Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago

12/22/2022

2022 Holiday Greetings & Thanks

HOLIDAYS – Dear Swiss, Dear Friends of Switzerland, Dear Facebook Followers: We wish you and your loved ones a nice holiday season and a healthy New Year!

Please note, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago will be closed from Friday, December 23 through Monday, January 2, and will reopen on Tuesday, January 3.

The team at the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago thank its fellow Swiss, partners, collaborators, friends, and supporters for a great 2022. Thank ...

12/16/2022

PASTRY CHEF - One of the most successful TikToks of 2022 came from a French-Swiss pastry chef Geneva-born Amaury Guichon.
Watch the full video 👇 Be warned, you may start craving Swiss chocolate!

12/13/2022

SWISS ART – Can you name five famous Swiss works of art? Press play below to see if we are thinking of the same five works!

12/07/2022

Everything you need to know about the Swiss presidency

GOVERNMENT - Congratulations to Federal Councilor Alain Berset on his new role as President in 2023. Congratulations also to the two newly elected Federal Councilors, Elisabeth Baume-Schneider and Albert Rösti.

To learn more about the composition of the Swiss government, check out the article below:

If you have never lived in Switzerland, you may not be familiar with the intricacies of our political system. Our system, which is federal in nature and based on semi-direct democracy, is often described as unique. Switzerland is a federal state with three political levels: the federal government, t...

12/02/2022

Switzerland and Mid-West Connections: Neal Hefti — Batman with Swiss Roots

HISTORY BLOG - Omaha, Nebraska. Batman. Swiss Roots? Yes! Read below about musician and composer Neal Hefti and the common threads in our shared history in this month`s blog post by Deputy Consul General Oberschmied. Enjoy!

Welcome to the History Blog featuring the connections between Switzerland and the Midwest. I am Joerg Oberschmied, Deputy Consul General…

11/28/2022

WORLD CUP - Cheering on the Swiss Nati Men! Are you watching the game this morning at 10am CST? Hopp Schwiiz!!

From Rostov to Doha, we meet again 🇧🇷🇨🇭

🕚 17:00 CET
📺 SRF 2, RTS 2, RSI La 2

11/17/2022

ARRIVEDERCI – The team at the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago thanks Carolina Beretta for her great work the past five months as she stepped in and up during Roberta Neuhäusler`s maternity leave. We wish her much success and the best in her next endeavors. Grazie mille, Carolina!

Photo: Carolina Beretta and Roberta Neuhäusler, Project Manager

11/15/2022

HOLIDAYS - Last weekend, the Swiss Club of Chicago decorated its tree for the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago`s Christmas Around the World - a beautiful annual tradition which is now in its 80th year! Featuring over 50 trees by different countries, stop by the Museum to view the Swiss Club`s tree and many more!

11/08/2022

PianoFest at Roosevelt University - Final Evening

SWISS BENEVOLENT SOCIETY – No plans for Saturday evening? Join the final event of the Swiss Benevolent Society’s 150th Anniversary and the PianoFest 2022 on November 12, at 7:30 pm at the Rudolf Ganz Memorial Hall. The program features Swiss composers from the 19th and 20th centuries. For more details and to register, click below.

Roosevelt University's Annual PianoFest concludes with homage to Swiss Composers and Swiss Benevolent Society's 150th Anniversary

11/04/2022

SUSTAINABLE CLEAN DRINKING WATER SOLUTION – Did you know that a lightweight, cheap, efficient, and environmentally-friendly water filtering device has been developed at the ETH Zurich? Postdoc Olivier Gröninger’s project now aims to not only export these filters, but to share the knowledge necessary to build and repair them to developing countries in need for clean water access! Learn more about it by clicking on the following link: https://lnkd.in/erRcAzaa.

11/01/2022

WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT – The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) took the longest narrow gauge passenger train in the world on the UNESCO World Heritage route from the Albula Tunnel in Preda to the world-famous Landwasser Viaduct just outside Filisur in the Canton Grisons! Did you know that the train consisted of 25 compositions, crossed 48 bridges, and went through 22 tunnels? This record-breaking journey took around an hour, with 7 train drivers and 21 technicians being at work on the train to ensure its operability!

10/24/2022

SWISS DELEGATION AT FERMILAB - During her visit in Chicago, State Secretary for Education, Research, and Innovation, Martina Hirayama had the opportunity to meet with the Director of Fermilab, Lia Merminga to discuss the Swiss-US connections in science research.
Photo: Director of Fermilab Lia Merminga and State Secretary Martina Hirayama.

