UNI NOVA – Research Magazine of the University of Basel

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  Opinion

  Should medication still be used after the expiry date, Emre Çörek?

  Text: Emre Çörek, Toxicologist / Rising healthcare costs and bottlenecks in the supply of certain medicines are leading to discussions of whether expired drugs can — and should — continue to be used. Answers from a regulatory perspective.

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  In pictures

  Mysterious microplastics.

  Text: Angelika Jacobs / Could the Rhine contain more microplastics than previously assumed? The research group “Man-Society-Environment” aims to shed light on this issue.

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  Portrait

  A tenacious researcher.

  Text: Irène Dietschi / Mirjam Christ-Crain is setting new standards. Her motto? “Never give up.” The endocrinologist is even making advances in fields beyond her own – and always for the benefit of patients.

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  Research

  Plant’s favorite bacteria to promote crop yield.

  Text: Santina Russo / To optimize their growth, plants shape the bacterial community on and around their roots. Finding out how they do so is key to develop new microbiological products for greater sustainability in agriculture.

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  Research

  A necessary burden.

  Text: Noëmi Kern / Sometimes, the word “ballast” has a negative connotation of “burden”. Yet, ballast was a crucial resource in global seafaring.

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  Research

  Molecules in full gallop.

  Text: Yvonne Vahlensieck / An interdisciplinary team of scientists investigates how exactly individual biomolecules move around. One of the tricks the researchers use involves tiny pores that only allow one molecule to slip through at a time.

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  Research

  The ABCs of programming.

  Text: Samanta Siegfried / For almost 10 years, the PrimaLogo project has given Basel schoolchildren the chance to learn to program in primary school. The project simultaneously acts as continuing education for teachers.

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  Alumni

  Hooked on politics.

  Text: Marion Maurer / In his youth, An Lac Truong Dinh memorized the names of Switzerland’s parliament members. Today, the Basel alumnus works as a political advisor to Swiss Federal Council member Elisabeth Baume-Schneider.

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  Alumni

  “I wish we were braver as a Church.”

  Interview: AlumniBasel* / Priscilla Schwendimann came to Basel to study theology. Today, as a pastor in the Reformed Church, she advocates for joyful and empowering faith.