Silvia HostettlerShort Profile
PhD Environmental Science
20 years of experience in global sustainability challenges
Professional Activities
09/2012–05/2019 Cooperation & Development Center, EPFL Deputy Director
Acting Director of CODEV from February to September 2014.
Leading research projects in disaster risk reduction.
Lecturer in Development Engineering.
Directing International Conference on Technologies for Development.
02/2008–08/2012 swissnex India Executive Director
Establishing research collaboration between India and Switzerland.
Building networks and organising 58 events with research organisations.
Developing projects in science and technology, education and innovation.
Managing swissnex India team (6 people) in Bangalore, India.
05/2001–01/2007 EPFL, Switzerland Researcher
Research and publication of a PhD dissertation on land use changes and international migration.
Developed research projects in Latin America and the Caribbean in collaboration with Swiss and Southern partner institutions.
05/2001–12/2001 NCCR North-South, University of Bern Consultant
Responsible for backstopping workshops in Ethiopia, Kenya, Cuba, Bolivia, Nepal and Vietnam.
Ensured continuation of learning process and production of final report.
07/2001–12/2001 Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Researcher
Co-organised conference: “Research Partnerships for Sustainable Development: Approaches and Experiences in Latin America” in Cartagena, Colombia.
04/2001–12/2001 IUCN – The World Conservation Union Programme Assistant
Developed project proposals with local organisations in China for IUCN Northeast Asia programme.
01/2000–03/2001 IUCN – The World Conservation Programme Coordinator Cloud Forest Initiative
Developed project proposals with IUCN Regional Offices in Latin America, Africa and Asia and presented projects to donor agencies.
Established networks with international partners (World Conservation Monitoring Centre, WWF, UNESCO) to prepare joint activities for cloud forest conservation.
09/1996–01/1997 State Secretariat for Education and Research
Co-organised “Research and Technology Day” in Stockholm, Sweden
Research and Working Experience Abroad
India | Executive Director, swissnex India | (2008-2012)Mexico | Fieldwork for PhD research | (9 months, 2002-2004)Burkina Faso | Fieldwork for CAS research | (6 months, 1998-1999)Ghana | Fieldwork for BSc research | (3 months, 1996)London | Internship at Greenpeace | (6 months, 1994)Colombia | Exchange programme at college level in Bogota | (1987)
Management Skills
Planning and leading the creation of short- and long-term visionsStrategic programme planningLeading Teams Professional Affiliations
Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of Development Engineering (2015-
Swiss Commission for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries (KFPE) (2013-
Conseil Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques (CSRS) (2017-2019)
Professional Women’s Group Bangalore (2009-2012)
Denise Bertschi2020
Manor Art Prize, Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau/CH
Solo show, opening: 24.01.2019, curated by Yasmin Afschar
2019
Swiss Art Awards Nomination, Messehalle 3, Basel, 10.–15. June 2019 Bundesamt für Kultur, Bern
MOST BEAUTIFUL SWISS BOOKS Winner with self-published artist publication "We Say We Are Fine. They Say We Are Not."
20.–23. June 2019 & ongoing international traveling exhibitionHelmhaus Zürich
LE FOYER – IN PROCESS 20.11.2019
ACT 4, N°8: Denise Bertschi, Naturama Natural History Museum, Aarau
2018
ARTIVIST Johannesburg, South Africa 5.9. – 30.10.2018
«NEUTRALITY AS AN AGENT»
Solo exhibition, in the frame of the 20th anniversary of Pro Helvetia in Southern Africa, invited by Joseph Gaylard (SA)
*ALTEFABRIK
Gebert Stiftung für Kultur, Rapperswil
15.9. – 28.10.2018
«FOREVER OR IN A HUNDRED YEARS – Denise Bertschi (CH) and Inas Halabi (Palestine)»
Duo show, curated by Josiane Imhasly
MKG Hamburg Museum für unsere transkulturelle Gegenwart
13.4. – 14.10.2018
«MOBILE WELTEN»
Group exhibition, curated by Roger M. Buergel and Sophia Prinz
*ALTEFABRIK
Gebert Stiftung für Kultur, Rapperswil
24.3. – 6.5.2018 «TARNEN, TÄUSCHEN, IMMITIEREN»
Group exhibition, curated by Josiane Imhasly
LOKAL-INT Biel/Bienne
28.1.2018
Film screening: «NAMIBIA RAWCUT»
2017
JOHANN JACOBS MUSEUM Zürich
29.08.2017 – 28.01.2018 COFFEE FROM HELVÉCIA
Curated by Marcelo Rezende (Archiv der Avant-Garden Dresden)
2016
AUSWAHL 16, AARGAUER KUNSTHAUS
Group show, winner of NAB Förderpreis 2016
KUNSTVEREIN Zürich
MANIFESTA Zürich – PARALLEL EVENTS
«How to Waste time, with Denise Bertschi»
Performance-Series, curated by Nico Ruffo and Nele Dechmann
CORNER COLLEGE Zürich
8.12.2015 – 28.1.2016
«COLD.WAR.HOT.STARS»
Group show, curated by Dimitrina Sevova
ROSABRUX, Brüssel
27.1.2015 «PROTECTION ROOM»
Group show
WITS University of the Arts, Johannesburg/SA
12.2.–22.2.2015
«POETICS OF RELATION»
Exhibition project, initiated by Uriel Orlow and Bettina Malcomess
2014
Artsonje Art Center, Seoul South Korea
«Territories of Assembly» Curated by Markus Miessen, Berlin
LiveInYourHead, Genève
«MANDATORY PASSIVITY»
Group show, curated by Lars Bang Larsen
