The Science Policy Action Network (SPAN) produces peer-reviewed policy briefs and recommendations that translate cutting-edge research from early-career scientists into actionable solutions for pressing local and regional challenges. Recognizing that traditional national and international science policy often overlooks regional nuances, SPAN empowers researchers to co-create evidence-based strategies with local partners — bridging the gap between academic insight and on-the-ground impact.
In the Spring Semester of 2025, SPAN hosted a Policy Brief Workshop, guided by an innovative teaching process led by Prof. Jörg Balsiger and Alice Guilbert from the University of Geneva. The collaborative work of 26 participants culminated in six policy briefs, each addressing a critical sustainability or technology challenge at the local or regional level.
2025 Policy Briefs
Action Against Food Waste
Case study provider: CastorFree Gan
Team: Disha Bandyopadhyay, Michale Fest, Tao Zhang
Valorisation of Lithium-Ion Batteries from Electric Bikes in Lausanne
Case study provider: Ville de Lausanne
Team: Hanbit Lee, Sebastian Leser, Christophe Miahcud-Lavoie, Nicola Simon Ramseyer, Jorge Colio Zardoya
Developing a National Vaccination Strategy for HPV-Related Cancers in Switzerland
Case study provider: Swiss Learning Health System at University of Lucerne
Team: Frank Charlton, Salomé Guilbert, Beatrice Lugli, Callum Gray
AI in Education
Case study provider: Idiap
Team: Jeanne Bourgeois, Sophie Johnson, Inés Altemir Marinas
Choice of energy performance indicators for buildings in Lausanne
Case study provider: Services Industriels de Lausanne (SIL)
Team: Marie Jones, David Bekri, Esha Sharma, Silvia Camenzind
Energy Communities for Greenhouses
Case study provider: Voltiris
Team: Chiara Ongaro, Pierre Demey, Ziad Sahlab