Supervising doctoral students. A Conversation on the challenges and delights of doctoral education with Prof em. Dame Sarah Springman, Principal of St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford.

What makes a healthy research culture? What can “healthy” mean in an academic market driven by the logic of “publish or perish” (or “publish and perish”), the obstacles surrounding academic careers and manifold external pressures from politics, media and the public? How can universities create and uphold a healthy research culture? Four current and former university leaders delve into these and other aspects of healthy research cultures, reflecting on their own role as shapers of academic culture.

We are delighted to welcome Professor em. Dame Sarah Springman as Personality in Residence at SQUARE. Prof. em. Springman is Principal at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford. From 2015-2021, she was Rector of ETH Zurich.

All PhD students are kindly invited to have brunch with Prof em. Dame Sarah Springman, former Rector of ETH Zurich and Principal of the St. Hilda’s College at the University of Oxford to discuss how they experience research culture. Prof em. Springman has vast experience with all aspects of doctoral studies. Make use of the opportunity to make your voice heard: what does research culture mean from the perspective of early career researchers? What are the challenges that PhD students face? What would need to change in their fields’ research culture? What do PhD students expect from their supervisor, the university and what can PhD students themselves contribute to healthy research environments? 

In ihrem Buch beleuchten Prof. Dr. Miriam Meckel und Dr. Léa Steinacker, wie Künstliche Intelligenz unser Denken und Handeln verändert. Sie zeigen auf, welche Chancen dieser Wandel eröffnet und welche Rahmenbedingungen notwendig sind, um ihn menschlich und kreativ zu gestalten. Wie nutzen wir KI, um effizienter zu arbeiten, ohne uns selbst zu ersetzen? Eine Einladung, über die Zukunft unserer Intelligenz in einer sich wandelnden Welt nachzudenken.

Peacekeeping operations are deployed to reduce armed conflicts around the world. Yet, does peacekeeping actually work? Given the growing numbers of armed conflict and rising geopolitical tensions, it is extremely relevant and timely to discuss these questions with experts in the field.

Peace missions are the main instrument of the United Nations (UN) to promote peace around the world. They are central to the lives of people in conflict contexts who are affected by violence. This interactive exhibition at the SQUARE will allow you to learn about the main facts and trends related to UN peace missions; explore the different types of activities they engage in; reflect on how to assess their effectiveness; and better understand Switzerland’s contribution to UN peace missions.

This study investigates the effectiveness of AI companions in alleviating loneliness. Through six studies, it is found that consumers use AI companions to reduce loneliness, with effectiveness comparable to interacting with another person and greater than watching videos. The research also highlights that users often underestimate the positive impact of these AI interactions. A longitudinal study confirms that AI companions consistently reduce loneliness over a week, and the key factors in this reduction are the chatbot’s performance and its ability to make users feel heard.