Swiss Chemistry Science Night 2021

13. September 2021 – Just recently at a dinner party, I had the pleasure of sitting next to a couple, both chemists with PhDs. I asked each of them what distinguished them as chemists.

He said that he and his fellow alumni who would still meet nearly forty years after graduation, had found that only just 10% of former chemistry graduates had chosen to work as chemists in the long term. He himself nowadays works in computer science, and his wife runs a foundation. She then added that as a chemist, she had learned to always ask, „Does this make sense?“ Originally, if I were to ask myself that question across the political spectrum, I’m not sure I could always answer yes – but this as an aside. 

First of all, I would like to thank you very much for tonight’s invitation. I didn’t know that there was a Swiss Chemistry Science Night. When I heard about it for the first time, I was immediately reminded of my – what I call – Swiss Chemistry Days, I was reminded of my chemistry lessons in high school. I loved those lessons because they always promised action. My chemistry teacher at that time hardly ever achieved the expected results in an experiment, but those often dramatic results were all the more memorable. I remember well how, after the explosions he created, he would slowly reappear from behind his desk, his face red and expression close to despair. Today, however, I must confess that I remember these experiments better than the contents of the textbooks. Accordingly, my knowledge of the chemical sciences is unfortunately rather modest.

All the more, I feel do honored to have been invited here to give the welcome address. As a politician, I was probably also invited to the event because the motto (“mouto”) of this evening is „Discovery and Innovation“. Both, it is often said, are rarely found in politics. 

However, as a member of the Committee for Science, Education and Culture of the Council of States, I can reassure you: We are well aware of the importance of discovery and innovation, as well as of research and science in general for our country, since education is our most prominent raw material. After all, there is a close interconnection, a mutual dependence between politics, science and industry. This was particularly evident last year– and again this year. I would like to briefly illustrate this with three examples. 

First, think of the Covid Task Force. Especially during the Corona crisis, science and research proved their immense importance. Our task force was quickly formed. From one day to the next, the Federal Council had an indispensable advisory body at its disposal. The public was impressed and, for once, even quite proud of the vast know-how and knowledge gained within an extremely short time. 

Personally, however, I got the impression that individual scientists left the task force when their opinion did not command a majority in the committee. As a result, some of them no longer acted as experts, but rather as activists. Much like us politicians: we think democracy is at its best when we are in the majority… Nevertheless, the task force and the scientists did and continue to do excellent work. 

Second. Within a very short time, effective vaccines against covid have also been developed. These have rapidly passed the regulatory tests and received approval in an expedited (expedaited) manner. This rapid pace needs to be acknowledged once in a while. Especially when it is regularly claimed that everything in Berne procedes so slowly. Especially with regard to the federal administration, which has this similar reputation for being dynamic. (Bazinga). That rapid regulation was indeed „A Celebration of Chemical Research“! 

You, ladies and gentlemen, also played a major role in this development, directly or indirectly. Thank you! The expertise of scientists has more than ever been in great demand during the pandemic crisis. The indispensability of research and development was impressively demonstrated with the vaccine. Here, too, the cooperation of politics, science and industry was essential. Now let us continue to work together to convince all those still unvaccinated, those who suspect a conspi(i)racy behind vaccinations, those who believe they would be receiving an intravenous (intravinos) spy chip, and those who would have preferred a Russian or Chinese vaccine. Let us convince them that the double jab is key to our freedom.

Third, next week, the fall session begins. Then we will focus on an issue that is of special importance to you. In the Council of States, we will decide on the release of the second Swiss cohesion contribution to selected EU member states. Following the breakdown of negotiations at the end of May on the institutional framework agreement, the Federal Council wants to use the rapid release of this contribution to reaffirm that our country remains a reliable partner. Since the EU mentions this contribution as a condition for negotiating an association with Switzerland to Horizon Europe, the bill is also of key importance for our research and innovation hub. I’m sure you know and have perhaps already experienced it yourselves: Swiss scientists and researchers are currently excluded from the most important parts of the EU research program. This needs to change as quickly as possible. That is what I am working toward. 

Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight we celebrate the winners of the 2020 and 2021 Swiss Chemical Society Awards. Tonight we also celebrate the unquenchable scientific thirst for knowledge, tenacity and perseverance, the immense commitment under – especially in 2020 and 21 – very difficult conditions, the pursuit of excellence by women and men in the fields of chemistry. My heartfelt congratulations to all the award winners! You have accomplished incredible feats. I wish you the necessary “stick-with-it”. Further, I wish you the critical bite and passion, and last but not least successful experiments and research results that make headlines around the world. I am sure that we have a future Nobel Prize winner among us today. 

Let me conclude by referring to the chemist couple that I mentioned in the beginning. According to them, 90% of you – at least among the younger ones – will be working in a completely different field in a few years. Statistically, that would not be surprising. With your education, with your skills and competencies, with your interests and qualifications, you can be employed and be of great value anywhere. I am sure: even in politics. Who knows? I would be delighted. But in any case, remember that science, industry and politics are intertwined, and cooperation and exchange are always indispensable to all those involved. Above all, don’t forget to ask yourselves again and again, not only in all your work but in your life: „Does this make sense? 

My very best wishes for your future. Thank you for your attention.