DOCSLIB.ORG

Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials National Research Programme NRP 64 Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials Results, Outcome and Perspectives – Final Brochure Steering committee members: • Prof. em. Peter Gehr, Institute of Anatomy, University of Berne, CH (President) • Prof. em. Ueli Aebi, M.E. Müller Institute for Structural Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, CH • Prof. Heinrich Hofmann, Institute of Material Science, EPF Lausanne, CH • Prof. Patrick Hunziker, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Basel, CH • Prof. Andrew Maynard, Risk Innovation Lab, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University, ­Tempe, AZ, USA. • Prof. Wolfgang Parak, Fachbereich Physik, Philipps-Universität Marburg, D • Prof. Anders Baun, NanoDTU, Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK • Prof. Vicki Stone, School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK Delegate of division Programmes of the national research council: • Prof. Frank Scheffold, Département de Physique, Université de Fribourg, CH Programme Manager: • Marjory Hunt, PhD, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Berne, CH Head of knowledge transfer: • Mark Bächer, Life Science Communication AG, Zurich, CH Representative of the federal administration: • Christoph Studer, PhD, Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), Berne, CH www.nrp64.ch Cover: High concentration of liposomes in cancer cells. Photograph page 4: Light-activated nanohpharmaceuticals (in red) accumulated in cancer cells. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 5 WHAT IS NANO? ............................................................................................................................... 6 Nanomaterials: An overview of the basics ................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER I ....................................................................................................................................... 8 HOW HARMLESS ARE THESE NANOS? ............................................................................................ 8 Deep inside the lungs ................................................................................................................... 8 For a better silica flow .................................................................................................................. 8 Wide-open doors ........................................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER II .................................................................................................................................... 11 WHEN RISK TURNS INTO AN OPPORTUNITY ................................................................................ 11 Catching the burglar at the door ............................................................................................... 11 Nano therapists ........................................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER III ................................................................................................................................... 14 BIG PROMISES .............................................................................................................................. 14 Nanocartilage for worn joints .................................................................................................... 14 Doping for lithium-ion batteries ............................................................................................... 15 Nano is not always better ........................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER IV ................................................................................................................................... 17 ON LAND AND IN WATER ............................................................................................................... 17 Trojan horse ................................................................................................................................ 17 Diffused light ............................................................................................................................... 18 A farmer’s little helpers ............................................................................................................. 19 CHAPTER V ..................................................................................................................................... 20 FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE ................................................................................................ 20 Dangerously obstinate ................................................................................................................ 21 In the end poorly digestible ....................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER VI ................................................................................................................................... 23 THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL .......................................................................................................... 23 Better safe than sorry ................................................................................................................. 23 The dose makes the toxin .......................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER VII .................................................................................................................................. 