UNI NOVA – Research Magazine of the University of Basel

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  Dossier

  How mucus sugars help protect us from harmful microbes.

  Text: Ori Schipper / Our mucous membranes contain a surprising defense system: Complex sugar molecules that can protect us from the harmful effects of fungi and bacteria.

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  In pictures

  How compost protects plants.

  Text: Angelika Jacobs / Compost can protect plants against diseases such as fungal infection when mixed into potting soil or sprayed on the leaves as a watery extract. Researchers at the University of Basel are working with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) to identify the microbes in the compost that provide this protection. These could be used to make new biological agents to protect plants.

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  Opinion

  Banning social media for young people, Professor Gradl-Dietsch?

  Text: Gertraud Gradl-Dietsch, psychiatrist / A ban aims to protect young people from the risks of social media, but what would they also be losing out on? Perspectives from child and adolescent psychiatry.

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  Opinion

  Banning social media for young people, Professor Wolfers?

  Text: Lara Wolfers, media psychologist / A ban aims to protect young people from the risks of social media, but what would they also be losing out on? Perspectives from media psychology.

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  Portrait

  Susanna Zimmermann – Contemplator of complex forms.

  Text: Angelika Jacobs / Becoming a mathematician wasn’t an obvious choice for Susanna Zimmermann. Today, she is a professor and one of the leading researchers in her field. She’s also learned to set boundaries along the way.

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  Research

  Noah’s Ark for the global elite: Safe havens from climate change

  Text: Samuel Schlaefli / Exclusive safari lodges in Namibia, luxury resorts in Antarctica or smart cities in Mauritius: Global elites are creating havens for a world shaped by climate change. A University of Basel research project examines how these places take shape and what they mean for local communities.

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  Research

  Crisis and disaster in antiquity.

  Text: Christoph Dieffenbacher / Ancient historians interpreted difficult times very differently than we do today. Classicist Gunther Martin believes their perspectives are especially worth revisiting in our own troubled times.

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  Research

  Effective correspondence: How letters encourage patients to switch to generic drugs.

  Text: Tobias von Rohr / A Swiss study found that patients who received personalized information from their health insurer were around four times more likely to choose cheaper medication. The findings also helped prompt a change in federal policy.

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  Alumni

  Salome Thommen: The alchemist of odds and ends.

  Text: Evelyn Weissheim / Living sustainably works best when it fits seamlessly into daily routine. Salome Thommen wants, above all, to inspire people.