TOWARDS CONVIVIAL SCIENCES - the new book by Critical Scientists Switzerland
BEYOND THE FIX - the podcast by Critical Scientists Switzerland
Blog Post ISOE
Rethinking Science for Socio-Ecological Tranformation
What forms of knowledge shape our society? In our blog post for the German Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE), we explore how convivial sciences could pave the way for socio-ecological transformation.
Book review
From the critique of science to ‘convivial sciences’
In a review of our book Towards Convivial Sciences, journalist Nicolas Chevassus-au-Louis, writing on the blog of the French association *Sciences Critiques*, commends our analysis of the problems facing contemporary science, but also highlights a few shortcomings and raises questions about our vision of convivial sciences.
Science-Policy Roundtable in Brussels
- Details
- Press Releases
Science and policy in times of multicrisis and dissent: Issues of framing, authority, evidence and political-economic decision making
ENSSER (including CSS representatives) discussed 11 recommendations on science – policy relationship with EU Representatives at Round Table in Brussels, 24 March 2026
Weaponization of Science Workshop
- Details
- Events
Weaponization of Science: Reorienting Science Toward Justice and Reciprocity
Co-organizers: Critical Scientists Switzerland & Facoltà indipendente di Gandria
Where: Casa Comunale, Gandria
When: 28 – 29 November 2025
This Gandria gathering will feature the launch of the book by Critical Scientists Switzerland (CSS), “Towards Convivial Sciences: Uniting Strands of Critical Inquiry”, published with Oekom. At the accompanying workshop, we will interrogate the dominant model of science and its weaponization for political and economic gains. By uniting a broad range of perspectives and people, we aim to envision and begin practising more democratic, humble, and plural approaches to knowledge and inquiry: convivial sciences.
Consultation on the ‘New Breeding Technology Act’ in Switzerland
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- New GE techniques
No scientific basis for a special law
Even 'new' genetic engineering is still genetic engineering; the term 'new breeding technologies' is misleading, as is the justification for a special law.
With the proposed 'Federal Act on Plants from New Breeding Technologies' (the Breeding Technology Act, or NZTG for short), the Federal Council is accommodating the genetic engineering lobby's wish to avoid regulating organisms modified by targeted genetic engineering techniques (such as CRISPR-Cas9) under the existing Genetic Engineering Act (GTG). However, this would be problematic both legally and scientifically.
Science and policy in times of multicrisis and dissent
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- Events
Athens | 15–17 May 2025
Conference on "Science and policy in times of multicrisis and dissent"
What are the roles of scientific evidence and advice and of corporate and non-commercial societal interests in decision-making? In what ways do unaccountable economic actors, interests and assumptions shape policy and scientific considerations about what is possible and what is needed? Under what conditions can existing public problem-definitions, as well as just decisions on them, be made scientifically and democratically legitimate? How should scientific advisors and policy-makers respond to scientific disagreements? And what can responsible scientists do when governments adopt measures intended to shut down or at least control scientific dissent, when it challenges dominant official narratives? Questions like these will be at the heart of the three days of reflection at this conference. By promoting open debate and reflection, this conference aims to engage with a plurality of perspectives on the science–policy interface.
When: Thursday 15 May – Saturday 17 May 2025
Where: Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
Co-organisers: European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility, Critical Scientists Switzerland & Academy of Athens
Funders: Mariolopoulos-Kanaginis Foundation for the Environmental Sciences , Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le progrès humain, Triodos Foundation & Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft – GLS Treuhand
For more information, see here: https://ensser.org/events/2025/conference-programme-science-and-policy-in-times-of-multicrisis-and-dissent/