10/22/2022

QUANTUM DAYS - It’s a wrap! It’s been truly inspiring to hear from key players in the quantum information science and technology field from Switzerland and the U.S. at the Quantum Days. It was an honor to have Switzerland’s State Secretary for Education, Research, and Innovation, Martina Hirayama, open the inaugural Swiss-US Quantum Days just one day after co-signing of a Joint Statement on Cooperation in Quantum Information Science and Technology.
Photo: State Secretary Martina Hirayama, President of the University of Chicago Paul Alivisatos, Consul General Bruno Ryff, and Head of Bilateral Relations Maria-Gloria Peyro de Quintana Voeffray.

10/17/2022

SETTIMANA DELLA LINGUA ITALIANA – Some might not know it but Italian is an official language in Switzerland. Why do we mention this today? Because of this week’s Settimana della Lingua italiana! Italian was declared a national language together with German and French in the Swiss constitution of 1848, while Romansh was added in 1938. It is spoken by 8% of the Swiss population in the cantons of Ticino and the Grisons as a first language, and more than 50% of Italian-speakers live in other Swiss cantons.

10/14/2022

HISTORY BLOG – Have you ever heard of Henry Banga, Nicholas Senn, or Albert J Ochsner? Join Deputy Consul General Joerg Oberschmied for this month’s History Blog and learn how the city of Chicago benefitted from these three highly talented Swiss surgeons and what brought them to the Midwest. https://bit.ly/3TEQLET

10/11/2022

CHICAGO MARATHON – Congratulations to Marcel Hug, known as the "silver bullet”, who won the 2022 Chicago Marathon this past Sunday in the wheelchairs category for the third time. Not only did he win, but he also finished the race with a new record time of 1:25:20!

10/06/2022

ON THE ROAD - The Consul General's and Deputy Consul General's trip to Nebraska and Iowa ended with a visit to the Capitol in Des Moines and a wonderful Meet & Greet with the Swiss community in Iowa!

10/05/2022

ON THE ROAD - Yesterday's Meet & Greet with the Swiss community in Nebraska was the perfect way to end Consul General's and Deputy Consul General's stay in Omaha!

10/04/2022

ON THE ROAD - After their stay in Lincoln, Consul General Bruno Ryff and Deputy Consul General Joerg Oberschmied drove to Omaha, NE, where they met with Mayor Stothert for an interesting conversation. They now look forward to the Meet & Greet with the Swiss community!

10/04/2022

ON THE ROAD - Yesterday, Consul General Bruno Ryff and Deputy Consul General Joerg Oberschmied visited Lincoln, NE, and met with Governor Ricketts at the State Capitol.

09/30/2022

A Piece of Sky - Cinema Chicago

A PIECE OF SKY – We’re thrilled to see Swiss movie A PIECE OF SKY at the 58th Chicago International Film Festival on October 16th and 17th! A moving meditation on the patient nature of enduring love, the movie tells the deeply human story of Marco and Anna. Marco, a man of few words distinct for his enormous size, takes a job as a farmhand in an idyllic village deep in the Swiss Alps. There, he meets Anna, a local dreamer with a daughter from a previous relationship. Against the backdrop of an ever-changing mountain landscape, a deep and powerful love blossoms between them—but Marco’s increasingly erratic behavior threatens their happiness. Is he losing control? To watch the trailer and get tickets, click below!

In a remote Alpine village, Marco and Anna find their relationship tested as his behavior grows increasingly erratic in this moving meditation on the nature of enduring love.

09/29/2022

WET SAND – If you don’t have plans for tonight yet, you might not want to miss award-winning Swiss-Georgian movie WET SAND at the Reeling LGBTQ+ Film Festival! When Eliko, an ostracized village elder is found hanged, his free-thinking granddaughter Moe arrives from the big city to take care of the funeral and his affairs. But a web of lies prevents Moe from learning the truth behind her grandfather’s death and she is met with suspicion and contempt by the morally conservative villagers. Moe is helped by Ammon, the owner of the local café (who was Eliko’s only friend), and Fleshka, his pretty helper. As an attraction develops between Moe and Fleshka, Moe discovers the truth of her grandfather’s illicit love life, leading to a final confrontation with the villagers. The movie screen at the Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema (Theater 6) at 7:15 PM. For more details, click here: https://bit.ly/3rhQFXn

