UniDistance Suisse encourages young people to explore the path of research

17/11/2025
Events · UniDistance Suisse
Dipl. Natw. ETH Vanessa Hugo , Prof. Dr Corinna Martarelli , BA Dejan Popic

On the occasion of the National Future Day, the UniDistance Suisse opened the doors of its campus to young people who wanted to get to know the academic world. The workshop on the topic “A Day in Research,” led by Prof. Dr. Corinna Martarelli and Dejan Popic from the Faculty of Psychology, was organized by Vanessa Hugo, Head of Services and Alumni. In this interview, she explains the motivations and objectives behind this initiative.

National Future Day aims to encourage young people to take an interest in professions where their gender is underrepresented. What was the objective of your workshop?

Our goal was to introduce young people to the profession of researcher in the academic world and to show that research is a field accessible to everyone, regardless of gender.

Why did you choose to highlight the profession of researcher rather than that of professor or assistant?

Research – just like teaching and services – is one of the core missions of a university. By presenting research and an academic career as a professional option in Valais, we aim to broaden young people’s horizons.

How do you manage to keep participants engaged in such a complex field?

Thanks to virtual reality, young people can literally dive into the scientific world and discover research in an immersive way. The real challenge is getting them to “come back to earth,” as they are so captivated! This experience shows them that research is not an abstract concept but an exciting, concrete, and sensory adventure.

What were the biggest challenges in preparing this workshop?

The main challenge lies in addressing an audience in transition—between childhood and adolescence. It’s important to capture their attention, spark their curiosity, and let them experience science in a playful and tangible way.

What message would you like to convey to the younger generation?

We want to show that science is a space for exploration, curiosity, and creativity—open to everyone. I am pleased if Prof. Dr. Corinna Martarelli, Dejan Popic, and I were able to spark young people's interest in research with the Future Day.