Nextcasts

Nextcasts | From Lab Bench to Market: Unlocking Innovation at Universities with Eva Maria Håkanson & Darren Cooke

Swissnex in San Francisco — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0800

In this episode of "Nextcasts" from Swissnex in San Francisco, we dive into the fascinating world of entrepreneurship and innovation in the academic sphere. Our special guests, Darren Cook from UC Berkeley and Eva Maria from the University of Zurich, share their unique insights and experiences in fostering startup culture within their respective institutions.

Darren, leading the Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Center at UC Berkeley, discusses the various initiatives and programs like the I-Corps and Skydeck, designed to translate academic research into successful commercial ventures. His journey from an engineer to a patent attorney and now an educator and mentor for budding entrepreneurs highlights the diverse paths one can take in the innovation ecosystem.

Eva Maria, the Deputy Head of Innovation at the University of Zurich, shares her perspective on the differences and similarities between the innovation ecosystems in Zurich and Silicon Valley. She emphasizes the role of cultural factors like networking, risk-taking, and openness to new ideas in shaping an effective innovation environment.

Throughout the podcast, both guests delve into the challenges and opportunities in university tech transfer, the importance of understanding market needs, and the value of structured programs in guiding researchers from idea to impact. Their stories and insights provide a unique look into the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of academic entrepreneurship.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship, offering valuable lessons and inspiration for aspiring innovators and researchers looking to make a tangible impact beyond the laboratory.

Visionary Crossroads: Charting the Evolution of Silicon Valley and Swissnex in San Francisco with Christian Simm, Founder of Swissnex in San Francisco, Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 6

Swissnex in San Francisco — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 22:00:00 -0800

In “Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 6”, the CEO of Swissnex in San Francisco, Emilia Pasquier, talks with Christian Sim, the founder of Swissnex of Swissnex in San Francisco, about his background and the early days of Silicon Valley. They discuss the excitement and dreams of the internet age, the Silicon Valley mindset, and the evolution of the tech hub. They also explore the intersection of science and art, the importance of cultural programming, and the future of Swissnex. Christian shares his vision for the organization and emphasizes the need for experimentation and interdisciplinary collaboration. They conclude by discussing the challenges of the future, including the impact of artificial intelligence.

About METROPOLIS:

The episode is part of the nextcasts METROPOLIS season, which is a piece of Swissnex in San Francisco’s 20-anniversary programming METROPOLIS. For two decades, Swissnex in San Francisco has connected the dots in Arts, Creatives, Academia, and Innovation between Switzerland and the US West Coast and continues to do so. Find out more about the METROPOLIS program and our 20-year anniversary on our website: https://swissnex.org/sanfrancisco/news/metropolis/

About Swissnex in San Francisco:

Swissnex in San Francisco is an initiative of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation and is part of Switzerland’s network abroad managed by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

Our vision at Swissnex in San Francisco is to connect tomorrow by empowering the next generation of innovators to collaborate and create futures in which the planet and society thrive. We present a variety of programs in collaboration with Swiss partners for the next-gen innovators from Switzerland.

https://swissnex.org/sanfrancisco/

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear when new episodes are released, or follow us on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/company/464455/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/swissnexsf/).

Imagining Tomorrow: Fostering Foresight and the Artist's Role in Future Cities with Sara Skvirsky, Research Director at the Institute for the Future, Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 5

Swissnex in San Francisco — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0800

In “Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 5”, the CEO of Swissnex in San Francisco, Emilia Pasquier, talks with Sara Skvirsky, Research Director at the Institute for the Future (IFTF). They discuss the importance of thinking about the future and developing a foresight mindset. Sara explains that while we can't predict the future, we can be smart about looking at what's changing around us and imagining a range of possibilities. She emphasizes the role of artists in shaping the future and suggests that cities need to create spaces for social connections and collaboration. They also discuss the impact of technology and climate change on the future of cities. The episode concludes with an exercise to train the imagination muscle.

Find out more about the Institute for the Future on their website.

If you'd like to check out the book Sara mentioned in the podcast, find Imaginable here and check out the online community Urgent Optimists.

