Science, Technology and the Making of Modern Switzerland

04.11.2026 18:15 – 19:15

Science and technology have played a pivotal role in the history of Switzerland. Since the mid-nineteenth century, politicians, officials, and experts constructed the federal state through a series of technical projects—such as railways, tunnels, and hydroelectric dams—and scientific endeavors ranging from the founding of ETH Zurich to the scientific management of forests, carving out a novel space of governance beyond cantonal sovereignty. In the twentieth century, industrial research in chemistry and other disciplines became a pillar of Switzerland’s economic model, while scientific institutions from CERN to the SLF strengthened Switzerland’s international standing.

This round table examines the contributions of STS scholars and historians to understanding the intertwined political and technical construction of modern Switzerland, as well as how science and technology have shaped Switzerland’s place in international relations and the global economy. The panelists will also discuss what such studies have contributed to theory-building in STS and the history of science.

Lieu

Musée d'histoire des sciences

entrée libre