2016 Swiss Prize winners

Nine students from the ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics have been recognised for outstanding essays about Switzerland written in the three official languages of Switzerland.

 

The students’ essays in French, German and Italian covered subjects as diverse as the implications of Switzerland serving as a global peacekeeper, to Switzerland as a setting for Hollywood movies.

 

The winners were announced at a reception hosted by the Ambassador of Switzerland His Excellency Mr Pedro Zwahlen. ANU Vice Chancellor, Professor Brian Schmidt AC, was also in attendance and spoke at the event.

 

His Excellency Mr Zwahlen congratulated the awardees on their commitments and thanked the School for its cooperation with the Swiss Embassy on the prize over the past 18 years.

 

He told the students: “Believe me, your efforts are worthwhile.”

 

Professor Schmidt spoke of the importance of knowing a country’s language to truly experiencing its culture.

 

“Learning a new language is a truly excellent pursuit,” Professor Schmidt said.

 

“We offer 28 languages at the ANU. I hope this shows our standing as Australia’s national university.” 

 

1st Prize - Tristian Delroy – Solar Impulse: Une idée née en Suisse (‘Solar Impulse: an idea born in Switzerland’)

 

2nd Prize - Lucas Humbel – La Suisse a-t-elle une place unique dans le monde? (‘Does Switzerland have a unique place in the world?’)

 

3rd Prize - Lucy Aylward – La Suisse dans le monde (‘Switzerland in the world’)

 

1st Prize - Isabel Pfleger - Die Schweiz als Friedenswächter: Kleines Land, Großer Einsatz? (‘Switzerland as Peacekeeper: Small nation, large deployment?’)

 

2nd Prize - Max Diversi - Die Schweiz in der Welt: Was kann Australien von der schweizerischen Demokratie lernen? (‘Switzerland in the World: What can Australia learn from Swiss democracy?’)

 

3rd Prize - Nicole Cain - Nenn mich die Schweiz. Was will die Schweiz: Reich allein oder zufrieden zusammen? (‘Call me Switzerland. What does Switzerland want: to be rich in isolation or content with cooperation?’)

 

1st Prize - Sarah Melis - La Svizzera e il potere dei film (‘Switzerland and the Power of Films’)

 

2nd Prize - Alessandra Kron - La Svizzera nel mondo: Quale significato hanno le norme sul lavoro domenicale della Svizzera in una società globale moderna? (‘Switzerland in the World: What meaning do Swiss norms governing Sunday work convey to global modern society?’)

 

3rd Prize - Conor Sproule - Un Dibattito Unico in un Paese Unico. Perché si discute sull’Esercito più animatamente in Svizzera che in altri paesi? (‘A unique Debate in a Unique Country: Why is the discussion surrounding Swiss Army more animated than debates in other countries?’)