Five clever minds write for Higgs

The knowledge magazine higgs.ch is planning another major step in its fight against fake news and for an enlightened society. Five renowned Swiss researchers will now write a pointed opinion piece every two weeks in "Klartext" on a scientific topic that they set themselves. "However, these are not intended to be purely popular-science explanatory or descriptive texts," says Higgs founder and editor-in-chief Beat Glogger, explaining the format. "What is needed are opinion pieces based on scientific facts. These are also welcome to provoke controversy or contradiction."

The only requirement: the texts must be based on a scientific foundation. If science is referenced, it will always be linked to sources.

The scientific quintet is made up of Dominique de Quervain, neuroscientist (University of Basel), Sophie Mützel, sociologist (University of Lucerne), Martin Röösli, environmental epidemiologist (Swiss TPH), Monika Bütler, economist (University of St. Gallen) and climate researcher Reto Knutti (ETH Zurich). "Facts and figures are empty," Knutti says of his involvement. "They need context and interpretation.

How society responds cannot be decided by science, but it can provide the basis for a solution-oriented discussion, generate interest, and point out blind spots."

Sophie Mützel: "Digitization affects all areas of life. My part of the column is particularly about less obvious, indeed, slowly creeping up, seemingly small aspects of the digitalization of our everyday lives, but which can have long-term effects."

Dominique de Quervain kicks off the "Klartext". In his contribution he calls for Long Covid to be on the political agenda now. Because, says de Quervain, "During the past few months of the pandemic, policymakers have focused primarily on preventing infections so as not to overburden the healthcare system. Now the problem of Long Covid must come into focus."