About METROPOLIS:

About Swissnex in San Francisco:

https://swissnex.org/sanfrancisco/

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear when new episodes are released, or follow us on Linkedin and Instagram

Crafting Connections: Exploring Interspecies Bonds and Sustainable Urbanism with Carolina Marques Bernard, Book Designer and Researcher, Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 4

Swissnex in San Francisco — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:30:00 -0800

In “Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 4”, the CEO of Swissnex in San Francisco, Emilia Pasquier, talks with Carolina Marques Bernard a book designer and independent researcher. Carolina discusses her work in book design and design research, with a focus on culture, anthropology, and the arts. She introduces her project, Speaking Bread, which explores interspecies relationships that emerge from the process of making artisanal bread. Carolina emphasizes the importance of understanding the agency and vitality of matter and the need for ethical and moral change in our relationship with the environment. She also discusses the role of food in cities and shares tips for contributing to more sustainable urban futures.

About METROPOLIS:

About Swissnex in San Francisco:

https://swissnex.org/sanfrancisco/

Building a Circular Future: Redefining Sustainability in Construction with Circular Engineering for Architecture from ETH Zürich, Nextcasts, Metropolis Episode 3

Swissnex in San Francisco — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 21:45:00 -0800

In “Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 3”, the CEO of Swissnex in San Francisco, Emilia Pasquier, talks with Arabelle de Saussure from Circular Engineering for Architecture (CEA) at ETH Zürich. The CEA develops research on matching reused architectural materials & projects through digitalization for circularity.

Arabelle and Emilia cover a variety of topics, ranging from current challenges in construction to the CEA’s approach to more circular construction methods as well as their general outlook on the future of cities.

About METROPOLIS:

About Swissnex in San Francisco:

https://swissnex.org/sanfrancisco/

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear when new episodes are released, or follow us on Linkedin and Instagram.

Rethinking Wastewater Management: Innovations in Nutrient Recycling with VunaNexus, Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 2

Swissnex in San Francisco — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 21:30:00 -0800

In “Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 2”, the CEO of Swissnex in San Francisco, Emilia Pasquier, talks with David DeChambrier from Vuna Nexus, a Swiss Startup with the goal to reduce water waste by recycling urine.

David and Emilia cover a variety of topics, ranging from the origins of Vuna Nexus to the different types of water treatment as well as their general outlook on the future of cities.

About METROPOLIS:

The episode is part of the Nextcasts METROPOLIS season, which is a piece of Swissnex in San Francisco’s 20-anniversary programming METROPOLIS. For two decades, Swissnex in San Francisco has connected the dots in Arts, Creatives, Academia, and Innovation between Switzerland and the US West Coast and continues to do so. Find out more about the METROPOLIS program and our 20-year anniversary on our website: https://swissnex.org/sanfrancisco/news/metropolis/

About Swissnex in San Francisco:

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear when new episodes are released, or follow us on Linkedin and Instagram.

Creating Sustainable Cities: The Architects' Perspective with MacIver-Ek Chevroulet, Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 1, MacIver-Ek Chevroulet

Swissnex in San Francisco — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:59:00 -0800

Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 1

In “Nextcasts: METROPOLIS Episode 1”, the CEO of Swissnex in San Francisco, Emilia Pasquier, talks with Anna MacIver-EK and Axel Chevroulet from MacIver-Ek Chevroulet, a Swiss architecture office.

Anna, Axel, and Emilia cover a variety of topics, from the difference between Scandinavian and Swiss approaches over their project, “Pétanque Renanaise” and their general outlook on the future of cities.

