Since 2019, as part of the Basel Summer Science Academy, the University of Basel offers 24 selected gymnasium students from the Basel region the opportunity to experience and immerse themselves in research at the Biozentrum during the first two weeks of the summer holidays. 

To enable you to actively carry out research while you are still at high school and to experience firsthand what it means to do research at a top university, the University of Basel launched the “Basel Summer Science Academy” in 2019.

In this course, you will be looking for new types of bacterial viruses, so-called bacteriophages. To this end, you will collect water samples taken from the Rhine and examine them microbiologically. You will learn about the microbiological methods and tools, such as working under sterile conditions, cultivating bacteria and viruses and the production of culture media. The bacteriophages grown in the lab are subsequently examined more closely. You will analyze the isolated bacteriophages using state-of-the-art microscopes, including an electron microscope, decipher their genetic material and follow the traces of evolution in the lab.

The course is complemented by an exciting side program including lectures and visits to the most important players in the local industry. In this way, you will also get to know many aspects of the important life sciences location Basel in these two weeks.

Participants are selected for the Summer Science Academy by their schools. All gymnasiums in the Basel region, including international and private schools, have a certain number of places available. If you are interested in participating, please contact your biology teacher directly.

English is the language spoken in the Basel Summer Science Academy.

Program Head: Prof. Christoph Handschin