On April 4, 2024, the Embassy of Switzerland hosted an event in partnership with the University of Zurich (UZH) with the aim of “Getting the Big Picture on Global Change and Biodiversity.”
The Ambassador of Switzerland, Jacques Pitteloud, welcomed UZH President, Professor Michael Schaepman, who is a prominent figure in geographic information science and remote sensing. The event kicked off with flash talks delivered by five distinguished professors from UZH. The brief but insightful presentations offered diverse perspectives on pressing issues related to global change and biodiversity, ranging from economics, law, ethics to ecology.
• Prof. Meredith Christine Schuman, Assistant Professor with dual affiliations to both the Department of Geography and the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
• Prof. Maria J. Santos, Professor of Earth Science Systems, Department of Geography, Faculty of Science
•Dr. Anna Deplazes Zemp, Project leader and member of the Steering Committee, URPP Global Change and Biodiversity, Ethics Research Institute, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
•Prof. Johannes Reich, Professor of Public Law, Environmental Law, and Energy Law, Faculty of Law
• Prof. Debjani Bhattacharyya, Professor for the History of the Anthropocene, Department of History, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
The presentations were followed by a dynamic panel discussion between Professor Michael Schaepman, President of UZH, and Dr. Kelly Kryc, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries and Lead for Arctic at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Moderated by Laura Delgado López, Visiting Fellow at the Americas Program of the CSIS Center for Strategic and International Studies, the discussion delved into the intersection of science, diplomacy, and environmental stewardship.
Throughout the dialogue, attendees were treated to a thought-provoking exchange of ideas, as Professor Schaepman and Dr. Kryc offered insights from their respective fields of expertise. The topics ranged from the role of Earth observation technologies in monitoring biodiversity to the importance of international collaboration in addressing environmental challenges, with a particular focus on the future and the potential solutions. The panel discussion, enriched by the expertise of the speakers and the moderator, provided attendees with a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding global change and biodiversity conservation. It underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific diplomacy in charting a sustainable path forward.
Following the panel discussion, the audience had the opportunity to engage in informal networking during a cocktail reception, fostering connections and stimulating further dialogue. Overall, the event proved to be a fruitful platform for intellectual exchange and collaboration, leaving participants inspired and equipped with new insights to tackle the pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Inspired by Switzerland’s globally recognized dual-education system, Governor Kevin Stitt (OK) and Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), has...