25 A WORTHY CAUSE ......................................................................................................................... 25 Cooperation networks ................................................................................................................ 26 CLOSING STATEMENT .................................................................................................................... 28 ALL’S (almost) WELL THAT ENDS WELL ......................................................................................... 28 NRP 64 : The 23 projects ............................................................................................................... 30 4 INTRODUCTION ive years of research, 23 research groups materials, in energy technology and in par- Fwith a total of 111 researchers, 150 publi- ticular, in the medical field. They analysed cations to date, numerous prizes and awards. in which phase of their life cycle – in the The National Research Programme «Oppor- fabrication, during the use, or, at the point of tunities and Risks of Nanomaterials» (NRP disposal – nanoparticles could pose a risk to 64), got off the ground at the start of 2010 the environment or to human health. To do so with a blanket loan of 12 million Swiss francs the researchers developed and tested various and represented a venture of considerable measuring methods and measuring devices, significance. And it pursued an ambitious goal: experimented with new applications and made understanding how the special characteristics astonishing discoveries. For example, that it of synthetic nanomaterials could be tapped is frequently enough to just make a minute into, yielding maximum profit, while at the change to the particle’s surface to end up with same time remaining as risk-free as possible. fundamental changes in their characteristics. Synthetic nanoparticles have long since be- After five years of intensive interdisciplinary come a part of everyday life, even if we are research, the increasingly interconnected Swiss not always aware of it. They are hidden in the nano research community has reached the most diverse range of consumer goods, such conclusion that the opportunities that synthetic as electronics, textiles and cosmetics, in food, nanomaterials present, outweigh the risks. Or sports equipment and building materials. They more precisely: that accurate knowledge about ensure that our spices do not clump up, that synthetic nanomaterials can aid in making use our chocolate icing has that mouth-watering of these materials’ unique properties so as to shine and our French dressing is as white transform any existing hazard potential into as snow. They make sweaty socks odour- yet further opportunities. At the same token, free and make bicycle frames ultra-light but NRP 64 – and this is of equal importance – also ultra-strong, too. And last but not least, in clearly shows where knowledge gaps still do the medical field, their targeted use aims at exist and where additional research efforts ensuring that a treatment is more accurate must be undertaken. And, that sustainable while having fewer side effects. innovation and safety research have to go hand in hand. Nanoparticles hold great promises. The fact that many substances show a completely different Because nanotechnology, as a versatile in- behaviour when they are present as minute terdisciplinary technology, will be around in particles, was already known before NRP future. The knowledge gathered by NRP 64 64. Gold nanoparticles, for instance, change will significantly contribute to exploiting its colour due to a physical change: the master use-potential for the economy, technology, glaziers in the middle ages already knew that life science and society at
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2017 Annual Report Overview Reserach Programs
    Overview Reserach Programs 2017 _Annual Report Overview Reserach Programs About the Adolphe Merkle Institute The Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI) is an independent competence center at the University of Fribourg that focuses on research and education in the domain of soft nanomaterials. We owe our existence to Dr. Adolphe Merkle, a successful local entrepreneur, who established the Adolphe Merkle Foundation with the goal of strengthening research and teaching at the University of Fribourg. His CHF 100 million endowment constitutes one of the most important private donations in favor of an academic institution in Switzerland. Founded in 2008, AMI is in many aspects unique in the land- scape of Switzerland’s research institutions. Our focus on soft nano- materials is unmatched in Switzerland and beyond. Our research combines fundamental and application-oriented aspects in a multi- disciplinary setting. Through collaborations with industrial partners, AMI aims to stimulate innovation, foster industrial competitiveness, and, more generally, improve the quality of life. Our researchers are currently organized in five research groups, which offer complementary expertise and interests in strategically important areas: BioNanomaterials, Macromolecular Chemistry, Poly- mer Chemistry and Materials, Soft Matter Physics, and Biophysics. Interdisciplinary collaborations between our researchers are the ba- sis for the successful and efficient execution of complex research projects that transcend the boundaries of traditional scientific disci- plines.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Research Slam
