Fostering and connecting research, science and education

The Academia Raetica hosted its annual general meeting on June 11, 2021 at the Medical Campus in Davos Wolfgang. The president, Dr. Britta Allgöwer, welcomed about thirty representatives of the member and partner institutions as well as guests from the scientific and educational community, some of whom were connected via video conference.

In their welcoming messages, cantonal councilor Dr. Jon Domenic Parolini and Cantonal Councilor Iris Hoffmann-Stiffler outlined ideas for the future of Graubünden as a research and education location and Davos as a "science city". "Graubünden as a research location needs effective promotion of young researchers, interdisciplinary further education and networking for researchers at universities and in industry," said Parolini. Hoffmann added: "Research and science have a high priority in Davos, which will increase in the future." The annual meeting was used by the member and partner institutions to inform each other about the highlights of the past year. The subsequent aperitif provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange about new, cross-institutional project ideas.

The stronger connection through joint projects is also a goal of the new managing director Barbara Haller Rupf: "The broad spectrum of institutions from medicine to natural sciences to cultural and economic sciences, as well as the jointly researched and managed mountain area are our basis." In addition to accompanying and supporting scientists, Academia Raetica is eager to engage in interdisciplinary projects, for example in the areas of biodiversity or science and ethics. And last but not least, it is its intention that in the future everyone in and around Graubünden will know that research and attractive tertiary education can be pursued here.

The previous managing director, Duri Bezzola, looked back on a business year 2020 that was marked by the pandemic, but nevertheless successful. Following his remarks, Bezzola was given a farewell by the assembly with great applause. In the last six years, he succeeded in firmly rooting the Academia Raetica institutionally and in helping to set the course for research and innovation in the canton of Graubünden. For example, the decision for the new Climate Change, Extremes, and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Center (CERC) at the SLF in Davos and the establishment of the Center for Data Analysis, Visualization and Simulation (DAViS) at the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden fell during Bezzola's time as director of Academia Raetica.