Biology Week 2026: Neurosciences and molecular biology

For five days, the Life Science Learning Center at the University of Zurich opened the doors of its laboratories to young people eager to discover what scientific research really looks like.

Rather than learning about neuroscience only from textbooks, the participants had the opportunity to experience research where it actually happens. They visited working laboratories, met researchers at the forefront of their respective fields and discovered the instruments and technologies they use in their daily work. Through direct discussions with scientists, they could ask questions, handle research equipment and gain a better understanding of how scientific questions are explored in practice.

This year's Biology Week focused on four areas of neuroscience:

• Neurostimulation
• Brain imaging and monitoring
• Synaptic plasticity
• Sleep research

Beyond the scientific programme, the week offered something equally valuable: an authentic glimpse into university life and a possible future in science. Participants discovered what studying and working at a university can look like, while meeting researchers with different backgrounds, experiences and career paths.

Coming from different regions of Switzerland, the students also spent the week alongside other young people who share their curiosity for biology and neuroscience. Classes and discussions were held in English, reflecting the international and intercultural environment of the University of Zurich, and showing first-hand how researchers from different countries and backgrounds work together and contribute to scientific progress.

For participants considering future studies in the life sciences, the Biology Week was a rare opportunity to look beyond the classroom and experience science as it is actually practised: in real laboratories, with real equipment and, above all, in direct contact with the people behind the research.

We would like to warmly thank the team of the University of Zurich and the Life Science Learning Center for opening their laboratories to the participants, sharing their expertise and enthusiasm, and making this unique immersion into the world of neuroscience research possible.