    University of St.Gallen (HSG) Centro Latinoamericano-Suizo (CLS-HSG) Leading House for the Latin American Region Müller-Friedberg-Strasse 8 CH-9000 St.Gallen 2018 Research Slam Wednesday, December 19, 2018 / 10:30 to 17:10 hrs Tellstrasse 2, St.Gallen / Room 58-515 Seed Money Grants 2017 Research Merger 2018 Seed Money Grants 2018 Presentation Material of the Winning Projects The Funding Instruments SMG – Seed Money Grants 2017 + 2018 duration: 10 – 12 months grants: CHF 10’000 – CHF 25’000 applications received: 87 / projects awarded: 30 RM – Research Merger 2017 duration: 10 – 12 months grants: CHF 30’000 – CHF 50’000 applications received: 29 / projects awarded: 4 MOB – Mobility Grants 2018 duration: up to 3 months grants: up to CHF 8’000 applications received: 9 / projects awarded: 7 2018 Research Slam 2 / 22 Index Towards the detection of Earth analogues (TDEA). – SMG2017 Damien Ségransan, University of Geneva.............................................................................................................................. 5 Structural colours in natural and artificial multilayers. – SMG2017 Ullrich Steiner, University of Fribourg, Adolphe Merkle Institute .................................................................................. 5 In-operando control of nanoscale decoration of graphene and reduced graphene oxide by novel mini-reactors. – SMG2017 Ivo Utke, Empa, Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt (EMPA) ................................................... 6 A dendrogeomorphic reconstruction of
    [Show full text]
  • Nanoparticle Colloidal Stability in Cell Culture Media and Impact on Cellular Interactions† Cite This: Chem
    Chem Soc Rev View Article Online REVIEW ARTICLE View Journal | View Issue Nanoparticle colloidal stability in cell culture media and impact on cellular interactions† Cite this: Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, 44,6287 Thomas L. Moore,*a Laura Rodriguez-Lorenzo,a Vera Hirsch,a Sandor Balog,a Dominic Urban,a Corinne Jud,‡a Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser,a Marco Lattuada§a and Alke Petri-Fink§*ab Nanomaterials are finding increasing use for biomedical applications such as imaging, diagnostics, and drug delivery. While it is well understood that nanoparticle (NP) physico-chemical properties can dictate biological responses and interactions, it has been difficult to outline a unifying framework to directly link NP properties to expected in vitro and in vivo outcomes. When introduced to complex biological media containing electrolytes, proteins, lipids, etc., nanoparticles (NPs) are subjected to a range of forces which determine their behavior in this environment. One aspect of NP behavior in biological systems that is often understated or overlooked is aggregation. NP aggregation will significantly alter in vitro behavior Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. (dosimetry, NP uptake, cytotoxicity), as well as in vivo fate (pharmacokinetics, toxicity, biodistribution). Thus, understanding the factors driving NP colloidal stability and aggregation is paramount. Furthermore, Received 15th December 2014 studying biological interactions with NPs at the nanoscale level requires an interdisciplinary effort with a DOI: 10.1039/c4cs00487f robust understanding of multiple characterization techniques. This review examines the factors that determine NP colloidal stability, the various efforts to stabilize NP in biological media, the methods to www.rsc.org/chemsocrev characterize NP colloidal stability in situ, and provides a discussion regarding NP interactions with cells.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstract an Interactive Qualifying Project the Goal of This Project, Sponsored by the Adolphe Merkle Institute, Was to Identify
    Public Perception of Nanoparticles in Food Abstract An Interactive Qualifying Project The goal of this project, sponsored by the Adolphe Merkle Institute, was to identify through surveys and interviews the Swiss public’s opinion and level of knowledge about Worcester Polytechnic Institute nanoparticles in food. Nanoparticles are particles on the nanoscale engineered and intentionally added to food to improve its properties. The results indicated that the public conflates Advisor: Professor Ulrike Brisson, Department of Humanities and Arts nanoparticles intentionally added to food with microplastics. The recommendation was to emphasize in the media the distinction between intentional nanoparticles and polluting Co-Advisor: Professor Blake Currier, Department of Physics microplastics. Submitted By: Marika Bogdanovich Rayna Harter Submitted: October 15, 2020 i Acknowledgements Executive Summary Our team would like to thank our sponsor Dr. Ana Milosevic, a researcher on Nanotechnology has greatly developed over the last twenty years. Nanoparticles are BioNanomaterials at the Adolphe Merkle Institute (University of Fribourg), for all her help in defined as any particle of a material with at least one dimension in the 1nm to 100nm range guiding and shaping our project, as well as connecting us with others for interviews and surveys. (Buzby, 2010, p. 528) that retains the original material’s properties on that scale (Hardy et al., We would not have been able to complete this project without her time and effort. 2018, p. 3). Nanoparticles are currently used in food in many ways, including: as a colorant, to We would also like to thank Professor Dr. Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Dr. Sergio add nutritional value, and to increase the shelf life of a product (Chen & Wagner, 2004, p.
