UNI NOVA – Research Magazine of the University of Basel

• Dossier

  Older women and hormones.

  Text: Irène Dietschi / When it comes to women’s health, geriatric medicine has been focusing on reproductive organs and hormonal aspects for decades. Yet healthy aging is first and foremost a mental and psychological process, according to Professor of Gynecology Johannes Bitzer, former chief physician at the Women’s Health Clinic, University Hospital Basel.

• 
  Dossier

  Demographics and the labor market.

  Text: Jörg Becher / What effect does an aging society have on the labor market? Instead of simply speculating, economics professor Conny Wunsch wants to deliver concrete answers – using a realistic model.

• 
  Dossier

  Combating muscular atrophy.

  Text: Martin Hicklin / Even in older individuals, strength training helps to combat the loss of muscle mass. Known as sarcopenia, this “curse of old age” is the focus of a research project at the Biozentrum.

• Dossier

  Bridging the generation gap through exercise.

  Text: Céline Eugster / Children and older people alike often get less exercise than they need. Sports researchers in Basel are tackling this problem with projects aimed at getting the two groups moving – together.

• 
  In conversation

  “Humanities for the 21st century.”

  Interview: Samuel Schlaefli / The humanities of the 21st century will be computer-based,
  believes Gerhard Lauer, Professor of Digital Humanities.
  Digitalization is about more than just facilitating access to research
  material, he explains – it brings completely new analytical
  methods to the humanities.

• 
  Portrait

  History’s biggest fan.

  Text: Christoph Dieffenbacher / A researcher at the Center for Jewish Studies, Erik Petry is devoted to remembrance and making sure the past is not forgotten. His other great passion is sports – as an academic, as a fan and as an active participant.

• 
  Research

  Marijuana and happiness research.

  Text: David Hermann / Users of medical cannabis in the USA experience greater mental well-being if access to it is liberalized. This finding from happiness research by Basel based economist Alois Stutzer could also have important implications for Switzerland.

• 
  Research

  New neurons for the brain.

  Text: Yvonne Vahlensieck / New neurons are made by stem cells located in the adult mammalian brain. Much remains to be understood about this process, known as neurogenesis – but there are hopes that one day it could be harnessed to promote brain repair.

• 
  Research

  Criminalizing the veil?

  Text: Tobias Ehrenbold / Switzerland is set to vote on whether covering one’s own face should be a punishable offense. Having weighed up the arguments employed by proponents of the initiative, Basel legal scholar Bijan Fateh-Moghadam concludes that a general ban on face coverings is incompatible with the country’s liberal federal constitution.