09/26/2022

ON THE ROAD – During their visit in Detroit, Consul General Bruno Ryff and Deputy Consul General Joerg Oberschmied had the opportunity to visit Exlterra, a company founded by Honorary Consul Frank Mueller and his business partner Andrew Niemczyk. Exlterra’s mission is to understand and use the forces of nature to improve the environment. To learn more about the company, click on the following link: https://www.exlterra.com/

09/23/2022

ON THE ROAD - After their visit in Indiana, Consul General Bruno Ryff and Deputy Consul General Joerg Oberschmied visited Detroit, MI, where they joined Honorary Consul Frank Mueller for a dinner and interesting conversation on the occasion of the Michigan Swiss Business Circle founding.

09/22/2022

ON THE ROAD - Yesterday, Consul General Bruno Ryff and Deputy Consul General Joerg Oberschmied traveled to South Bend, IN, to meet with officials and Swiss professors & scientists at the University of Notre Dame.

09/19/2022

ON THE ROAD – This past weekend, Consul General Bruno Ryff drove to Monroe, WI, to attend the Cheese Days 2022! Did you know that the first Cheese Days took place back in 1914 when a group of local businessmen planned the festivities in just nineteen days? Nowadays, this tradition continues, taking place every two years and attracting thousands of people!

Photos: © Beth Zurbuchen

09/16/2022

Switzerland and Mid-West Connections: The Early Swiss Settlers of South Dakota

HISTORY BLOG – Have you ever heard the story of the early Swiss settlers of South Dakota? If you have not, this month’s history blog is the perfect opportunity to learn more about what made them settle in this part of the country. Click below to join Deputy Consul General Joerg Obeschmied for a quick leap into the past. Enjoy!

Welcome to the History Blog featuring the connections between Switzerland and the Midwest. I am Joerg Oberschmied, Deputy Consul General in…

09/14/2022

TEAM SWITZERLAND SUPPORTING SWISS COMPANIES AT THE IMTS - Did you know that Switzerland is the the 7th largest foreign direct investor in the United States? On top of this impressive economic footprint, Swiss investments significantly boost American manufacturing employment.
Consul General Bruno Ryff and Deputy Consul General Joerg Oberschmied joined colleagues from Swissmem, the Embassy of Switzerland in the United States of America, and the Swiss Business Hub at the International Manufacturing Technology Show. The show attracted over 80,000 visitors this year and features a record 63 Swiss exhibitors, making it one of the most important shows for Swiss Industry Worldwide.

09/08/2022

Renewables share of electricity inches up in Switzerland:

Most renewable electricity came from hydropower plants (68%), followed by photovoltaics (11%), wind and biomass. The proportion of electricity generated by so-called new renewable energy sources (sun, wind, biomass and smaller hydropower projects) increased from 10.3% in 2020 to 11.5% in 2021. Most renewable energy was produced within Switzerland: for example, 76% of all hydropower and 79% of new renewables.

09/06/2022

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀

By evaluating possible Long Covid implications in young Swiss military personnel, a team of researchers led by University of Zurich Professor Patricia Schlagenhauf recently found that although young, previously healthy, non-hospitalized individuals largely recover from mild infection, as well as that the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on several systems of the body is generally less severe than that seen in older, multi-morbid or hospitalized patients, the study highlighted they could nevertheless possess a higher risk of subsequently developing metabolic disorders.

Specifically, the team found that young people are likely to have increased cholesterol, a high BMI, as well as a reduced level of physical stamina post-COVID, which in turn may put them at risk of developing metabolic disorders and cardiovascular complications in the long-term.

The study moreover provided evidence that recent infections – even mild ones – can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, reduced sense of smell and psychological problems for up to 180 days, as well as having a short-term negative impact on male fertility. However, for non-recent infections – more than 180 days back – these effects were no longer significant. For more information:
https://lnkd.in/gEQQs-wv

08/30/2022

𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗴𝗲-𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 | An interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Professors Tobias Nef (ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research) and Hugo Saner (University of Bern & Insel Gruppe), as well as postdoctoral researcher Dr. Narayan Schütz, recently developed a new systems approach, which is based on contactless, zero-interaction sensing technologies, and could be used to help detect health problems in the elderly, including old-age depression, risk of falls or cognitive impairment, at an early stage.

To achieve this, the system consists of simple, contactless motion sensors in each room – namely, a bed sensor under the mattress, as well as door sensors on the front door and on the refrigerator – that are connected to a base station, which analyzes the registered motion signals and can inform relatives or an alarm center in the event of problems or emergencies.

