Research Spotlight
Culture et Communication
What can we learn from Molière today? In the module Culture et Communication at the University of Zurich, students explored the life, work and legends surrounding the famous French playwright. Through discussions, research and creative practice, they engaged with Molière’s enduring influence on theatre and literature. The project culminated in a student theatre production that brought his ideas and themes to the stage in a contemporary way.
(Video: MELS UZH)
Re-Experiencing History
What if we could bring ancient Rome back to life? UZH researchers in classical studies have developed a tool that creates images of antiquity that are grounded in history, offering fresh insights and perspectives.
(Video: MELS UZH)
Obesity
All around the world, people are tipping the scales more than ever before. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report 2025 on global childhood nutrition shows that the number of overweight children has doubled over the last 25 years. Physiologist Thomas Lutz and obesity specialist Philipp Gerber are researching how overweight people can get back on track.
Research Spotlight: Why is the world getting fatter? (Video: Katharina Weins, UZH Kommunikation, Angela Spörri MELS UZH)
Phenomenon BookTok
Christine Lötscher is a professor for popular literature and media with a focus on children’s and youth media. Her research focuses on the BookTok phenomenon. She analyzes novels, examines BookTok videos and conducts interviews with BookTokers. Her goal is to understand how this phenomenon came about and how contemporary media culture works.
Spiritual Care
Including spiritual aspects is important for providing optimal healthcare. For many patients and their families, emotional and spiritual support can be a significant source of strength and relief. Simon Peng-Keller leads the research on spiritual care at UZH. In this video, he discusses the growing popularity of spirituality in healthcare.
Brain, Language, Mental Health
Philipp Homan, professor of clinical research in psychiatry, has a clear goal: to identify the onset or recurrence of mental disorders as early as possible.
Changes in the brain and speech could provide clues. He explains the role of artificial intelligence in this process in the video.
Agriculture in Space
Plants play an important role in long-term space missions: They provide fresh food and produce oxygen. In her research, microbiologist Gabriella Pessi aims to increase the yield of plants in space.
Bioimaging
Why is Bioimaging so fascinating? What are the major differences between Bioimaging in the past and today, and how does Bioimaging help us better understand diseases? These and many more questions are answered in this Research Spotlight by Virginie Uhlmann, Director of the BioVision Center at UZH.
Europe’s Future
Europe is under pressure, both at home and abroad. Internally, unity is being challenged by the rise of populist movements. Externally, pressure is growing from China and the US, which under Trump could go from partner to rival. How can Europe meet these challenges? In this video, Prof. Stefanie Walter provides insight into the topic and her work at the Department of Political Science at the University of Zurich.
Disinformation in digital media
Disinformation threatens our democracy. Developments in recent years – including the coronavirus pandemic, US elections and Russian war propaganda – are cause for concern. Trust in a common factual basis is dwindling. This loss of trust is problematic for the functioning of democracy.
This is why Mark Eisenegger, Professor of Public Sphere & Society, and his team are keen to use their research to further curb disinformation.
Growing Up Multilingual
How does growing up in a multilingual environment affect children’s development and communication skills? Developmental psychologist Moritz Daum and his team are exploring this exciting question.
Lifelong Learning
The effects of lifelong learning are the focus of research being conducted by gerontopsychologist Burcu Demiray, one of the researchers linked to the University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging. “The more a person learns and actively uses their brain, the less likely they are to lose cognitive functions,” she says. In addition, Demiray was able to substantiate that people who converse more often have a better working memory.
Seeds from the Vault
Researchers at UZH are freezing the seeds of threatened local plants to help increase the biodiversity of ecosystems in the future. We accompanied Gregory Jäggli and Simon Gysi as they searched for, cleaned and froze the seeds of threatened plants.
UZH News: A Local Seed Vault to Boost Biodiversity (20 November 2023)
Zurich Seed Bank (in German)
Join the Zurich Seed Bank (in German)
Neurons Humming
Sleep disorders are very common, and they’re particularly problematic for people with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at UZH, USZ and ETH are developing a device that can help patients sleep more deeply and improve their quality of life. Sleep researcher Angelina Maric explains in the video how the positive effects of sleep can be enhanced.
UZH News: Sleep Research (30 August 2023)
Contact Angelina Maric