    [Show full text]
  • Prof. Dr. Sc. Nat. Christoph Weder Curriculum Vitae
    Prof. Dr. sc. nat. Christoph Weder Curriculum Vitae Personal Swiss and Irish Citizen; Born July 30, 1966; Married, 3 Children (ages 19, 22, 24) Researcher IDs ORCID: 0000-0001-7183-1790; Google Scholar: Christoph Weder Web ami.swiss bioinspired-materials.ch Work Address University of Fribourg Adolphe Merkle Institute Chemin des Verdiers 4 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland +41 (0)26 300 9465 [email protected] Core Research Expertise and Interests: Synthesis of Functional Polymers Design, synthesis, processing, investigation of structure-property relationships, and application of functional polymers, notably stimuli-responsive polymers, supramolecular polymers, polymer nano- composites, bio-inspired polymers, and polymers with unusual optical and mechanical properties. Academic Positions 2014 - present Director National Competence Center in Research (NCCR) Bio-Inspired Materials 2010 - present Director Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI), University of Fribourg, Switzerland 2009 - present Professor of Polymer Chemistry and Materials Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland 2010 - present Adjunct Professor Dept. of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland OH, USA 2003 - present Visiting Professor Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand 2007 - 2010 Professor (2008-2010: F. Alex Nason Professor) Dept. of Macromolecular Science and Engineering and Dept. of Chemistry CWRU 2001 - 2007 Associate Professor Dept. of Macromolecular Science and Engineering
    [Show full text]
  • Booklet SSD27
    Swiss Soft Days 27th Edition FORMULA The Swiss Soft Days is a one-day workshop taking place 2 times per year where around 20 speakers give short talks (~15 minutes) to introduce their research activities in a way specifically designed for a heterogeneous public. Besides well established scientific figures, the workshops are aimed at emerging researchers, especially assistant professors, post-docs and PhD students. The short duration of the talks and the SEM image of wrinkled cellulose colloids frequency of the meetings are meant to © Johannes Bergmann rapidly develop active, up-to-date communications and cover various inter- disciplinary areas of research. 8.6.2021 Swiss Soft Days 27th Edition Swiss Soft Days 27th Edition Program 12h00 Platform opening 15h30: Session 2 – Soft matter under deformation 12h20 Welcome Manolis Chatzigiannakis, ETHZ: Dynamic stabilisation of draining thin liquid films consisting of 12h30: Session 1 – Active and responsive materials polymer solutions Steven van Kesteren, ETHZ: Responsive colloidal Hamed Almohammadi, ETHZ: Flow-induced order– molecules as internally-controlled microswimmers order transitions in amyloid fibril liquid crystalline with multi-state dynamics tactoids Elena Sesé Sansa, EPFL: Emergent phase behavior of Dominic Gerber, ETHZ: What happens when a soft active Brownian disks in the presence of different material freeZes? alignment interaction symmetries 16h30: Poster (40 min) Boyang Zhou, PSI: Direct measurements of the pNipam Microgel Counter-ion Cloud via Small Angle Neutron Scattering
    [Show full text]
  • Swiss Nanotechnology Phd Award
    Swiss Nanotechnology PhD Award The Swiss Micro‐ and Nanotechnology Network is offering five prizes each of 2’000 CHF for excellent scientific first‐author publications in the field of Nanotechnology and Nanoscience published by PhD students in 2020/2021 sponsored by: The prizes will be awarded at the Swiss Nanoconvention SNC2021 (https://2021.swissnanoconvention.ch/) 1 Requirements: The work should have been conducted at a Swiss university or research institute and written up in an English manuscript. This manuscript must have been appeared (at least) online in a peer‐reviewed journal in 2020 through March 2021. The application must include: 1) A nomination letter by the PhD advisor (not longer than one page) 2) A curriculum vitae of the PhD student including a list of activities & publications (not longer than 2 pages) 3) A short summary stating the importance of the work (max ½ page) 4) A pdf copy of the manuscript of the published work All pdf‐files of 1) through 4) must be merged into a