About METROPOLIS:

About Swissnex in San Francisco:

https://swissnex.org/sanfrancisco/

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear when new episodes are released, or follow us on Linkedin and Instagram.

nextcasts Next Stop: Autonomous Vehicles

swissnex San Francisco — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 01:26:43 -0800

In this episode, produced in collaboration with Katarina Hagstedt of Tinkamedia and SBB (Swiss Federal Railways), we look into the world of autonomous vehicles from the view points of SBB’s technology and innovation experts in their outposts in San Francisco, Tel Aviv, and Shanghai. Get insights from these cities where the future is being created and learn about how far away we are from replacing our motor vehicles with autonomous vehicles.   Music in this episode came from Blue Dot Sessions.

nextcasts: Space, Science, and Switzerland (Episode 3)

swissnex San Francisco — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 17:18:39 -0800

Here is the final episode in our special podcast series produced in collaboration with the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco titled Space, Science and Switzerland. Featuring expert interviews, the podcast explores Switzerland’s involvement in space research, challenges we face on Earth such as climate change, NASA’s recent Mission to Mars, and the role of international law and the UN in space. In episode three, we bridge science and engineering with art and community, exploring not only the technicalities behind the missions to Mars, but also what it takes to set up a new society in Mars-like conditions if humans were to colonize the red planet in the future. Hear from Daniel Fürst, Vice President External Relations of Ruag Space, and artist/academic Gene Kogan, live from Mars College, a sustainable community being built in the Californian desert. This episode is hosted by Perrine Huber and Jale Yoldas, and edited by Gravitr.

nextcasts: Space, Science, and Switzerland (Episode 2)

swissnex San Francisco — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 02:34:44 -0800

In the second episode of Space, Science, and Switzerland we explore the role of the UN in space and international space law featuring an interview of Simonetta di Pippo, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and Dr. Natália Archinard, Deputy Head of the Science, Education, Transport and Space Section at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, and Chair of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).   This episode is hosted by Jale Yoldas, Cultural and Public Diplomacy Officer at the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco, co-hosted by Perrine Huber, and edited by Gravitr.

nextcasts: Space, Science, and Switzerland (Episode 1)

swissnex San Francisco — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:14:14 -0800

We are excited to announce a special podcast series in collaboration with the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco titled Space, Science and Switzerland. Featuring expert interviews, the podcast explores Switzerland’s involvement in space research, challenges we face on Earth such as climate change, NASA’s recent Mission to Mars, and the role of international law and the UN in space. The first episode features an interview with Maria Santos, Professor of Earth System Science at the University of Zurich (UZH), who discusses how space data and research is used to better understand challenges we face on Earth. Maria Santos has worked in California with both UC Berkeley and Stanford, and in Switzerland with UZH, and has collaborated with agencies such as NASA and ESA. This episode is produced and hosted by Perrine Huber. Image Courtesy Jean Menezes

In Conversation With Gilles Jobin at the New Frontier Exhibition at Sundance Film Festival 2020

swissnex San Francisco — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 14:01:37 -0800

Every year Swiss artists working in new media present their work at the New Frontier Exhibition at Sundance Film Festival in Utah USA – one of the world’s premier independent film festivals. This exhibition showcases narrative worlds that leverage new technologies, immersive designs, game theory, transmedia activism, and shifts in the boundaries of authorship. We spoke with Dance Trail’s lead artist: Gilles Jobin during the festival – hear our conversation recorded live from Park City in Utah. Image: Still from Dance Trail by Gilles Jobin, Camilo De Martino, Tristan Siodlak, and Susana Panades Diaz. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

swissnex Fireside Chat: Imagining New Realities 003

swissnex San Francisco — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 12:51:31 -0800

The current global pandemic is impacting every aspect of our lives. In a series of online events, our CEO Gioia Deucher is in conversation with two thought-leaders from the US and Switzerland to discuss the future, and our new normal. Hear from Ajay Chander, VP, Research (AI, Prosperity, Foresight) at Fujitsu Labs of America, and Thierry Duvanel, Director of Collaborative Innovation at Bühler Group in our latest episode of nextcasts which is produced from the live-event recording. Image: Instant Space: a series of curtains designed by Zurich-based architects Nele Dechmann and Ortreport

Special Nextcasts Series Signals of the Future Recorded LIVE From CES (Episode 4)

swissnex San Francisco — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 16:47:28 -0800

In our final special episode of nextcasts recorded at CES earlier this year, our CEO Gioia Deucher interviews Michael Hengartner, the President of the University of Zurich. They discuss the importance of life-long learning and the role human connection plays in education, innovation, and progress. Image courtesy PRS

