Media

Urban cable cars: Switzerland is lagging behind

Published:30.04.26 — In La Paz, Bolivia, the success of urban cable cars illustrates the potential of this sustainable mode of transport, supported by Swiss expertise but still little used in Switzerland. Kenan Zhang, a professor at the HOMES Laboratory, and Vincent Kaufmann, a professor at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, highlight both the advantages of this infrastructure for urban mobility and the legal barriers that limit its development in Switzerland.

Noise, a public health issue

Published:10.04.26 — Luca Pattaroni, sociologist and co-director of the Urban Sociology Laboratory, explains that repeated exposure to noise can harm health, particularly sleep. He also points out that noise is a social phenomenon reflecting inequalities, with lower-income populations being more exposed.

Increase in fuel prices: what consequences?

Published:10.04.26 — For Vincent Kaufmann, co-director of the Urban Sociology Laboratory, a rise in fuel prices primarily affects low-income households, leading to changes in behavior such as increased carpooling. He adds that “if fuel prices rise above 2 francs and remain at that level for six months, a shift toward public transport is possible.”

The generic masculine is not neutral.

Published:19.03.26 — Lucien Delley, a sociologist at LaSUR, defends inclusive writing by drawing on research in psycholinguistics.

Rethinking the “Grand Genève”

Published:12.02.26 — Vincent Kaufmann, professor at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, calls within the Cercle du Léman to rethink the Grand Genève project with its residents in order to strengthen cross-border cooperation and build a more balanced and sustainable territory.

Work time, time for oneself

Published:12.02.26 — In a column published in Le Courrier, Sofia Gonzalez Jimenez, doctoral student at the Laboratory of Urban Sociology, questions time management in the era of remote work.

Night trains are not a priority

Published:29.01.26 — According to Vincent Kaufmann, professor at the Urban Sociology Laboratory, night trains experienced their golden age from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. Their decline can be explained by the democratization of air travel with the rise of low-cost carriers, but also by the lack of interest from railway companies, which prioritized high-speed rail. Added to this was a gradual decline in customer demand. The result: a complex service to operate, costly, relying on aging equipment and difficult to make profitable.

That space we don't talk about (the restroom)

Published:22.01.26 — The toilet, that discreet place which occupies a unique position in the home, is rarely examined beyond the angle of mere functionality. Luca Pattaroni, professor at the Laboratory of Urban Sociology, offers another reading of it.

Noise : a sound "that comes at the wrong time and in the wrong place"

Published:22.01.26 — According to the Federal Office for the Environment's report on noise exposure, one in ten people in Switzerland lives in a place where the noise pollution threshold is exceeded, with serious consequences for health and quality of life. In Marseille, residents of working-class neighborhoods are particularly exposed to intense noise pollution. Contributions from Luca Pattaroni, professor at the Laboratory of Urban Sociology.

Alternative Geneva

Published:28.01.26 — "ARTE" offers a tour of Geneva, off the beaten path. This documentary traces the history of Calvin's city through its alternative culture and neighborhoods. Sociologist Luca Pattaroni talks about the Grottes district, where he lived, between resistance to capitalism and a marked ideological and artistic identity.