single pdf that takes the name of the PhD student. This single pdf document must be submitted by email at the latest by 14.5.2021 to the following address: Prof. Christian Schönenberger Department of Physics, University of Basel Klingelbergstrasse 82 4056 Basel, Switzerland E‐Mail: [email protected] Prize Committee: Prof. Hatice Altug (Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne) Prof. Barbara Rothen‐Rutishauser (Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg) Prof. Jens Gobrecht (Paul Scherrer Institute) Dr. Pierangelo Gröning (Empa Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf) Dr. Andreas Hafner (BASF Schweiz AG, Dübendorf) Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • 3 Sommaire / Inhaltsübersicht
    Sommaire / Inhaltsübersicht 1. Bericht des Rektors über das Akademische Jahr / Rapport du Recteur sur l’année universitaire ......................................................................... 7 1.1. Bericht ................................................................................................................................ 7 1.2. Die Universitätsgemeinschaft / La communauté universitaire ........................................ 71 1.2.1. Studierende / Etudiant-e-s ...............................................................................71 1.2.2. Wissenschaftliche MitarbeiterInnen / Collaborateurs et collaboratrices scientifiques .....................................................................................................72 1.2.3. Professorenschaft / Corps professoral . ............................................................ 72 1.3. Der Senat / Le Sénat ......................................................................................................... 73 1.4. Finanzen / Finances .......................................................................................................... 73 2. Rapports des Organes de l’Université / Berichte der Universitätsorgane .......................... 75 2.1. Rapports des commissions, instituts et service universitaires / Berichte der Universitätskommissionen, -institute und –dienste ......................................................... 75 2.1.1. Rekurskommission ..........................................................................................75 2.1.2.
    [Show full text]
  • Material Characterization and Fabrication of Microstructures
    View metadata,Published citation in ! and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE which should be cited to refer to this work. provided by RERO DOC Digital Library A photopatternable superparamagnetic nanocomposite: Material characterization and fabrication of microstructures M. Suter a,∗, O. Ergeneman b, J. Zürcher a, C. Moitzi c, S. Pané b, T. Rudin d, S.E. Pratsinis d, B.J. Nelson b, C. Hierold a a Micro and Nanosystems, ETH Zürich, Tannenstrasse 3, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland b Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Tannenstrasse 3, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland c Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Rte de l’Ancienne Papeterie, P.O. Box 209, 1723 Marly, Switzerland d Particle Technology Laboratory, ETH Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland A superparamagnetic nanocomposite obtained by dispersing superparamagnetic magnetite nanopar- ticles in the epoxy SU-8 is used to fabricate microstructures by photolithography. The dispersion of the nanoparticles and the level of agglomerations are analyzed by optical microscopy, TEM (transmis- sion electron microscope), SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering), XDC (X-ray disc centrifuge) and XRD (X-ray diffraction). Two different phosphate-based dispersing agents are compared. In order to obtain a high-quality nanocomposite, the influence of particle concentration 1–10 vol.% (4–32 wt.%) on com- posite fabrication steps such as spin coating and UV exposure are systematically analyzed. Features with narrow widths (down to 1.3 ␮m) are obtained for composites with 5 vol.% particle concentration. Mechan- ical, magnetic and wetting properties of the nanocomposites are characterized. These nanocomposites exhibit superparamagnetic properties with a saturation magnetization up to 27.9 kA m−1 for10 vol.%.
