Unveiling Switzerland’s Role in Racial Research
In a recent SRF Kultur feature, Prof. Bernhard C. Schär discusses why Swiss university and museum collections contain over 4,100 human remains from the colonial era. He explains how Swiss researchers and institutions were able to participate in colonial science despite not having their own empire. He also discusses how Switzerland came to play a central role in European 'race sciences'.
Professor Schär’s analysis highlights the importance of addressing this period in Swiss university history. Tracing the networks of skull collectors and anthropologists reveals how racial science was institutionalised within Swiss universities, contributing to global hierarchies of race that had lasting social and political consequences. This critical perspective invites a re-evaluation of the ethical foundations of past scientific endeavours and encourages greater transparency regarding scientific collections from the colonial period.
For a detailed overview of this historical context, we recommend reading the full SRF article and consulting the foundational report by the Independent Commission of Experts on the topic, which provides an extensive documentation of these practices.