Special nextcasts Series: Signals of the Future Recorded LIVE From CES (Episode 3)

swissnex San Francisco — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 23:41:39 -0800

We interviewed the Swiss Ambassador to the USA Jacques Pitteloud at CES in Las Vegas. Hear his perspective on Switzerland’s role as a global innovation leader, and how a country the size of the City of New York is able to be one of the leading global hubs for biotech, food tech and pharmaceuticals. He also gives insight into Switzerland’s role as the number one R&D investor in the USA. Our CEO Gioia Deucher is the special host guest of these episodes. Here’s her conversation on the Swiss Tech Stage with the Swiss Ambassador to the USA Jacques Pitteloud. Image courtesy PRS

Special nextcasts Series: Signals of the Future Recorded LIVE From CES (Episode 2)

swissnex San Francisco — Mon, 25 May 2020 00:02:44 -0800

swissnex kicked off the new decade with a full program of activities that commenced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. 30 Swiss startups presented their innovations at the Swiss Tech Pavilion presented by PRS, Switzerland Global Enterprise, digitalswitzerland and swissnex at the world’s leading global tech conference. This is the second episode of our special nextcasts Series: Signals of the Future recorded LIVE during the conference. Our CEO Gioia Deucher is the special host guest of these episodes. Here’s her conversation on the Swiss Tech Stage with Andreas Meyer CEO of SBB. Image courtesy SBB

Special nextcasts Series: Signals of the Future Recorded LIVE From CES (episode 1)

swissnex San Francisco — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 23:29:50 -0800

swissnex San Francisco kicked off the new decade with a full program of activities that commenced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. 30 Swiss startups presented their innovations at the Swiss Tech Pavilion presented by PRS, Switzerland Global Enterprise, digitalswitzerland and swissnex SF at the world’s leading global tech conference. In this special episode of nextcasts, our CEO, Gioia Deucher, interviews Martin Vetterli, EPFL President, and Joel Mesot, ETH President, LIVE on stage at the Swiss Tech Pavilion. Image courtesy Presence Switzerland

nextcasts: Episode 8 - To the Moon and Beyond | The Past, Present and Future of Space Research

swissnex San Francisco — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 17:00:06 -0800

50 years ago, President John F. Kennedy made a promise to the world to take on one of the biggest challenges of the time and boldly go where no one had gone before. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 touched down on the lunar surface, safely delivering Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the first humans to land on the moon. The Swiss Solar Wind Composition Experiment, devised by the University of Bern and the Swiss National Science Foundation, was the only non-American experiment to be part of the Apollo landings. To celebrate this anniversary we discussed the past, present and future of space exploration with Switzerland’s first astronaut Claude Nicolier, Muriel Richard-Noca from the CleanSpace One mission (and who worked at NASA for 12 years in the Mars Program and at Switzerland’s Space Center in Lausanne), Jill Tarter from SETI Research (Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and Eugene Tu the Center Director of Nasa Ames Research Centre.

nextcasts: Episode 7 - Resetting Normal: From Digital Fabrication to the Post-Anthropocene

swissnex San Francisco — Thu, 30 May 2019 18:51:54 -0800

Have you ever thought about what it takes to build a house in our digital age? In this episode we chat to architect and ETH Professor Matthias Kohler, Arup Fellow and Global Director of Arup Foresight Chris Luebkeman, and swissnex San Francisco’s Emina Reissinger about how new technologies are shaping our built environment. Mattias Kohler is one of the people behind the current exhibition in the swissnex Gallery, How to Build a House: Architectural Research in the Digital Age, curated by Hannes Mayer and Sarah Schneider of Gramazio Kohler Research. Chris Luebkeman is a longtime collaborator of swissnex. In 2016, Arup Foresight, the Deloitte Center for the Edge, and swissnex SF partnered to co-host a series of foresight workshops, titled AfterWork, on the future of work, with the goal to share insights and communities.

nextcasts: Episode 6 - Robots & the Future of Education

swissnex San Francisco — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 01:35:21 -0800

