USYS Conference 2022: Linking knowledge to the real world
D-USYS
Around 80 scientists accepted the invitation to attend the USYS Conference from 7-9 June 2022 in Davos. Under the motto "Linking knowledge to the real world" they used the time for professional exchange and networking.
For this year's USYS conference, the members of the Departement of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS) had to wait longer than usual: due to the pandemic, the 2021 conference had been cancelled. All this made the around 80 professors, postdocs, senior assistants, PhD students and staff all the more enjoy the time for intensive exchange and further training. For the first time, a few students were also present.
USYS Conference 2022 (Photos: Simon Schmid)
Structured programme
"There is probably hardly a department whose research topics are so heterogeneous and diverse," summarizes Tony Patt, professor of Climate Policy at D-USYS and president of the conference’s organizing committee. "That's precisely why we wanted to offer a program that focuses strongly on overarching themes." The programme on Tuesday was therefore all about teaching. Wednesday's focus was on outreach, politics and the public, while on Thursday the transfer of science into practice was addressed. Various highlights were provided by different guest speakers who joined for individual workshops, lectures and two panel discussions.
Highlights and a classic
At a panel on Climate Science and Policy, Sonia Seneviratne, Professor of Land-Climate Dynamics and Pius Krütli, Senior Scientist at ETH Zurich’s TdLab discussed with Michèle Andermatt from Gletscherinitative Schweiz, Urs Neu from Proclim and Philipp Wilhelm, Mayor of Davos. As moderator of the panel, it was Tony Patt who steered the conversation of whether researchers lose their role as "honest brokers" when they become involved in political decision-making processes. After the almost traditional one-hour walking tour from Davos Dorf to the Restaurant Schatzalp, individual conversations could be further deepened over cake and coffee.
A positive momentum
In a second panel on Thursday, three young scientists presented their science spinoffs: Nathalie Casas, Head of Technology at Climeworks, Clara Rowe, CEO from Restor and Patrick Rühs, Head of Science at Planted Foods AG. Talking with the young entrepreneurs, moderator Niki Gruber, Professor of Environmental Physics and deputy Department Head, detected a lot of positive energy and momentum.
The conference programme was put together by a total of 7 members of the organizing committee: For the second time, Tony Patt (IED) was on site as president of the organising committee. Sebastian Schemm (IAC), Mutian Niu (IAS), Denise Mitrano (IBP), Tom Crowther (IBZ) and Jaboury Ghazoul (ITED) represented the five other institutes of the department. Tobias Keller from the Communication team in D-USYS was in charge of the on-site organization.
Information about the USYS Conference 2022
View the full programme of the USYS Conference 2022 external page linked here or as Download PDF (PDF, 503 KB).
All documents and information about the conference have been uploaded on the event app external page Whova. The event information will be stored on the app for 3 months. During this period, participants can still download handouts of some of the presentations on the event app. However, your contacts, messages, and scanned cards will not be removed.