Whether in the stables, the school garden or the classroom: the Schmeli farm school in the Swiss canton of Wallis opens up a wide range of spaces for learning and experience for its pupils. The first private school to be founded in the region relies greatly on hands-on educational elements.

What effects do the barriers between the brood box and the honey super normally used in beekeeping have on the bees’ welfare and honey quality? A group of biodynamic beekeepers investigated this issue in a participatory research project, which produced some complex results: other management factors are thus more crucial than the barriers.

What kind of agriculture could feed us humans healthily without depleting our natural resources? And how can medicine take a broader view of health that considers not only the composition of our diet but also the circumstances under which food is produced? Until now, medical students have rarely found answers to such questions during their studies. This is where the medical-agricultural study year comes in.

The Software AG – Foundation is a new sponsoring partner of the Virchow Prize for Global Health, established by the Virchow Foundation in 2021. This year, the internationally acclaimed award recognizes the life's work of Cameroonian scientist Rose Gana Fomban Leke for her infectious disease research towards a malaria-free world and relentless dedication in advancing gender equality.

Forty years ago, Witten/Herdecke University started teaching as Germany’s first private university, setting new standards with innovative learning and exam formats. In light of the current ecological and social challenges, it is clear that such a holistic approach to education and research is more important today than ever before.