by Marc Audétat //
Around 1998, within the Wissenschafts- und Techniksoziologie (Science and Technology Studies) research group of the Swiss Society of Sociology (SSS), composed of members from the Swiss universities and polytechnical schools, a discussion emerged about how to promote STS training and teaching. At that time, there was no dedicated professorship in STS in Switzerland. The appointment of professors in STS was seen as a lengthy process on which young researchers and doctoral students had little influence. Yet it was precisely this younger generation (myself included) that showed a strong appetite for STS. The question then became: how could we respond to this growing demand?
It quickly became clear that, as a research group within the SSS, our means and autonomy were limited. Raising funds to organise workshops and invite international colleagues was difficult. Opportunities were too few, and progress too slow. A majority of us came to the conclusion that creating a proper academic association for STS was the best option. This did not mean dissolving the SSS research group. Rather, the idea was to create a Swiss STS association that could join the Swiss Academy of Science, enabling us to apply for funding and organise events more independently.
The creation of STS-CH unfolded easily and swiftly. Everything was in place by April 2001, but we chose to make it public on the opening day of the Lausanne Summer School, September, 11. To join the Swiss Academy of Social Sciences and Humanities (SAGW/ASSH), an academic association had to demonstrate at least three years of existence. But in the meantime, it proved relatively easy to get funding from the SNSF, the Swiss National Science Foundation, as well as from various universities and ETH, to support our activities. STS-CH officially became a member of the SAGW/ASSH in 2004.
I remember that the question of language emerged during the founding process of STS-CH. In the SSS research group, the federal approach to language was practiced: everyone spoke in their mother tongue. While this worked for internal coordination, it became problematic when colleagues from different regions of Switzerland began presenting their research. I remember the frustration of listening to a German-language talk that sounded fascinating, yet I could barely follow. Conversely, explaining sociology and its nuances in French could prove a bit difficult to grasp, even for historian colleagues with excellent proficiency in the language. It became obvious that English would provide a more inclusive and effective medium for scientific exchange. Everyone would have to make an effort to ensure clarity. French-speaking colleagues were not enthusiastic, as it echoed broader concerns about the domination of English in academia, but the choice was more practical and intellectually rewarding. Creating an academic association outside the SSS allowed us to adopt a different organisational culture.