    [Show full text]
  • Functional Materials Workshop Participants
    Outreach Workshop on Functional Materials 19th September 2013 Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland Participants Name Affiliation Yousef Asadi-Khiavi IBAKH GmbH Sandor Balog Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg Michele Buzzi Paul Scherrer Institut Claudia Cancellieri Paul Scherrer Institut –Swiss Light Source Bo Chen London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London Shirish Chodankar Paul Scherrer Institut Stephen Cottrell STFC - Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Saikat Das University of Fribourg Rajendra Dhaka Paul Scherrer Institut - Swiss Light Source Jan Gui-Hyon Dreiser Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne and Paul Scherrer Institut Sarah Dunsiger TU Munich Claude Ederer ETH Zurich Emiliana Fabbri Paul Scherrer Institut Julie Louise Fife Paul Scherrer Institut Peter Fischer Paul Scherrer Institut - Laboratoy for Neutron Scattering and Imaging Markus Gantner MEWASA AG Thomas Geue Paul Scherrer Institut David Haberthür Paul Scherrer Institut Jakoba Heidler Paul Scherrer Institut Adrian Hillier STFC - Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Erwin Hueger TU-Clausthal Gerhard Ingold Paul Scherrer Institut Wandong Kong Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Simone Liuzzi Paul Scherrer Institut Martin Mansson Laboratory for Quantum Magnetism (LQM), EPFL Andreas Menzel Paul Scherrer Institut Elvezio Morenzoni Paul Scherrer Institut Frithjof Nolting Paul Scherrer Institut Jiri Novak CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University Laura Nuccio University of Fribourg Alessandra Patera EMPA
    [Show full text]
  • GSRS19 JRC Technical Report
    1FSTQFDUJWFTPO OBOPUFDIOPMPHZBOE OBOPQMBTUJDT (?AOSCJGLCȩ#ȩ+ȩJJ?Lȩȩ GPEGRȩ1MISJJ )JSCRRECLȩ LGJȩ)ȩ.?RPG ȩ #30ȩȩ#, This publication is a aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of this publication. For information on the methodology and quality underlying the data used in this publication for which the source is neither Eurostat nor other Commission services, users should contact the referenced source. The designations employed and the presentation of material on the maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the European Union concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Contact information Birgit Sokull-Kluettgen, European Commission, Joint Research Centre Anil K. Patri, U.S. Food and Drug Administration [email protected] EU Science Hub https://ec.europa.eu/jrc JRC120318 EUR 30195 EN PDF ISBN 978-92-76-18435-5 ISSN 1831-9424 doi:10.2760/517689 Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020 © European Union, 2020 The reuse policy of the European Commission is implemented by the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU of 12 December 2011 on the reuse of Commission documents (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39). Except otherwise noted, the reuse of this document is authorised under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
    [Show full text]
  • The University of Fribourg Switzerland
    1 The University of Fribourg Switzerland UNIVERSITY OF FRIBOURG - SWITZERLAND 2 Fribourg Fribourg, or Freiburg in German, is one of Europe’s most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns. Yet the city moves to the beat of its students. With over a third of its population being students, this ancient city is truly young at heart. Located at the crossroads of the German and French speaking regions of Switzerland, and nestled between Northern and Southern Europe, Fribourg is a bridge between cultures and languages. Fribourg hosts a multitude of festivals and cultural events throughout the year, cafés and restaurants that serve first-class delicacies, and is a veritable sporting paradise. It is easily accessible by road, rail, and air from Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne and the Swiss capital, Bern. The University The University of Fribourg, Switzerland, is committed to excellence in research and teaching and takes pride in its truly international and interdisciplinary spirit. Close personal contact between students and professors and a collaborative spirit are trademarks of a University that places humanity at the centre of all its endeavours. Fribourg reflects the perfect example of Switzerland’s long tradition of unity in diversity. With a strong commitment to international relations, the University is part of several strategic networks and maintains exchange partnerships with more than 150 universities worldwide. A number of international courses taught in English emphasises these links. The University of Fribourg’s students and teaching staff hail from 110 countries. Approximately 45% students speak German as their native language, 35% French, and 20% other languages. Students can study in French and/or German as well as in English in some Master’s programs.
    [Show full text]