At a recent event organized by the Center for Space and Habitability of the University of Bern and held at the Swiss Pavilion, Rector Virginia Richter welcomed guests from academia, including long-standing Japanese partners of the University. Together with Tsubasa Fabbri of Swissnex in Japan, she opened an engaging panel discussion titled “Exploring Space, Advancing Human Health: How Space Research, Medicine and AI Shape Our Future.”

The panel brought together prominent experts from Switzerland and Japan:

• Dr. Masaki Fujimoto, Director General, ISAS of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
• Dr. Audrey Vorburger, Assistant Professor of Space Research and Planetary Sciences, University of Bern
• Prof. Dr. Matthias Wilhelm, Medical Director at the Centre for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Insel Gruppe & University of Bern
• Prof. Dr. Tadahiro Taniguchi, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University & Ritsumeikan University
• Dr. Marco Sieber, Swiss Astronaut, European Space Agency (ESA)

Together, the panel explored how research conducted in space environments is informing advances in human health, both in orbit and on Earth—particularly in the fields of rehabilitation, aging, and artificial intelligence.

The University of Bern also takes center stage in the Pavilion’s AUGMENTED HUMAN exhibition. On display are two high-precision mass spectrometers developed for flagship missions by ESA and JAXA. These instruments, used to analyze the chemical makeup of celestial bodies, exemplify Switzerland’s cutting-edge capabilities in instrumentation and planetary science.

Adding an unexpected dimension to the experience, visitors can encounter “The Scent of Space”—an interactive exhibit based on data from the ROSINA instrument aboard ESA’s Rosetta mission. Thanks to this Swiss-developed technology, the aroma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has been scientifically reconstructed, offering a rare sensory insight into the cosmos.

This event is a testament to the enduring collaboration between Swiss and Japanese academic institutions. With shared interests in space science, AI, and healthcare, both countries are paving the way for discoveries that not only push the boundaries of what is possible in space but also bring tangible benefits to life on Earth. We invite all visitors to experience these exhibits and conversations firsthand at the Swiss Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka, and celebrate Swiss ingenuity on a truly global stage.