Life Sciences Switzerland

What is Life Sciences Switzerland? 

We are the largest Life Sciences Society and Network in Switzerland

Originally founded as USGEB (Union of Swiss Societies for Experimental Biology) in 1969, the society has a history of 50 years in federating researchers from various Life Sciences disciplines and promoting their interests towards the public. In 2012, USGEB changed its name to LS2 (Life Sciences Switzerland). In 2016 three of the founding societies merged, and more sections joined later, making LS2 the largest Life Sciences Society in Switzerland. LS2 represents about 900 members.

Each year LS2 organizes:

  • The LS2 Annual Meeting, a two-day conference for all members and partner societies, as well as guest societies, and for the public. In addition, LS2 organizes workshops and satellite meetings
  • The annual meetings of their sections organized by their members or affiliated societies
  • Travel grants to PhD students allowing them to participate in scientific meetings. 
  • Satellite symposia to Swiss conferences for young scientists
  • Events for the public to foster debate & exchange between the public & the scientific community

If you are interested in joining LS2, please go to the membership page and register online.

Our Mission 

Bringing Life Sciences together - in Switzerland and beyond.

Our Vision 

Is to render Life Sciences research visibility & to bring scientists together
...by the organization of major interdisciplinary and topical conferences

Is to promote & connect young scientists early in their career
...by the promotion of young scientists via PhD travel fellowships, Satellite Meetings, special LSyoung symposia, and diverse Career events

Is to serve the public interest
...by realizing public symposia on science-related issues that foster the dialogue between the scientific community and the society at large

The History of LS2 

"Create a platform to facilitate the interdisciplinary dialogue between active experimental biologists of all disciplines - that is the idea of USGEB" - Ewald Weibel

Originally founded around Prof. Eward Weibel as USGEB (Union of Swiss Societies for Experimental Biology) in 1969, the society has a history of nearly 50 years in federating researchers from various Life Sciences disciplines and in promoting their interests towards the public. USGEB was the umbrella society for the Swiss Societies of Biochemistry, Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Physiology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Experimental Pharmacology.

In 2012, USGEB changed its name to LS2 (Life Sciences Switzerland) under the presidency of Prof. Gisou van der Goot (EPFL), and in 2016 three of the founding societies merged and more sections joined since then, to become the largest Life Sciences Society in Switzerland.

Find out more about the history of USGEB/LS2 by clicking on the pdf below.

LS2 celebrates 50 years!!
LS2 is member of the Platform Biology of the Swiss Academy of Sciences

SCNAT provides substantial funding to LS2 that make our actions and events possible.

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