Significantly, the team moreover found that older adults above 80 years of age appeared to prefer the zero-interaction system over wearable devices, which can sometimes be cumbersome and difficult to handle, to dexterity or cognitive problems.

https://lnkd.in/eVntgbvE

08/26/2022

New quantum technology combines free electrons and photons

NOVEL METHOD TO CREATE ELECTRON-PHOTON PAIRS - A team of researchers from EPFL, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences and University of Göttingen was recently able to demonstrate a novel method for generating cavity-photons using free electrons, in a form of pair states, thereby not only enabling them to precisely detect the involved particles, but also to expand the toolbox of quantum technology! To learn more about it, click below.

Scientists from EPFL, the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences and the University of Göttingen have successfully created electron-photon pairs for the first time in a controlled way, using integrated photonic circuits on a chip. Using a new technique, they could precisely detect the ...

08/22/2022

Muesli: the world-famous Swiss breakfast classic

MÜSLI – You might know of müsli, and it might even be your favorite breakfast option! But did you know that its inventor, doctor Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, was born on August 22, 155 years ago? If you are curious to learn more about this Swiss speciality and its origins, click below!

It is hard to imagine a breakfast table or Sunday brunch in Switzerland without the ubiquitous muesli. But this Swiss speciality is now also a well-established staple on breakfast tables elsewhere around the world. And yet barely anyone knows its origins. So let's take a trip back in time and meet S...

08/17/2022

GOLD MEDAL - Congratulations to Lisa Mamié! The 23-year-old from Zurich is crowned European champion in the 200 m breaststroke in Rome thanks to an outstanding last 50 m.

Photo credits: © Keystone

08/13/2022

One more clue to the Moon’s origin

MOON INHERITED INDIGENOUS NOBLE GASES FROM EARTH'S MANTLE - By analyzing six samples of lunar meteorites from an Antarctic collection obtained from NASA, a team of geochemists, cosmochemists, and petrologists at ETH Zürich was recently able to provide the first definitive proof that the Moon inherited indigenous noble gases from the Earth’s mantle! Click below to learn more about it.

Researchers from ETH Zurich discover the first definitive proof that the Moon inherited indigenous noble gases from the Earth’s mantle. The discovery represents a significant piece of the puzzle towards understanding how the Moon and, potentially, the Earth and other celestial bodies were formed.

08/11/2022

AIA AWARD – The Consulate General in Chicago received a Citation of Merit at the 2021 AIA Design Excellence Awards! It has been designed in collaboration with Kwong Von Glinow and built by Helios Construction in the spirit of Swiss architect Otto Kolb, who lived, worked and taught in Chicago from 1947 to 1960. Thank you to all involved, it is a pleasure to be able to work in such a beautiful office.

08/06/2022

TRAVELLING BY RAIL - Switzerland celebrates 175 years of public transport. Did you know that by travelling by rail, around 5 million tonnes of CO2 are prevented from being emitted every year in Switzerland? That’s equivalent to 10% of Switzerland’s total emissions! For more information, click on the following link: https://lnkd.in/eip_py-9

08/01/2022

SWISS NATIONAL DAY – This year marks the 731st anniversary since the founding of Switzerland! On this occasion, the team at the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago wishes you a happy and healthy August 1st celebration. Click on the following link to watch some videos produced by our colleagues at 52 representations all over the world: https://bit.ly/3By02IY. Enjoy!

07/29/2022

“THE FLYING SWISS ARMY KNIFE” – If you are nearby Oshkosh, you might be interested in knowing that the Swiss company Lightwing Aircraft is present at EAA Air Venture 2022 at booth 369 of CompAir Aviation! Swiss simplicity, robustness, reliability – these are just three of the many reasons why Lightwing Aircraft is the number one choice for many. To learn more about it, click on the following link: https://www.lightwing.ch/en-gb.

Photo credits: © Lightwing Aircraft

07/27/2022

HISTORY BLOG – Did you know that Swiss balloonist Jean Piccard and his Chicago-born wife Jeanette climbed together into the stratosphere nearly 11 miles over Lake Erie in 1934? At that time, Jeanette became the first woman to reach the stratosphere. Jean, on the other hand, gained great fame above all for his balloon flights. Their unique story is well worth a read. Click on the following link to read the full article: https://bit.ly/3b67vEo. Enjoy!