Will robots be the teachers of the future? In this episode we chat to Selim Benayat, CEO & Co-Founder of Rosie Reality, an augmented reality game that teaches kids the concept of coding. Benayat, a swisnex Startup Camp alumni, discusses the future of education and shares insight into his startup journey: from raising funds, to building a multi-disciplinary team, and working in Switzerland & San Francisco.

nextcasts: Episode 5 - Freedom of Assembly in the Digital Age

swissnex San Francisco — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 21:46:30 -0800

What is the role of social media in the ways people mobilize worldwide? In our latest podcast, we spoke with Jonathan Andrew, Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy, a joint center of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. He visited swissnex during a trip to Silicon Valley with Clément Voule, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association. Episode 5 is hosted by special guest, Benjamin Bollmann, Deputy CEO, swissnex SF.

nextcasts: Episode 4 - Swiss art & tech at Sundance Film Festival

swissnex San Francisco — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 05:10:38 -0800

This episode features an interview with Imverse, the Swiss 3D-graphics company, and EPFL spin-off, that develops content creation software in virtual reality, mixed reality and filmmaking. We also interview Maria Guta, the Swiss based artist who collaborated with Imverse on "Interlooped" which premieres at the New Frontiers exhibition at Sundance Film Festival on January 24.

nextcasts: Episode 3 - Beneath the Sea

swissnex San Francisco — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 06:52:35 -0800

Coral reefs are dying at an alarming rate around the world due to coral bleaching caused by climate change. In this episode, hear from Marie Griesmar, an artist undertaking a science communication fellowship at swissnex San Francisco, who is tackling this issue by creating generative coral reef structures that promote coral regrowth.

nextcasts: Episode 2 - On Bodily Self-Perception and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

swissnex San Francisco — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 22:25:28 -0800

Our second episode of nextcasts features an interview with two members of the team behind RE/ME, an experimental, immersive technology, created by a team of four artists and scientists, that uses vibration and sound stimuli to change bodily self-perception. Hear from Diego Maranan and Frank Loesche about the process of working in an interdisciplinary team during their recent residency at swissnex San Francisco.

nextcasts: Episode 1 - On Human And Machine Interaction

swissnex San Francisco — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 22:43:16 -0800

A conversation with Jonathon Keats exploring the future of how humans interact with machines.

Olivier Dessibourg with Ivan Oransky

swissnex San Francisco — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 20:08:19 -0800

Olivier Dessibourg, president of the Swiss Association for Science Journalism, interviews Ivan Oransky of Retraction Watch on finding stories in the scientific process.

Pascaline Minet with Amanda Mascarelli

swissnex San Francisco — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 21:28:14 -0800

Le Temps science writer Pascaline Minet talks to “Sapiens” managing editor Amanda Mascarelli on crafting stories that connect with the general public.

Aurélie Coulon with Curtis Brainard

swissnex San Francisco — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 19:28:55 -0800

Aurélie Coulon of Radio TeleSuisse interviews the former president of the World Federation of Science Journalists, Curtis Brainard (Scientific American) on emergent trends in SciComm.

Daniel Saraga interviews Martin Rock

swissnex San Francisco — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 18:39:35 -0800

Daniel Saraga, Head of Science Communication at the Swiss National Science Foundation, talks to Martin Rock of San Francisco’s Exploratorium on engaging the public in science.

Ashley Yeager and Kristin E.D. Coan

swissnex San Francisco — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:07:14 -0800

Science Freelancers Ashley Yeager and Kristin E.D. Coan talk about the intricacies behind writing thoughtful profiles of women in science.

Jacopo Pasotti interviews Carl Zimmer

swissnex San Francisco — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 18:18:58 -0800

Science journalist Jacopo Pasotti talks to New York Times science writer and Yale University instructor Carl Zimmer successful science writing.

This Wachter interviews Wendy Zukerman

swissnex San Francisco — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:07:34 -0800

Swiss radio journalist and independent podcaster This Wachter talks to Wendy Zukerman from Gimlet Media’s “Science Vs.,” on the importance of fun in putting together a science podcast.