---
title: "ETH Zürich PhD-Programm in Science \u0026 Policy: Building Political Support at Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center; Parlamentarischer Besuch und Lobbyistengespräch"
sdDatePublished: "2026-05-23T13:26:00Z"
source: "https://ethz.ch/content.download.course?id=286135\u0026name=HS26_PSP_Building_political_support.pdf\u0026mime=application/pdf"
topics:
  - name: "education policy"
    identifier: "medtop:20001338"
  - name: "political process"
    identifier: "medtop:20000649"
  - name: "lobbying"
    identifier: "medtop:20000650"
  - name: "scientific research"
    identifier: "medtop:20000735"
  - name: "political parties and movements"
    identifier: "medtop:20000651"
  - name: "college and university"
    identifier: "medtop:20000405"
locations:
  - "Switzerland"
  - "Bern-Mittelland"
  - "Zürich"
---


ETH Zürich PhD-Programm in Science & Policy: Building Political Support at Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center; Parlamentarischer Besuch und Lobbyistengespräch

Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center

PhD Program in Science & Policy: Building Political Support

Lecturer:
Sarah Bütikofer (Global Governance; ETH Zürich), Sebastian Koehler
(Queen Mary University of London), Larissa Mettler (effectiva),
Marcel Falk (Swiss Academies of Sciences)
Location:
ETH, Zentrum, Day 1 (ETH), Day 2 (visit to Berne) & Day 3 (ETH)
Dates:
27.08., 24.09. and 29.09.2026
Credit Points: 2 ECTS

Course Description:
During the last decades different ways of bridging science and policy have been
explored. Policy is understood as a principle or guideline for action in a specific
context. In this course, the students shall learn what kind of actions are necessary to
implement policies in different sectors, such as public agencies, the civil society or the
private sector at national and international scale. Who are the main actors and when
do they need to be involved?

Decision and policymakers in Switzerland and the European Union
This lecture gives an overview on main actors in the policy-making process in
Switzerland the European Union.

Process of policy endorsement
This lecture introduces the essential steps in the process of policy endorsement in
Switzerland and the European Union, including examples related to plant sciences
and ways to form alliances with policymakers at national and European scale.

Getting support from policymakers will depend among others, upon convincing them
of the benefits that implementing the actions can provide and upon the timing. The
aim of the course is to know where it is possible to exert influence on the political
process as a scientist, an expert, a lobbyist or an interested Swiss or European
resident/citizen. Knowing the decision makers is central to exerting influence on
negotiations and decision-making processes.

On the second course day, a visit to the Swiss Parliament and an interview with a
parliamentarian as well as a lobbyist is scheduled.

On the third course day, the participants’ case study work will be presented following
a workshop on advocacy conducted by Larissa Mettler.

Course Program / Learning Objectives
Participants will
•
Identify the relevant policy- and decision-making sectors in Switzerland and
the European Union

Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center

•
Understand the common procedures for establishing and monitoring
measurable national and European goals and targets.
•
Identify the different legislative measures existing in Switzerland and in the
European Union
•
Know different existing policy management and oversight arrangements.
•
Plan for successful impact

Prior Knowledge:
enrolled students will be provided with preparatory literature; apart from this, no
prior knowledge is required.

Number of Participants: 18

Individual Performance and Assessment:
Students work in case study groups fulfilling different tasks. Please note: In the weeks
between the two workshop days (August 27 and September 29), you should plan for
available time for group work and individual work of min. 30 hours.