Public lecture programme for the autumn semester 2025

This semester's public programme once again offers many exciting lectures. The programme reflects the profile of HSG – with topics ranging from economics, law and politics to computer science, history, art and society. A special focus is placed on the history of St.Gallen and the region.  

Three topics in focus

Three appetisers from the menu for those hungry for knowledge – more information can be found in the new flyer:

• One work – three perspectives: insights into the art world (Daniela Mittelholzer)
  In collaboration with the Kunstmuseum St.Gallen, this series offers a glimpse behind the scenes of museum operations. Using a central work from the Kunstmuseum's current exhibition, the topics of collecting, researching, exhibiting and communicating are explored in depth.
• Cashless future – reality or fiction? (Tobias Trütsch)
  What does it mean when cash is increasingly disappearing? This lecture series examines the history of money and new digital forms of money such as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
• Is democracy history? Historical answers to a pressing question (Caspar Hirschi)  
  Democracy is in crisis. Not only in the USA, but also in Europe and Switzerland. HSG historian Caspar Hirschi examines the origins of this problem and discusses new perspectives on current developments.

The world in transition

In addition to the current focus topics, numerous lecture series are dedicated to the processes of change in our time:

• A world of 10 billion and a Switzerland of 10 million (Mathias Schneider and Urs Sieber)
  Whether in Europe's ageing populations, in the growing cities of the ‘Global South’ or on the migration routes in between, population development is an issue that shapes the economy and society and poses new challenges for spatial planning in particular – including in Switzerland.
• Swiss railways for the Swiss people – 175 years of transport and railway history (Felix Bosshard)
  Since the mid-19th century, the construction of the railways and the expansion of the road network have made the SBB a reflection of political, technical and economic changes. This lecture covers everything from the early days to Rail 2000 and the NEAT to contemporary transport issues.  
• History of the Soviet Union (Yves Partschefeld) Born out of the turmoil of the Russian revolutions, the First World War and the subsequent civil war, the Soviet Union claimed to be opening a new chapter in human history. For decades, the Soviet Union fluctuated between upheaval and stagnation until it collapsed in 1991. Its legacy continues to have an impact today.  
• War and Love: Taiwan and China (Daria Berg)
  Is Taiwan facing a similar fate to Ukraine? Will China annex the island nation? And will America come to Taiwan's aid? The lecture explores these questions. It also highlights the personal views of artists, poets and writers from both countries.

Fates and stories

Three lecture series tell of individual fates, self-expression and the power of stories: 

• The case of Frieda Keller (1879–1942) (Claudia Brühwiler and Jörg Fisch)
  A tragic legal case from St.Gallen takes us back to the turn of the 20th century – and raises questions about gender roles, poverty, law and morality. Frieda Keller was convicted of infanticide in 1904. This series is being developed in collaboration with HSG students.  
• Dress codes: Beyond the surface (Monika Kritzmöller)
  Whether it's Zelensky's olive green shirt or Merkel's colourful blazers, sometimes items of clothing leave a more lasting impression than what people say – even in everyday life beyond the world of celebrities. Lifestyle researcher Monika Kritzmöller highlights how fashion not only expresses identity, but also reflects social developments.  
• Storytelling+: Multimedia storytelling for the head and heart (Marius Born)
  Storytelling is becoming increasingly important, whether in journalism or film, social media, literature or corporate communications. This is because we only begin to take an interest in a topic when it touches us emotionally.

Annual highlights 

Some lecture series are fixed components of our programme: 

• Hot topics in international politics (Christoph Frei) 
  How can we explain the hyperfocus on the Trump phenomenon? In addition to the all-dominant question of the moment, political scientist Christoph Frei also turns his attention, as always, to other hot topics in international politics, such as the state of Europe, the latest developments in the Middle East, the situation in Taiwan and the prospects for young countries on the other side of the world. Countries such as Palau, Kiribati and Vanuatu are facing enormous challenges – and climate change is not even at the top of their list of concerns.  
• “St.Gallen Health Forum” (Alexander Geissler and David Ehlig) 
  Where does the healthcare system stand today? And where is it heading? Experts from academia, practice and business, including comparis.ch, thurmed AG and ETH Zurich, discuss challenges and present possible solutions.  
• Children's University: Curious about the world – bears, money and big emotions (Daniel Cuonz and Jörg Metelmann) 
  In four lectures, the Children's University introduces pupils in years 3 to 6 to exciting topics. Professors from the University of St.Gallen answer questions such as: What is the secret behind FC St. Gallen and why does the Gallus bear play such an important role? Why do people behave the way they do? How do children from other countries find a new family in Switzerland? Will we soon no longer need cash?