Bern Hub, Switzerland
Bern Hub, Switzerland
WYSS ACADEMY FOR NATURE
Creating a New Relationship with Nature
The Wyss Academy for Nature at the University of Berne is a place of innovation, where research, business, policymakers and communities come together to co-design solutions for sustainable futures. We use the power of knowledge and the creativity of engagement to empower agents of change.
What we do...
Our mission is to transform scientific knowledge into action. We co-design and implement concrete projects across a swathe of regions and countries. This global structure facilitates replication of successes and learning. We currently operate Hubs in Central Europe (Bern, Switzerland), Southeast Asia, East Africa and South America.
MISSION AND VISION
The Academy for Nature
Our areas of action increase and align human wellbeing with biodiversity protection, sustainable land use and climate-friendly societies. Our fundamental world view sees human wellbeing as dependent on nature and intact ecosystems. To support this case, we conduct research and co-design solutions involving everybody. Together, we test concrete solutions and develop scalable projects worldwide.
The next ten years are crucial to reversing climate change, biodiversity loss and degradation of natural resources. As impacts are being felt worldwide, it becomes even more important to address inequality and climate injustice. The Wyss Academy for Nature understands current global challenges as systemic. As such, they require action, the spread of ideas and reciprocal learning in ‘solution-scapes’ at local, regional and global levels.
CONTEXT-SPECIFIC INNOVATION
Theory of Change
By involving diverse people with a common goal and by translating scientific findings into practice, we create new pathways to sustainability. Our team consists of researchers, diplomats, entrepreneurs and innovators collaborating with the business community, policymakers, civil society and communities to co-create strategies and practical results.In creating pathways to transformation, research becomes knowledge diplomacy.
We turn knowledge into action by forging links among disciplines and spheres of activity: We break out of the silos. Solutions become tangible through testing in our incubators. Collaboration takes place beyond divides. Diverging interests are addressed through co-design. Large-scale change starts to manifest by engaging policy and decision-makers worldwide. Positive experiences spread and replicate through local, regional and global networks.
RECENT NEWS
We are thrilled to announce that Sheila Funnell, Innovation & Impact Specialist, and Benson Okita, Hub Director, are joining the East Africa Hub Team! 🌿
CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS
Transformation through Art
Transformations to sustainability must address the whole human being. We believe that art, sensory and whole-body experiences of why change is both needed and possible add to our success. This is why we collaborate with artists and ‘sense-makers’ from all fields.
DECEMBER 15TH 2021 - MARCH 19TH 2022
Towards a Circular Society:
Learning from Nature
The current exhibition “Towards a Circular Society” focuses on the reflection of the concept of circularity to go beyond the buzzword circular economy and what we can learn from nature in this regard. To enable such a transformation, we need to look at transforming our society rather than just focusing on changing the economic system. Thus, the Wyss Academy wants to put its own theses on the "Circular Society" out in public for discussion. Together with actors from different sectors of society, we want to reflect on the theses in the context of this exhibition and beyond, adapting them throughout this exhibition, which will continuously change as well.
Funders
Partners and Friends
