September – June, Every Thursday

Thursday Debates

Uni Mail

The Geneva Debate Club, founded in 2022 as an English-language branch of the Club Genevois de Débat, meets every Thursday evening to provide a structured platform for practicing eloquence and critical thinking. Participants propose diverse topics, are randomly assigned pro or con positions, and engage in timed debates with interactive questioning periods.

With no participation obligation—observers welcome—evenings conclude with voting for the most convincing team and best speaker, followed by friendly bar discussions, creating an inclusive environment for developing debate skills in English.

Every Thursday evening at 18:15 during the university semester.

In English.

Boulevard du Pont-d'Arve 40,
1205 Genève

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28 January – 23 December

Create Your Own Rousseau-Style Herbarium

Lectures & Workshops

Jardin botanique

This workshop explores the traditional process of assembling a herbarium specimen, inspired by Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s collections. Participants learn scientific techniques for pressing and mounting dried plants on old paper, practice botanical labelling and nomenclature, and select specimens to create a personal herbarium sheet. The session examines preservation methods, identification principles and the historical context of Rousseau’s approach, combining practical skills with scientific insight to produce a lasting botanical object.

In French.

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20 April – 7 June

Short-Form Laboratory

Lectures & Workshops

Théâtre des Marionnettes

Designed for emerging professionals and recent graduates, this workshop explores puppetry through the creation of a short performance. Four to five young artists are supported through a guided process from idea to stage, with mentorship in direction, dramaturgy and construction. Participants develop a compact work presented at a public work-in-progress showcase. The programme also offers the chance to win a fully funded four-week training placement in 2027 at Odradek, near Toulouse.

In French.

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28 January – 23 December

Our Biodiversity: Memory game

Lectures & Workshops

Jardin botanique

This interactive memory challenge invites participants to test their memory while exploring practical ways to preserve biodiversity based on Geneva’s municipal strategy. Players match “before-and-after” images that illustrate individual and institutional actions, and each correct pair reveals concise information explaining the measure. The activity examines themes such as habitat restoration, species-friendly practices, urban greening and policy responses, helping participants understand the impact and rationale behind everyday and organisational conservation choices.

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4 May – 28 August

History of the Salève Cable Car

Lectures & Workshops

Téléphérique Salève

This guided tour explores the history and engineering of the Salève cable car, a landmark linking Geneva to the mountains. It examines early ascents, its inauguration and the technical challenges of construction and operation. Visiting the upper station reveals Maurice Braillard’s modernist concrete design and the structural solutions behind the installation. The session blends heritage, technology and architecture to explain how the cable car became an iconic cross-border monument.

In French.

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2 February – 11 May

Architecture: Modern Geneva, by Bruno Marchand

Lectures & Workshops

MAMCO

Bruno Marchand, professor emeritus at EPFL, leads this five-part lecture series designed for newcomers to architectural history. He brings his academic experience to introduce key figures and approaches in Geneva’s twentieth-century modernity.

The course examines five monographic approaches focused on architects whose urban thinking and buildings have permanently shaped Geneva’s territory and landscape. Sessions investigate themes such as technical progress, Miesian legacy, Le Corbusier’s influence and the plastic use of concrete, revealing how modernity transformed the city.

In French.

Programme:

– Monday 2 February, 12:15: Maurice Braillard and the early foundations of Genevan modernity
– Monday 2 March, 12:15: The architecture of Marc-Joseph Saugey: technology and progress
– Monday 16 March, 12:15: The architecture of Jean-Marc Lamunière: the legacy of Mies and postmodernity
– Monday 20 April,12:15: The architecture of André Gaillard, in the wake of Eugène Beaudouin
– Monday 11 May, 12:15: The architecture of Georges Brera: the influence of Le Corbusier and the plasticity of concrete

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Tuesday 12 May, 12:30

Jean Liermier

Lectures & Workshops

Société de lecture

Journalist Patrick Ferla leads a conversation with Jean Liermier, an experienced theatre director reflecting on his long tenure and creative approach. The discussion traces Liermier’s staging choices, visual and sound strategies, and the playful reinvention of season presentations. Attendees will gain insight into the director’s methods, memorable productions and the role of surprise and memory in theatrical curation. The session emphasises artistic process, theatrical language and the relationship between director and audience.

In French.

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Thursday Debates