail, which was planted in the surface of the Moon even before the American flag during the first Moon landing on 21 July 1969. Whether the University could now claim ownership, however, he did not know, Parmelin joked. What this example makes clear, though, is that research takes precedence over world politics: “First things first,” the Federal Councillor noted.

Another event that placed the University of Bern among the world’s scientific elite, he said, was the appointment of Anna Tumarkin in 1908 as the first associate professor of philosophy, making her the first female associate professor in Europe. Guy Parmelin concluded his look back by referring to the first faculty of veterinary medicine, founded at the University of Bern in 1900.

Looking at the University’s current position, he said, one can conclude that it has kept pace with the world’s academic elite. This is evident in various fields such as space research, veterinary and biomedicine, as well as sustainability and climate research. As part of the scientific “world elite”, the University of Bern has an important task in society, namely that of enlightenment in these “post-factual times”. In order to make future-oriented decisions, society depends on researchers’ science-based findings.

Excellence in research – and in teaching #

Finally, Mara Hofer, a member of the executive board of the Student Body of the University of Bern (SUB), took the floor. She reminded those present of their privileged position – not only as part of the academic community, but also as invited guests at the Dies academicus. Self-reflection was important, “because the Swiss higher education landscape, and therefore the University of Bern, is not perfect – even if we already do many things right”.

In this spirit, Mara Hofer reflected on the “excellence” honoured at the event: excellence does not come about solely through the outstanding achievements of individuals, but requires equal recognition of difference and diversity. This also means that different perspectives must be included and promoted in order to ensure the University’s excellence in the future. In doing so, the students must not be forgotten – who, as Hofer remarked, were also missing from the event. As a central part of the university community, students have an interest in excellent teaching and supervision – for everyone, not just “the top one per cent”.

In conclusion, as the representative of the students, Mara Hofer placed “the future of the next generation of students” in the hands of those present. “Secure the growth of our funding” and “pay more attention to our needs in teaching and supervision, even if it means a major change to existing structures.”

Honorary doctorate via video stream #

A musical interlude by the Bern Alumni & Symphony Orchestra was followed by the ceremonial conferral of the three honorary doctorates. Among the honorees was lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has campaigned for years for the freedom and rights of women and girls in Iran. Although Sotoudeh was unable to accept the honour in person because of a travel ban, she was connected to the Casino via a live video stream from Tehran. In her acceptance speech, which she gave in Farsi, she drew attention to the ongoing violence and injustice that prevail in Iran.

The University’s academic prizes were then awarded. Six people were honoured in person at the foundation ceremony. Among them was Aaron Roth of the University of Pennsylvania, who received this year’s Hans Sigrist Prize for his research on the design of algorithms that take into account social aspects such as “privacy” and “fairness”.